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CWC (http://cwc.ca/) >> Wood Products (http://cwc.ca/wood-products/) >> Connections (http://cwc.ca/wood-products/connections/) >>
Adhesives

Structural
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Adhesives
Adhesives play a prominent role in wood construction. They are used for:
The manufacture of laminated products
As a means of increasing the structural rigidity of sheathing/joist
combinations in floor and of affixing non-structural panel products
End joining dimension lumber
Repair

Adhesives Used For Laminated Products

Structural composites such as plywood, oriented strandboard (OSB) and waferboard, prefabricated wood I-joists, laminated parallel strand lumber (PSL),
laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and glulam are dependant upon adhesives to
transfer the stresses between adjoining wood fibre.

Interior use wood products such as particleboard, which is used for furniture
and for some structural applications such as flooring underlay, and hardwood
Adhesives
plywood, which is used for furniture and decorative panelling, also rely on
(http://cwc.ca/wood
adhesives for laminating wood material.
products/connections/adhesives/)
BoltsInstallation
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/bolts
installation/)
Bolts(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/bolts/)

The selection, application rate, and curing conditions for adhesives for these
products is controlled at the point of manufacture. A brief discussion of the
principal adhesives used in these products is presented to address questions
which some times arise about permanence of bond, reliability, resistance to
environmental factors, and emission of volatile chemicals into buildings.

FramingConnectors
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/framing
connectors/)
GlulamRivets
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/glulam
rivets/)
HangersandPlates
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/hangers
andplates/)
LagScrews
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/lag
screws/)

There are two principle types of adhesive used for the manufacture of Canadian
wood products. These are urea-formalde-hyde (UF) which is suitable only for
interior use products and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) which is used for exterior
applications.

Interior Wood Products

Urea-formaldehyde adhesive is a thick creamy syrup which cures to a
colourless solid.
UF adhesives are very economical and fast curing but are not suitable for damp
conditions. For this reason, (UF) glues are used for panels intended for
nonstructural use such as particleboard and hardwood plywood.
UF adhesives are non-staining and therefore have the further advantage of not
blemishing the high quality expensive face veneers used for hardwood panels
for interior finish applications.

Materials
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/materials/) The raw materials for UF adhesives are derived fom natural gas through the
intermediates of ammonia for urea and methanol for formaldehyde.
Screws(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/screws/)
ShanksandPoints
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/shanks
andpoints/)

Exterior Wood Products

Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) adhesives are a dark purple-brown colour and give

the dark glue lines associated with products such as plywood and OSB.

SplitRings&ShearPlates
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/split
ringsshearplates/)

Known as the phenolics, they are a derivative of crude oil and the principle
resins approved for the manufacture of wood products intended for exterior
applications.

TimberJoinery
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/timber
joinery/)

PF adhesives are used for the manufacture of glulam, PSL, LVL, plywood,
OSB/waferboard and for fingerjoining stress graded lumber.

TypesofNails
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/types
ofnails/)

PF adhesives are somewhat more expensive than UF adhesives and exhibit

lower levels of formaldehyde emissions.

Various types of extenders such as walnut shell flour, Douglas fir bark flour,
alder bark flour, and wood flour are used to moderate the cost of PF glues,
WashersandSidePlates
control penetration into the wood fibre, and moderate strength properties to
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/connections/washers suit the materials being bonded.
andsideplates/)

MassTimber
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/mass
timber/)
IJoists
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/ijoists/)
Lumber
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/lumber/)
PanelProducts
(http://cwc.ca/wood
products/panel
products/)

Resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) adhesive is a phenolic substance which is more

reactive than the PH adhesives. Being more reactive means that curing is faster
and takes place at room temperature and below. Otherwise these glues have
the same basic properties as the PF adhesives. However, high cost of the
resorcinols means in practice that they are often blended with the PF adhesives
to moderate the cost.

Emissions From Wood Product Adhesives

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in the manufacture of many contemporary
products including, for example, upholstry, permanent press clothing, and
carpet. It is also a component of the adhesives used to manufacture most wood
panel and composite products. Formaldehyde is an allergic irritant to some
people when the time and level of exposure is high. Effects are compounded
when a building has air change rates below accepted standards.
The level of formaldehyde emission from any new product is time dependant.
Emission level is highest when the product is new, and decreases steadily as the
time in service increases.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the United States has set limits on
the amount of allowable formaldehyde which may be emitted for building
materials and contents. These levels are recognized in Canada and in the US.
Wood products made with PF adhesive wood products are substantially below
the HUD limit for formaldehyde emissions. Emission standards for products
made from UF adhesive products are also below the limits established.
Wood products made with PF adhesives have a low level of formaldehyde
emission because the phenol resins chemically fix the formaldehyde.
Since the formaldehyde component of UF adhesives is not completely
chemically fixed by the urea, some is free to dissipate. Adhesive manufacturers
have met HUD standards by reducing the formaldehyde content and
consequently increasing the amount of adhesive and the curing time.
Wood products containing formaldehyde meet or surpass present HUD
standards. With standards for formaldehyde emissions expected to become
increasingly stringent, chemists will be challenged to formulate acceptable low
cost adhesives for the wood and other products which house and furnish
modern living and work spaces.

Sheathing And Panel Application

There are many adhesives available to improve the structural performace of
building elements or to apply non-structural panels in a way that does not
leave surface blemish on the panel, as wood nailing.
These field applied tube type adhesives are available in many types suitable for
both interior and exterior use. The recommended application temperature can
range between -10 and 40C (15 and 105F). These fast setting adhesives can be
used to bond wood and panels to metal, gypsum wallboard, concrete and foam
insulation.
Where floor sheathing is affixed to joists with a field applied elastomeric
adhesive in addition to nails or screws, improved vibration and deflection can
be gained. In this situation, the joists and sheathing act as a single composite
section and increases in spans of 5 to 10 percent when compared to nailed or
screwed floors are possible.

Repairs To Wood Members

As with all building materials, wood is subject to damage if exposed for a long
period of time to adverse conditions, if original design was faulty, or if overstressed due to loadings beyond design specifications.
Damage assessment requries the analysis of a structural engineer. In some
cases, on site repair rather than replacement may be possible.
Where a repair is recommended by a structural engineer qualified in designing
and supervising repairs, it may require the use of epoxy with putty-like
properties which is trowelled over cracks and holes to contain the epoxy repair
material. The putty is also used to embed injection and vent port hoses to
accept pressure injection equipment.
A low viscosity two-part epoxy is then pumped into the injection port until all
areas or the cract or defect are filled as evidenced by escape of epoxy through
the vent port.

Once the epoxy repair has cured, the excess epoxy can be chipped and sanded
away to restore the appearance of the member.

Indoor-Air Quality
With the drive for increased thermal efficiency, homes have become more airtight. This can mean that odors and emissions generated by products such as
building materials and cleaning solvents can accumulate and can affect the
health of occupants.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a broad family of chemicals that in
general should be minimized in the living environment. Simple speaking, VOCs
are chemicals that evaporate from materials. Perfume and air-fresheners emit
VOCs and while acceptable to some, can cause adverse health affects for
others.
Generally speaking, that new-car or new-house scent that evokes a fresh start
is the scent of VOCs. In a new home, VOC emissions can come from hundreds
of products, and the pattern of emissions are complicated by the fact that
some materials, such as gypsum wallboard, can absorb VOCs and emit them
later as the general level in the house decreases.
Although VOC emissions have been an increasingly important issue over the
past 15 years, they are measured in parts per million, and it is only recently that
comprehensive test procedures have been established so that the control of
VOCs can move from being intuition-based to science-based.
Test development and product testing done by the National Research Council
of Canada shows that emissions from wet materials like paints and caulks
have an emmision rate about ten times higher than dry materials like wood
products and ceiling tile. However, wet materials tend to give off the VOCs for
only a short period of time. Other products known to emit VOCs include wood
products, formed concrete, carpets and other floor coverings, and upholstry. As
the range of products tested grows, it is expected that other products will also
be shown to be sources. For example, lubricating oils used in the forming of
sheet-metal studs could make these framing materials VOC sources.
Some testing was done on plywood, OSB, particleboard and solid wood
products. The natural resins in wood products are definately sources of VOCs.
However the emission rates were fairly low relative to other home products
and furnishings. More testing is needed to make the results statistically valid, to
correlate the relationship between moisture content and emmisions, and to
determine the effectiveness of moisture barriers in separating structural wood
products from the indoor occupied environment.
The research tested individual materials but much more research is needed to
determine how materials behave in assemblies, and how effective vapor
barriers are at keeping VOCs from framing materials from affecting the living
areas.
While hyper-sensitive people do not need to take special precautions, the
general public needs only to heed some basic common-sense rules.
During the construction process, exercise good housekeeping. Drop sheets
should be used to keep paint, chaulk and compound spillage from being
absorbed by floor sheathing.
When construction has finished, ventilate the house well and if possible,
allow two weeks before occupancy to give time for the VOC level to
dissipate.

During the first year of occupancy a higheer-than-usual ventilation rate

should be used. Although heating or cooling cost may increase as a result,
this practive will allow stored VOCs to be vented.
During renovations such as hardwood floor refinishing, occupants should
plan on vacating the house during the work, and allow three days of high
ventilation after completions of the work before returning.
For home decorating, select low-emitting paints and stains and increase
ventilation during the curing period

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