The environmental impact of the common binders used in construction materials is usually evaluated through life-cycle assessment (LCA), which is an effective process to measure the service life of construction materials. As construction materials are wood-based, they need flame retardants and various other additives to develop the desired features, which are added during the manufacturing process of construction materials. This makes the materials less environment-friendly and greenhouse gas emitters. The LCA of construction materials made of biodegradable binders, such as starch (flour-, corn-, and potato-based starch), and fibers, such as oat, hemp, and flax shives, has shown that they have less harmful effects on the environment than the conventional construction materials.
This book provides an advanced overview of formaldehyde-free binder and materials based on it, including the procedures and prescriptions for their application. It discusses the synthesis of materials, measurement of the physical and mechanical properties as well as the durability, and analysis of the inner structure of such materials. It presents innovative approaches and advanced solutions to manufacture cost-effective as well as ecologically and environmentally friendly formaldehyde-free hydraulic binder and binder-based materials, using common construction binders and biodegradable binders. As adhesive manufacturing is gaining popularity, this book identifies various formaldehyde-free hydraulic binders and binder-based materials for constructional applications. It also provides information on the most suitable materials and their manufacturing techniques and applications.