Lupine Protein Lignin Adhesive Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water-based adhesives with high performance often rely on synthetic polymers, which are non-renewable, and lignin-based adhesives with vegetable proteins like soy protein face challenges in achieving high solid content and viscosity, leading to longer drying times and manufacturing costs, as well as issues with initial tack and equipment compatibility.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous adhesive composition combining lignin and lupine protein, with a weight ratio between 1:3 and 5:1, achieving at least 30% combined weight percentage, which enhances adhesive strength and flexibility, allowing for similar viscosity to conventional synthetic adhesives like polyvinyl acetate, thereby reducing drying time and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If lignin-based adhesives with vegetable proteins like soy protein are used, then renewable resources are utilized, but solid content and viscosity are reduced, leading to longer drying times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of lupine protein through controlled enzymatic hydrolysis to generate protein hydrolysates with specific molecular weight ranges (1-10 kDa). This enzymatic treatment reduces protein aggregation and improves solubility, enabling the formulation of adhesive compositions with high solid content (30-60%) and appropriate viscosity while maintaining renewable resource content above 80%. The parameter optimization of protein size and composition directly resolves the contradiction between using renewable proteins and achieving sufficient drying speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adhesive system combining lignin (10-40%) with enzymatically hydrolyzed lupine protein (20-50%) and additional protein sources (10-30%), forming a multi-component renewable adhesive composition. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of lignin (adhesive strength, water resistance) and modified lupine protein (viscosity control, flexibility), achieving both high renewable content and optimal drying characteristics that neither component could provide alone.
2Productivity
If solid content is increased to reduce drying time, then productivity improves, but viscosity increases making equipment compatibility difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes through systematic adjustment of solid content (30-60%), pH (2-10), and temperature (20-100°C) to optimize the adhesive composition for both high productivity and equipment compatibility. The enzymatic hydrolysis process specifically controls protein molecular weight and distribution, preventing excessive viscosity increase even at high solid contents. This parameter optimization enables the adhesive to maintain pumpability and applicability in conventional equipment while achieving fast drying times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a temperature-dependent viscosity profile where the adhesive exhibits shear-thinning behavior and temperature-sensitive flow characteristics. The enzymatically modified protein structure provides dynamic rheological properties that allow the adhesive to flow easily during application (low shear stress) but maintain stability in the applied state (high shear stress). This dynamic behavior ensures compatibility with various application equipment while maintaining high solid content for fast drying.
3Loss of time
If water content is reduced to shorten tack time, then production time decreases, but adhesive strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining lignin with enzymatically hydrolyzed lupine protein and supplementing with additional protein sources (soy, pea, wheat, or casein) to create a multi-component system where each ingredient contributes specific functional properties. The lignin-protein interface creates synergistic bonding mechanisms including hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and covalent crosslinking, ensuring that reduced water content does not compromise adhesive strength. The composite structure provides both rapid initial tack and sustained bonding performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the water content (40-70%) within a specific range that balances rapid water evaporation for short tack time with sufficient moisture for protein-lignin interaction and bond formation. The controlled enzymatic hydrolysis also modifies the protein's hygroscopic properties, enabling the adhesive to maintain optimal moisture levels during the critical bonding period even with reduced initial water content, thereby preserving adhesive strength while accelerating tack development.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition exhibits higher adhesive strength and flexibility, achieving energy at break values comparable to conventional polyvinyl acetate glue, while maintaining low water content and suitable viscosity, enabling efficient use in various applications with reduced production time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
an aqueous adhesive composition comprising; (a) lignin; and (b) a source of lupine protein
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to an aqueous adhesive composition comprising lignin and a source of lupine protein. The invention further relates to a method for gluing together two or more surfaces of a material using said aqueous adhesive composition, use of said aqueous adhesive composition and a material treated with said aqueous adhesive composition.