ABSTRACT
Tannin is a renewable resource that is “coming of age” in several fields different from their usual classical application, namely hide tanning to produce heavy duty leather. Since 1970s, tannin-based adhesives for wood industry have been produced and commercialized. More recently, new promising tannin-based materials such as biocomposites and rigid foams have also been developed. In this chapter, we present an updated overview of tannin research regarding the industrial extraction methods, the reactivity and the applications. The coverage also includes the results and perspectives in the field of condensed tannins extraction and utilization. Recent research efforts on new material applications are also presented: biocomposites composed of natural fibers (flax, hemp) and of tannin-based resin and also tannin-based rigid foams with excellent performance and characteristics. A new potential source of condensed tannins (the grape pomace) is proposed and the first results on the utilization of grape pomace as a source of tannins for wood adhesives are presented.
