Franklin Adhesives & Polymers Turns to Soy to Develop First Bio-Modified Adhesive, Multibond MX-100

Franklin Adhesives & Polymers, a division of Franklin International – and long a pioneer in the development of environmentally friendly adhesives – now has introduced its first bio-modified adhesive, Multibond MX-100, using technology it developed during research funded through a grant from the United Soybean Board.

Multibond MX-100 uses the renewable resource soy to create an environmentally friendly, one-part adhesive for use in manufacturing engineered hardwood flooring. The bio-modified crosslinking polyvinyl acetate (PVA) adhesive contains no added formaldehyde and easily meets rigorous California’s CARB Phase 2 limits on formaldehyde emissions.

At the same time, Multibond MX-100 brings superior performance and ease of use to wood flooring manufacturers. This one-part adhesive requires no mixing, speeding up production at the plant. It also offers good tack as well as a high percentage of solids – 47 to 50 percent – for faster set time. In addition, it meets ANSI-HPVA HP-1-2004 Type II and ANSI/HPVA EF 2009 testing for water resistance on most wood species.

Soy extends the open time of this adhesive, making it ideal for use in prepress operations. Multibond MX-100 can go from the prepress to the hot press. No special mixing equipment is needed. The parts come out of the prepress very tacky with the product. Multibond MX-100 also has demonstrated easy handling in a variety of climate conditions.

Franklin Adhesives & Polymers has been active in the development of environmentally safe products for decades and offers a full line of adhesives to meet CARB standards as well as other global formaldehyde emissions standards. The division pursued soybean research because it is a renewable resource that reduces reliability on petrochemicals, extends open times, is free of formaldehyde and offers physical flexibility.

“We are grateful to USB for its role in supporting research that led to the development of Multibond MX-100 and future products that use soy,” said Michelle Tobbe, wood adhesives technical director. “I think our customers will agree that we have developed the ideal blend of synthetic and natural materials to create an environmentally friendly, cost-effective adhesive that is easy to use and performs very well.”

Multibond MX-100 is among a broad offering of adhesives formulated by Franklin Adhesives & Polymers to meet a wide variety of applications within the millwork, furniture and engineered lamination industries. In addition to Multibond, the division produces adhesives under the brand names Titebond®, Advantage® and Assembly® to meet the full scope of needs within woodworking plants.

For more information on Multibond MX-100 or any other wood adhesive offered by Franklin Adhesives & Polymers, visit www.franklinadhesivesandpolymers.com, e-mail marketing@franklininternational.com or call 800.877.4583.

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About Franklin International: Based in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., Franklin International was established in 1935 and today is among the largest privately held manufacturers of adhesives, sealants and polymers for commercial and industrial applications. Franklin integrates its core competency – emulsion polymerization – into a broad product offering, including glues, adhesives, binders, films, sizing compounds and more. These products are distributed across six continents for use in construction, furniture manufacturing, millwork, filters, pressure-sensitive paper products and fiberglass reinforcement.

About United Soybean Council (USB): USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

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