Penetration of urea–formaldehyde resins with different formaldehyde/urea mole ratios into softwood tissues

In order to understand the impact of formaldehyde/urea (F/U) mole ratio on penetration characteristics of urea–formaldehyde (UF) resin into softwood tissues, a quantitative measurement of UF resin penetration into radiata pine (Pinus radiata) tissues from the bond-line was undertaken. Four different F/U mole ratios (1.6, 1.4, 1.2, and 1.0) of UF resins with different viscosities and two levels of hardener (NH₄Cl) for two extreme F/U mole ratios (1.6 and 1.0) were studied. Firstly, field emission scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to localize UF resins in the bond-line for the qualitative evaluation of resin penetration. Then light microscopy was employed to quantitatively measure the resin penetration and bond-line thickness. A decrease in the F/U mole ratio of UF resin that proportionately decreased the resin viscosity resulted in an increase in the average resin penetration and a decrease in the bond-line thickness. Higher hardener level provided a greater resin penetration with all F/U mole ratio UF resins. These results demonstrated that F/U mole ratio had an impact on the penetration and bond-line thickness of UF resins, owing to differences in the reactivity of resins, with higher F/U mole ratio resins being more reactive.