Bio-oil as Substitute of Phenol for Synthesis of Resol-type Phenolic Resin as Wood Adhesive

The bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of cornstalks was used as substitute of phenol to synthesize resol resin as an ideal wood adhesive. The effects of formaldehyde/phenol (F/P) molar ratios and oil/phenol (O/P) weight ratios on rehology, thermal cure, thermal resistance and adhension of plywoods were investigated. With the increase of bio-oil used in bio-resol, the gel time of the prepared bio-oil modified resol resin (bio-resol resin) increased gradually, and the exothermic peak temperature of thermal cure shifted slightly higher. It was found that the bio-resin with bio-oil/phenol = 0.5 (weight ratio) and F/P = 1.5 (molar ratio) had the best comprehensive properties. The plywoods made with the bio-resol resins fulfilled the standards of E₀ and type I plywood, implying the bio-resol resins was a new environment-friendly adhesive.