Isocyanates are highly reactive compounds which react with a multitude of functional groups in an addition reaction. For this reason, the increased application of isocyanates – for example in the form of polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) – as components in various commonly-available adhesives is conceivable, in order to ultimately also improve the material properties.
It is already known that both low transverse tensile strengths and the limited hydrolytic stability of aminoplastic resin-bonded wood-based materials can be compensated for through the addition of isocyanate[1]. It was therefore possible, in a project funded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, to encapsulate pMDI in such a way that it is first released and activated under pressure during hot pressing in the wood-based material production[2]. Furthermore, blocked and thereby concurrently also controllable isocyanates were developed in a project funded by the “International Association for Technical Issues related to Wood e.V. iVTH”. These isocyanates are unblocked and activated through the application of heat in the hot press.
Secondly, knowledge concerning the reactivity of isocyanates with chemically-differing adhesive types is of significant interest, whereby as far as is known, no publications are available on this subject. Currently we are investigating whether, during the curing process, the reduction of the isocyanate absorption band in the wave number range 2300-2250 cm-1 by means of Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) can be followed as a measurement of the isocyanate reactivity. This analysis would enable the decrease in the isocyanate concentration to be followed directly by means of the decrease in the reacting isocyanate group and also the drawing of conclusions concerning the relative abreaction rate of the isocyanate.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research 