{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T19:18:09Z","timestamp":1777663089116,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,10]],"date-time":"2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752105600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation","award":["EPAnEK 2014\u20132020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EPAnEK 2014\u20132020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this work, we present the fabrication of low-cost, stable nanocellulose colloidal suspensions with an average particle size of approximately 160 nm, produced via a straightforward, solvent-free ultrasonication process that eliminates the need for corrosive chemicals or energy-intensive mechanical treatments. The resulting nanocellulose suspensions were utilized as reinforcing additives in urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, which were subsequently applied in the production of particle boards. This approach addresses the increasing EU regulatory constraints regarding low formaldehyde-to-urea (F\/U) molar ratios and the broader need for biobased, eco-friendly alternatives in the wood adhesive industry. Mechanical testing of the nanocellulose reinforced boards revealed notable improvements in the internal bond strength and modulus of rupture, along with a significant decrease in formaldehyde release compared to boards produced with conventional UF resins. These findings highlight the potential of ultrasonication-derived nanocellulose as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective additive to enhance the mechanical performance and reduce the environmental impact of UF-based wood composites.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30142911","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,10]],"date-time":"2025-07-10T09:38:27Z","timestamp":1752140307000},"page":"2911","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Reinforcing Urea\u2013Formaldehyde Resins with Low-Cost, Mechanically Derived Nanocellulose: A Sustainable Approach"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6934-8476","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eleni A.","family":"Psochia","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54214 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Emmanouil","family":"Karagiannidis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHIMAR HELLAS S.A., 15 Km National Road, Thessaloniki\u2013Polygyros, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3153-5326","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eleftheria","family":"Athanasiadou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHIMAR HELLAS S.A., 15 Km National Road, Thessaloniki\u2013Polygyros, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8658-8500","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Konstantinos S.","family":"Triantafyllidis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia"},{"name":"Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2018.05.037","article-title":"Highly Flexible Glycol-Urea-Formaldehyde Resins","volume":"105","author":"Antunes","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. 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