Background:

Adhesives in current the market typically use organic solvents that have a significant volatile organic compound (VOC) footprint. In the U.S., indoor concentrations of many VOCs from building materials, adhesives, wall papers, floor coverings, and paint strippers considerably exceed outdoor levels from vehicles, filling stations, building materials, industry, and dry cleaners. Both indoor and outdoor VOCs have significant negative effects including reactive ozone and photochemical smog for environmental effects, and eye/nose irritation, liver/kidney dysfunction, neurological impairment, and cancer for human health effects. For this reason, the global low VOC adhesives market is expected to almost double between 2021 to 2030. Due to increasing awareness of green and sustainable construction of buildings, and implementation of stringent regulations of governments to limit VOC content in products for safety purposes, there has been a recent push for low VOC biopolymer composite adhesives. For example, biomineral precipitates and aggregates are being used as “biocement” for soil stabilization, creating subsurface barriers, bioremediation, limestone remediation, and concrete remediation. Additionally, bioadhesives are being used in medical applications as substitutes for conventional invasive wound closure techniques due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.

Technology Overview:

Researchers at MSU have developed a method using ureolytically induced calcium carbonate precipitation to produce a biomineral composite glue that can be used as adhesive for a variety of applications. These biocomposite materials can have comparable, or even superior, material properties relative to other adhesives including neoprene-based adhesives, acrylic dispersion adhesives, vinyl acetate ethylene, wood rosin as an additive for solvent-based adhesives, and biopolymer adhesives. The composite structure contains both elastic (organic) and stiff (mineral) components.

Benefits:

  • Eco-friendly
  • Low cost of production
  • Robustness of process (low purity chemicals don’t affect the process)
  • Improved strength

Applications:

  • Construction
  • Paper and packaging
  • Personal care
  • Woodworking
  • Medical

Opportunity:

  • Available for license
  • Potential for collaborative development partnerships

Contact:

Nida Shaikh
406‐994‐7724
nida.shaikh@montana.edu