ZUG, Switzerland - In conjunction with the Institute for Materials and Wood Technology at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, AVALON Industries is launching a research project to replace formaldehyde in phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins with biobased, nontoxic platform chemical 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural). Sponsored by the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI), the project will build on the positive results in a similar research project, run by AVALON Industries parent company AVA-CO2, to develop nontoxic urea-HMF resins.
The formaldehyde-based resin manufacturing industry has been facing an increasing challenge since formaldehyde was classified as carcinogenic and mutagenic in the sixth adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) EU directive in June 2014. This classification has far-reaching and immediate consequences for a variety of business sectors, especially in the furniture industry.