Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) has advantageous properties for furniture and interior design. Even in the case of fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the room, they hardly warp at all. Thanks to their homogeneous structure, they can be very easily bonded and painted to form furniture items. The industry generally uses petrochemical urea-formaldehyde resins as binders.
Glue made from casein (milk protein) was already being used in ancient Egypt as an adhesive for furniture and boat construction. In collaboration with the product designer Sofia Souidi, we want to develop a high-performance, formaldehyde-free binder on the basis of casein. In conjunction with wood fibers, this should result in a material that can be processed in the same way as MDF. It should be possible to press it into panels as well as molded parts. Our objective is to enable the use of recycled wood fibers from waste wood. Furthermore, we are testing the admixture of differently colored forest and production waste. This allows a variety of decorative patterns to be created.
Project phase 1
The research work focused on the composition and optimization of the material on a small industrial scale. We were able to achieve very promising results with regard to stability and strength. The material already fulfills the required transverse tensile strengths for MDF panels in accordance with DIN EN 622-5 type MDF.
Project phase 2
One important prerequisite for the competitiveness of the material is its moisture resistance. As casein and caseinate are water-soluble in their basic form, we are searching for solutions in order to make them water-resistant. First, we will conduct research into traditional formulations for water-resistant casein glues and then test them in the production of wood-based materials. In addition, we will chemically modify the caseins in a targeted manner.
Through the testing of materials and emissions, we ensure compliance with legal requirements and quality standards. Furthermore, we want to transfer the manufacturing process to industrial scale in order for it to become established on the market. The development of a recycling concept for the recovery of the Superwood material at the end of its initial service life also forms part of the project.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research 
