Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Green Development Green Structures and Clean Cars
Mechanical properties of wooden laminated
structures glued with a furan resin based
adhesive
O. Zeleniuc, A.M.Varodi, V. Petrovici, A-M.L. Badescu
AbstractWood is well known material for construction
due to traditional reason, its excellent characteristics and
environmental benefits. The development of new engineered
products like glue laminated timber extended its uses toward
structural applications. Creating durable wooden laminated
structures involves developing proper adhesives to increase
the strength of bonded wood. The objective of this paper was
to analyse the performance of some wooden laminated
structures glued with a furan resin based adhesive, concerning
their behaviour on bending, compression and tensile stress. In
comparison with reference specimen glued with urea-
formaldehyde adhesive, performance of bonded assembly with
mixed furan resin and furfurylic alcohol increased, the values
obtained being grater in most cases than those recommended for the
strength class GL 36h.
KeywordsFuran resin, mechanical properties, wood laminated
structure.
I. INTRODUCTION
T HE search for new alternatives to urea-formaldehyde in
manufacture the Engineered Wood Products (EWP),
represents an important task especially in case of structural
applications. EWPs became one of the most known materials
for structural applications due to their ability to efficiently use
smaller trees and underutilized species with very little
manufacturing waste, their ability to span further and low
embodied energy compared to other building materials [2].
The key factor influencing their properties and service life
is the adhesive. Petro-chemical based adhesives and resins are
used in manufacturing the EWPs, primarily phenol-
formaldehyde which are not subjected to any significant
detectable off-gasing [2] and urea-formaldehyde. Urea-
formaldehyde is still commonly used adhesive for non-
structural wood products. It is no longer met in structural
applications due to its low performance when exposed to
weather.
An initiative to develop new adhesives, alternative to the
classical ones is a part of a research project [3]. There were
tested and analysed the characteristics of several resins based
on lignin, classic urea resin URELIT R and furan resin with
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furfurylic alcohol URELIT FC2, in equal weight parts, in
order to be used for glue laminated structures [7]. Some
adhesives based on mixed urea resin with furfurylic alcohol
using only a simple furan resin and some catalysts, were used
for a long time in cold gluing of different materials [4], [5].
Such resins are still used as binder in foundries to cast pieces
made of cast iron, steel and metal [1]. Their uses as adhesives
for wood gluing are less known.
The paper contains a comparison between some mechanical
characteristics of wood laminated structures glued with mixed
furan resin with furfurylic alcohol FC2/NH4Cl-20 and those
carried out with the classic urea-formaldehyde based adhesive,
UR/IRs, in order to be promoted for structural applications.
II. MATERIAL AND METHODS
The lamellas were cut from spruce timber (Picea abies) and
the laminated structures were made of lamellas varying in
number and dimensions depending on the test performed. The
cold gluing of lamellas at the following parameters were used:
temperature of 200C, specific pressure of 0.6N/mm2 and 4
hours the pressing time. The adhesive consumption ranges
between 220-350 g/m2, the greater values been registered for
reference specimen.
Based on previous research where different adhesives were
analysed [6], the tests were carried out only on the specimens
glued with the adhesives based on mixed furan resin with
furfurylic alcohol FC2/1/NH4Cl-20 and urea-formaldehyde
UR/IRs, as reference sample. The characteristics of these
adhesives are presented in Table I.
The tests were undertaken in a laboratory of Technical
University of Cluj-Napoca, RO, on universal testing machine
equipped with a 100 kN load cell. The specimens were sized
taking in consideration the SR EN 408:2004 specifications
with some modifications due to the specific device used for
testing. The specimens were conditioned at 200C and 65%
relative humidity.
A. Bending strength
The specimens of glue laminated structure were made from
3 and 4 lamellas having 1250 mm long with the cross section
of 105x15 mm and 105x20 mm (Fig.1).
Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Green Development Green Structures and Clean Cars

Fig 1. Specimens for the bending test

TABLE I
ADHESIVES CHARACTERISTICS
Adhesive type/Hardener
Technical characteristics of the adhesives MU
UR/IRs FC2/NH4Cl-20
Adhesive compositions
Urea-formaldehyde resin URELIT R (UR) g 100 -
Mixed furan resin with furfurylic alcohol URELIT FC2 (FC2) g - 100
Ammonium chloride solution of 20% (NH4Cl 20) cm3 - 25
Hardener IR type g 1.5 -
Rye flour (F) g 12.33 12.33
Physical and chemical characteristics of the adhesives
- solid content % 73.03 61.32
- initial pH - 4 4
- viscosity through FORD cup of 8mm at 20C s 95 31
- jellification time at 20C, tg min 27 67
- stickiness disappearance time at 20C, tdl min - 10
- solidification time at 20 C (viability), ts. min 86 14
- free formaldehyde % 3.5 0.7

As was mentioned above, there were differences in the

dimensions of specimens than those recommended in final specimens high fulfill the standard requirements.
standard. As a consequence a correction coefficient (2) was
C. Tensile perpendicular to the grain test
used for calculation the bending strength (1).
For this test three types of specimens were carried out due
aFmax
fm = (1) to unexpected behaviour of them during testing.
2W C1. First set of specimens was constituted by the laminated
fm - bending strength, N/mm2, structures made of 27 lamellas and 20 lamellas. Each lamella
K - correction factor, had 250 mm length, 100 mm width and thickness of 15 mm
a - distance between the loading point and the support, mm and 20 mm respectively (Fig. 2a). The width was chosen
Fmax - the maximum failure force, N, based on SR EN 408:2004 recommendations, so that the
W- modulus of section , mm3 minimum specimen surface has to be 25x103 mm2 and 0.01 m3
0.05 0.1 the volume. The metal plates of 250x110x5 mm were cold
b h glued to the specimens. The test wasnt valid due to the joint
K = (2)
150 600 failure at the interface between the adhesive and metal plate.
K - correction factor, The adhesion was poor, it couldnt resist during testing
b - specimen width, mm, even special adhesives such Epoxi Metal and Power Bisonite
h - specimen hight, mm. (polyurethane adhesive) were used (Fig. 2b)

B. Compression tests
B1. The compression parallel to the grain test
The specimens have the same structure as those used for
bending test, differentiated by dimensions of lamella. This
was 360 mm length, 110 mm width, and thickness of 15 mm
and 20 mm respectively.
B2. The compression perpendicular to the grain test
For this test two types of specimens were made. One carried
out from 14 lamellas with the following dimensions: 250 x
a. b.
110x 15 mm and the other from 10 lamellas with the same
Fig.2. Specimen 1 for tensile test (a). Joint failure (b)
length and width and different thickness of 20 mm, so that the
The strength at tensile perpendicular to the grain was

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Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Green Development Green Structures and Clean Cars

calculated using the formula: Finally specimen 3, the last one, was made from 3 and 4
Ft ,90 max lamellas of 15 mm and 20 mm thickness having the shape and
f t ,90 = (3) dimensions presented in Fig. 5.
bl Tensile strength in this case was calculated with formula (4).
Ft,90 - the strength at tensile perpendicular to grain, N/mm2, Fe
Ft, 90, max - maximum force at failure, N, fti = (4)
b - specimen width, mm A
l specimen length, mm. fti the strength perpendicular to grain in a single plan,
N/mm2
C2. The second set of specimens was carried out from 3 and 4 Fe - main failure load, N
lamellas having the following dimensions: 120x 100x 15 mm A- surface, mm2
and 20 mm thickness (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Specimen 2 for the tensile test

1- wooden lamellas
2- device base of 40 mm beech lamella glued with epoxi
Fig. 5: Specimen 3 for the tensile test
adhesive to the specimen
a. specimen with 3 lamellas
3- device for catching the specimen in the testing machine
b. specimen with 4 lamellas
Either this device wasnt strong enough to obtain the
c. device with specimen for testing machine
accurate results. The joint failure at maximum load was again
achieved between beech base plate and specimen, as is shown
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
in Fig 4.
Data from Table II demonstrated that performance of the
laminated structures glued with mixed furan resin with
furfurylic alcohol FC2/NH4Cl-20 was improved compared to
the reference specimens.
The mean values obtained were compared with equivalent
values indicated in SR EN 1194:2004 for different classes of
strength. The higher bending and compression strengths were
obtained for the laminated structures with 4 lamellas of 15 mm
Fig.4. The joint failure for specimen 2 at tensile test thickness glued with FC2/NH4Cl-20.
TABLE II
AVERAGE S VALUES FOR MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Strength values acc. to SR EN 1194:2004, N/mm2 Strength value, N/mm2
Adhesive type Strength classes* Lamella thickness, mm
GL 24h GL 28h GL 32h GL 36h 15 20
A. Bending strenght
UR/IRs reference specimen 39.26 32.88
C3. FC2/NH4Cl-20 43.17 40.89
24 28 32 36
experimental wood
laminated structure (ELS)
B1. Compression parallel to the grain
UR/IRs reference specimen 36.68 37.16
16.5 19.5 22.5 26
FC2/NH4Cl-20 ELS 40.96 37.89
B1. Compression perpendicular to the grain
UR/IRs reference specimen 2.94 2.90
2.7 3.0 3.3 3.6
FC2/NH4Cl-20 - ELS 3.16 3.08
C. Tensile strength perpendicular to the grain specimen 3
UR/IRs reference specimen 1.00 1.09
- - - -
FC2/NH4Cl-20 - ELS 1.33 1.36

* Strength values for specimens of wooden laminated structure with 600 mm height (h) and thickness >150 mm (b).
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Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Green Development Green Structures and Clean Cars
The bending strength was with about 10-24% greater for
ELS (experimental wooden laminated structure) than that of
the reference specimen (RS). The compression strength
increased with about 10% and under compression, specimens
bent rather than failing in shearing rupture (Fig. 6, 7). This
trend was less present on the reference specimens. This
behaviour of the experimental structures on the compression
may have been a consequence of the ELS good adhesion. The
ELS total delamination was 0-2% while for reference
specimens was between 5-10% [6].
a. b.
Fig. 6: ELS behaviour at compression parallel to grain.
a. Reference specimen - UR/IRs
b. Experimental specimen - FC2/1/NH4Cl-20
a. b.
Fig. 7: ELS behaviour at compression perpendicular to grain
a. Reference specimen - UR/IRs
b. Experimental specimen - FC2/1/NH4Cl-20
With regard to the tensile test, only specimen 3 has
permitted to obtain wood failure, thus valid results. The other
specimens were excluded due to the joint failure between ELS
and the device base plate (Fig.2, 4).
As a consequence another characteristic was initiated
named tensile strength perpendicular to the grain in a single
gluing plan.
For 90% of the specimens the failure occurred on bulk
wood as is shown in Fig. 8. These demonstrated the test
validity and a good bond formation.
The adhesive FC2/1/NH4Cl-20, leads to durable bonds than
the reference one, UR/IRs type, due to also probably its
viscosity and good penetration into wood. The higher
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jellification time of the FC2/1/NH4Cl-20 adhesive may occur
in enough time to penetrate the wood prior to bond formation.
a.
b.
Fig. 8: Specimen 3. Tensile perpendicular to the grain test.
Bulk wood failure on ELS (a) and reference specimen (b)
The tensile strength in one plan was higher with about 25-
33% for ESL than for the reference specimens (Table II).
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the results obtained the following conclusions can
be drawn:
- The adhesive based on mixed furan resin with
furfurylic alcohol, FC2/NH4Cl-20 provides higher
strength of the wooden laminated structures than the
reference adhesive urea-formaldehyde UR/IRs.
- A good adhesive-wood interaction was performed for
experimental laminated structures leading to an
increase in mechanical properties.
- Higher bending and compression strengths were
obtained for wooden experimental laminated structure
(ELS) by using a greater number of thin lamellas (15
mm thickness).
- A new specimen was developed in order to describe the
ELS performance at tensile perpendicular to the grain.
Tensile strength in this case was defined by a new
characteristic named tensile strength perpendicular to
grain in a single gluing plane.
- The tensile strength in one plan was higher with about
25-33% for ESL than for the reference specimens.
- All values obtained for bending and compression
Proceedings of the International Conference on Urban Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, Green Development Green Structures and Clean Cars

parallel to grain exceeded the values recommended in

SR EN 114:2004 for the GL36h strength class and GL
28h respectively, in case of compression perpendicular
to the grain.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Author thanks to CNCSIS UEFISCSU which supports this
work through the Project number PN-II-IDEI 146/2007.

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