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A strong, water-resistant glue made from soya beans has emerged as a cheap,
less damaging alternative to fume-producing glues derived from petroleum
products. Xiuzhi Sun of Kansas State University, Manhattan, chemically modified
soya protein so that it partially unfolds, allowing hydrophobic regions to come
to the surface of the molecule and make the glue water-resistant. She found that
when the glue is used as a wood adhesive the joint is stronger than the wood
itself. And after three cycles of soaking for 48 hours and drying for 48 hours,
90 per cent of its strength remained.