Water sorption mechanisms of commercial wood adhesive films

As water moves inside the wood, the gluelines might act as barriers that are potentially leading to local moistening. Even low amounts of water may influence the mechanical performance of glued wood products. Dynamic vapor sorption analysis was performed to assess the sorption processes of six commercial wood adhesives. Vapor sorption isotherms were compared with vapor uptake dynamics. Phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde showed high moisture uptake of 18 %, while vapor diffusion speed was low. Fish glue showed a water uptake of 45 % at otherwise moderate vapor uptake speed. Melamine–formaldehyde resin gained 22 % water, and polyvinyl acetate absorbed 10 %. The latter was also the fastest vapor absorbing adhesive. Polyurethane only absorbed 3.5 % of moisture at medium uptake speed. Mechanisms of water diffusion seem to be driven by (1) the available free volume in the polymer and (2) the interacting ionic groups of the polymer chain. While the free volume could be linked to the accumulated moisture, the ionic group interaction might determine the measured vapor diffusion dynamics.