Eco-friendly glue developed by Purdue researcher headed to market
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A Massachusetts-based company has obtained the option to market environmentally sustainable glue developed by Purdue University researchers. GluECO Adhesives LLC says it plans to launch an initial line of the corn-based adhesive in the fourth quarter.
Purdue College of Science and College of Engineering professor Jonathan Wilker created the patent-pending adhesive based on zein, a protein in corn.
Traditional adhesives are typically made from petroleum products. The university says the adhesive is degradable and nontoxic.
Wilker says the product is also tunable, which means it can be adjusted for strength, flexibility and performance in extreme temperature, moisture and high-vibration conditions.
“Our adhesives will be 100% biobased and food safe. This makes them ideal for any food or pharmaceutical product that may have direct contact with adhesives and packaging,” said Dan Rose, chief executive officer of GluECO Adhesives. “In addition, we are exploring applications where the adhesive acts as a specialty polymer to create composite materials.
Rosen says his research and development team will build on Wilker’s research to examine it for uses in other forms, including molded, extruded or spun into filaments.