Synthesis of High-Water-Resistance Lignin-Phenol Resin Adhesive with Furfural as a Crosslinking Agent

In this study, furfural was used as a crosslinking agent to enhance the water resistance of lignin-phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) resin. The effect of the furfural content on the physicochemical properties of the adhesives was explored, and the possible synthesis mechanism of the furfural-modified lignin-phenol-formaldehyde (LPFF) resin adhesives was investigated. Compared with the LPF adhesive, the LPFF adhesive with 15% furfural content and 50% lignin substituent exhibited outstanding properties in all considered aspects; it had a high wet shear strength (1.30 MPa), moderate solid content (54.51%), and low viscosity (128 mPa∙s), which were 38.0% higher, 3.6% higher, and 37.5% lower than those of the LPF adhesive. Analyses via nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the furfural content improved water resistance of the lignin-based adhesive; this improvement was due to the formation of new chemical bonds between furfural and lignin to construct a dense crosslinked network structure. In addition, the decrease in viscosity and the increase in solid content enabled the adhesive to better penetrate into the wood porous structure, showing stronger adhesion. Therefore, the LPFF adhesive has superior water resistance, high strength, and good thermal stability; thus, it has a great potential for industrial applications.