R. N. Kumar obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in 1966. He became Head of Chemistry at the Indian Plywood Industries Research Institute, Bangalore, India (1966-72) and then Head of Research and Development Division at The Western India Plywoods Ltd., Kerala, India (1972-1992). He then moved to the Universiti Sains Malaysia and taught wood technology, polymer technology and wood chemistry. He has more than 80 publications as well as 14 patents on adhesives, UV curable coatings.A. Pizzi is Professor Emeritus of Industrial Chemistry at the School of Timber Engineering the University of Lorraine, France for the last 25 years and has previously held the ad hominem Chair of Polymer Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof. Pizzi who has been Director of three National Institutes in South Africa and has held long-term positions in the timber and adhesives industry. He holds a doctorate in Physical Chemistry of Organic Polymers (University of Rome, Italy), a PhD in Organic Chemistry (University of the Orange Free State, South Africa) and a D.Sc. in Wood Science (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa). He is the holder of a number of prestigious international science prizes such as, among others, the Schweighofer Innovation Prize and the Descartes Science finalist Prize (twice), the highest given by the European Commission. He has more than 700 publications in international science journals of standing and numerous books and patents. He is a leading specialist in wood adhesives and wood panels.

• Preface xxi Part A: Substrates, Adhesives, and Adhesion1 Wood as a Unique Adherend 32 Fundamentals of Adhesion 313 Urea–Formaldehyde Resins 614 Melamine–Formaldehyde Resin 1015 Phenol–Formaldehyde Resins 1156 Resorcinol–Formaldehyde Resins and Hydroxymethyl Resorcinol (HMR and n-HMR) 1477 Polyurethane Adhesives 1698 Wood Surface Inactivation (Thermal) 2019 Wood Surface Inactivation Due to Extractives 21110 Surface Modification of Wood 22311 The Chemistry of Condensed Tannins 23912 Thermosetting Adhesives Based on Bio-Resources for Lignocellulosic Composites 26713 Environmental Aspects of Adhesives—Emission of Formaldehyde 29314 Rheology and Viscoelasticity of Adhesives 31715 Hot Melt Adhesives 347Part B: Polymer Matrix Materials For Biofiber Composites16 Modification of Natural Fibers and Polymeric Matrices 36917 Polymer Matrix: Unsaturated Polyester 38918 Polymer Matrix: Epoxy Resins 40319 Polymer Matrix: Polyethylene 42520 Polymer Matrix: Polypropylene 44121 Biodegradable Polymers as Matrix for Biocomposites 467Index 483

R. N. Kumar obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in 1966. He became Head of Chemistry at the Indian Plywood Industries Research Institute, Bangalore, India (1966-72) and then Head of Research and Development Division at The Western India Plywoods Ltd., Kerala, India (1972-1992). He then moved to the Universiti Sains Malaysia and taught wood technology, polymer technology and wood chemistry. He has more than 80 publications as well as 14 patents on adhesives, UV curable coatings.A. Pizzi is Professor Emeritus of Industrial Chemistry at the School of Timber Engineering the University of Lorraine, France for the last 25 years and has previously held the ad hominem Chair of Polymer Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof. Pizzi who has been Director of three National Institutes in South Africa and has held long-term positions in the timber and adhesives industry. He holds a doctorate in Physical Chemistry of Organic Polymers (University of Rome, Italy), a PhD in Organic Chemistry (University of the Orange Free State, South Africa) and a D.Sc. in Wood Science (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa). He is the holder of a number of prestigious international science prizes such as, among others, the Schweighofer Innovation Prize and the Descartes Science finalist Prize (twice), the highest given by the European Commission. He has more than 700 publications in international science journals of standing and numerous books and patents. He is a leading specialist in wood adhesives and wood panels.

• Preface xxi Part A: Substrates, Adhesives, and Adhesion1 Wood as a Unique Adherend 32 Fundamentals of Adhesion 313 Urea–Formaldehyde Resins 614 Melamine–Formaldehyde Resin 1015 Phenol–Formaldehyde Resins 1156 Resorcinol–Formaldehyde Resins and Hydroxymethyl Resorcinol (HMR and n-HMR) 1477 Polyurethane Adhesives 1698 Wood Surface Inactivation (Thermal) 2019 Wood Surface Inactivation Due to Extractives 21110 Surface Modification of Wood 22311 The Chemistry of Condensed Tannins 23912 Thermosetting Adhesives Based on Bio-Resources for Lignocellulosic Composites 26713 Environmental Aspects of Adhesives—Emission of Formaldehyde 29314 Rheology and Viscoelasticity of Adhesives 31715 Hot Melt Adhesives 347Part B: Polymer Matrix Materials For Biofiber Composites16 Modification of Natural Fibers and Polymeric Matrices 36917 Polymer Matrix: Unsaturated Polyester 38918 Polymer Matrix: Epoxy Resins 40319 Polymer Matrix: Polyethylene 42520 Polymer Matrix: Polypropylene 44121 Biodegradable Polymers as Matrix for Biocomposites 467Index 483

R. N. Kumar obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in 1966. He became Head of Chemistry at the Indian Plywood Industries Research Institute, Bangalore, India (1966-72) and then Head of Research and Development Division at The Western India Plywoods Ltd., Kerala, India (1972-1992). He then moved to the Universiti Sains Malaysia and taught wood technology, polymer technology and wood chemistry. He has more than 80 publications as well as 14 patents on adhesives, UV curable coatings.A. Pizzi is Professor Emeritus of Industrial Chemistry at the School of Timber Engineering the University of Lorraine, France for the last 25 years and has previously held the ad hominem Chair of Polymer Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof. Pizzi who has been Director of three National Institutes in South Africa and has held long-term positions in the timber and adhesives industry. He holds a doctorate in Physical Chemistry of Organic Polymers (University of Rome, Italy), a PhD in Organic Chemistry (University of the Orange Free State, South Africa) and a D.Sc. in Wood Science (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa). He is the holder of a number of prestigious international science prizes such as, among others, the Schweighofer Innovation Prize and the Descartes Science finalist Prize (twice), the highest given by the European Commission. He has more than 700 publications in international science journals of standing and numerous books and patents. He is a leading specialist in wood adhesives and wood panels.

• Preface xxi Part A: Substrates, Adhesives, and Adhesion1 Wood as a Unique Adherend 32 Fundamentals of Adhesion 313 Urea–Formaldehyde Resins 614 Melamine–Formaldehyde Resin 1015 Phenol–Formaldehyde Resins 1156 Resorcinol–Formaldehyde Resins and Hydroxymethyl Resorcinol (HMR and n-HMR) 1477 Polyurethane Adhesives 1698 Wood Surface Inactivation (Thermal) 2019 Wood Surface Inactivation Due to Extractives 21110 Surface Modification of Wood 22311 The Chemistry of Condensed Tannins 23912 Thermosetting Adhesives Based on Bio-Resources for Lignocellulosic Composites 26713 Environmental Aspects of Adhesives—Emission of Formaldehyde 29314 Rheology and Viscoelasticity of Adhesives 31715 Hot Melt Adhesives 347Part B: Polymer Matrix Materials For Biofiber Composites16 Modification of Natural Fibers and Polymeric Matrices 36917 Polymer Matrix: Unsaturated Polyester 38918 Polymer Matrix: Epoxy Resins 40319 Polymer Matrix: Polyethylene 42520 Polymer Matrix: Polypropylene 44121 Biodegradable Polymers as Matrix for Biocomposites 467Index 483