New industrial adhesives developed from potatoes and grains
New products cheaper and more environmentally friendly
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The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has developed new types of adhesives and paper coating agents for industrial use from the starch of potatoes and grains.
The new products will benefit the packaging, paper, construction, and pharmaceutical industries in the future.
It is now much easier to manufacture adhesives and glue from natural starch by virtue of new technical methods. As there are fewer stages in the manufacturing process, material and energy costs will be reduced.
In addition, the new products are entirely recyclable.
The packaging industry will benefit from the new coating agents and adhesives, as products made from natural materials result in lighter, stronger, and cheaper packages that withstand grease extremely well.
The new products can also be used as the raw material of adhesives in the construction industry, in place of the current artificial substances. The pharmaceutical industry can use the starch polymers that are created in the beginning stages of the adhesive manufacturing process.
Earlier adhesives made from natural starches were hard and brittle. Two new patents have already been approved for the new methods, and a third patent application is being processed.
In addition to VTT, the National Technology Agency of Finland, the Helsinki University of Technology, the University of Oulu, and several industrial corporations have participated in the adhesive development work. It is now up to the industrial sector when the actual large-scale production of the substances will begin.
Helsingin Sanomat
