BioRUHM research project successfully completed: bio-based and isocyanate-free adhesive systems as a way forward

How can high-performance industrial adhesives become more sustainable without losing their tried-and-tested properties? This was the question addressed by the BioRUHM research project – Bio-based Reactive Urethane-free Hot Melts – on which ADTRACON worked alongside HOBUM Oleochemicals GmbH and Fraunhofer IFAM from 2022 to 2025.

The aim of the project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH), was to develop a new generation of reactive hot-melt adhesives: bio-based, isocyanate-free and designed with future requirements for sustainability and the circular economy in mind.

ADTRACON has been working on low-emission adhesive solutions for many years. As early as 2007, the AdtraPUR Low Emission product range was developed as an alternative offering significant advantages, particularly in the area of occupational health and safety. The BioRUHM research project is now taking this a step further: in addition to reducing critical ingredients, the focus is also on increasing the use of renewable raw materials.

“Looking ahead, we want to combine these developments with sustainability. We have created formulations that consist of at least 60 per cent – and in some cases as much as 87 per cent – renewable raw materials,” explains project coordinator Mr Bollmann.

As part of the research, an extensive library of bio-based polyesters has been established. Various combinations of raw materials were investigated in order to specifically tailor adhesive properties such as flexibility, strength, temperature behaviour and processability.

The silane-modified polyester structures developed are particularly promising. They open up new possibilities for more sustainable adhesive systems and show potential for applications in various industrial sectors.

Even after the funded project phase has come to an end, research at ADTRACON continues. The next steps will focus on further optimising processing properties, scaling up production and conducting tests under real production conditions.

“Technically, we are close to market readiness. The challenge lies in achieving the high performance of conventional systems with a new, more sustainable chemical architecture,” said Bollmann.

The results from BioRUHM provide ADTRACON with a valuable foundation for future developments and are already expanding the company’s expertise in the field of bio-based adhesive technologies.

The full interview with Mr Bollmann at the FNR can be found here: Interview (in German)