Mussel-inspired adhesive created by Oregon State University

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), Aug 21, 2008

A new wood adhesive created by an Oregon State University researcher is gaining popularity in the sustainable building materials industry.

Developed by Kaichang Li, who was inspired by watching mussels cling to rocks on the Oregon coast, the new cost-effective adhesive could replace urea-formaldehyde, which is used for making wood composite panels but has health risks associated with cancer and indoor air quality.

By studying the chemistry of mussels' byssus, the small threads that attach them to rocks, Li discovered a protein that allowed the mussels to stick to surfaces, even underwater. A similar protein was then created from benign soy protein for use in the adhesive.

Plywood panels bonded with the adhesive are now being marketed as PureBond by Portland-based Columbia Forest Products, and the adhesive is being made available to other manufacturers. Though other plywood adhesives are formaldehyde-free, the new soy-based technology is the first offered at a competitive price.