Advances in Bio-Based Wood Adhesives

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the development, characterization, and application of bio-based adhesives for wood and wood-based composites, which is part of the response to the growing global demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. As concerns over the environmental and health impacts of conventional synthetic adhesives, particularly those based on formaldehyde and fossil-derived resins, continue to rise, the search for renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic alternatives has become a major focus in materials science and wood technology.

We invite original research and comprehensive reviews that address key scientific, technological, and industrial challenges in the field of bio-based wood adhesives. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The development and formulation of adhesives from renewable resources such as lignin, tannins, proteins, starches, and other natural polymers;
• The characterization of adhesive properties: mechanical strength, thermal stability, water resistance, bonding performance, etc.;
• Low-emission and formaldehyde-free adhesive systems;
• Processing technologies and the scalability of bio-based adhesives for industrial use;
• Binderless technologies and naturally self-bonding wood materials;
• The application of bio-based adhesives in plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, OSB, and laminated wood products;
• The enhancement of adhesive performance via chemical modification, enzymatic treatment, or nanotechnology;
• Durability and aging behavior of bonded wood products;
• Environmental impact assessment and life cycle analysis (LCA) of bio-based adhesive systems;
• The valorization of lignocellulosic by-products and residues in adhesive development;
• Challenges and opportunities in the commercialization of bio-based wood adhesives.

This Special Issue will serve as a platform to bring together researchers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders working at the intersection of wood science, polymer chemistry, green materials, and sustainable manufacturing. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the transition toward safer, greener, and more circular solutions in the wood products sector.

Prof. Dr. Petar Antov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Adhesives is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.