Design of bio-based adhesives for cross-laminated timber (CLT)
Alex Mary‘s work was featured in the Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect! This is a significant recognition of the importance of his contributions to the scientific and professional community. Bravo, Alex, for this notable achievement!
As part of the NSERC Industrial Research Chair on Eco-responsible Wood Construction (CIRCERB), Alex was awarded a research scholarship by the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) in recognition of the originality of his research project on «Biobased adhesives adapted to cross-laminated timber (CLT)».
The young researcher is in her third year of a PhD in wood and bio-based materials engineering at Laval University, working under the supervision of Pierre Blanchet and Véronic Landry.
Alex’s application for the «Catherine Lalonde 2023 Memorial Scholarship» has impressed the CWC with his dual commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation in product performance. Her research aims to explore new ways of replacing the petrochemicals traditionally used in the development of glulam panels (CLT). More specifically, the candidate is investigating the use of recycled biobased protein materials such as soybean meal, microbrewery spent grains, skimmed milk powder, and even shrimp shells.
The use of these recycled biobased protein materials as alternatives to traditional petrochemical products demonstrates an approach that is both innovative and environmentally friendly. This initiative underlines the importance of finding sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of construction and building materials. This approach significantly aligns the candidate’s research with Canada’s climate objectives. Indeed, reducing emissions in the construction sector is a direct contribution to the fight against climate change, reinforcing Canada’s global leadership in climate action. It’s a concrete example of how innovation in building materials can play a vital role in the transition to a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly economy.
The results of this project are currently the subject of a scientific article entitled «Upcycling of Protein Concentrates from Industrial Byproducts into Polyurethane Wood Adhesives ».  The results revealed that incorporating proteins into the polyurethane adhesive system can not only preserve, but also enhance the adhesive’s performance. This includes deeper penetration into wood substrates and an overall improvement in mechanical strength. These results underline the promise of proteins as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polyols in adhesive formulations. Among other benefits, CLT with biobased adhesives is said to have a better life-cycle profile, biodegrading completely at the end of its use, unlike CLT with petrochemicals.
Alex Mary won first prize in the Gustave-Clodomir-Piche scientific poster competition at Carrefour Forêt.
Source: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/resource/2024/01/laval-clt-researcher-wins-wood-council-scholarship