Bio-Based Amines in Adhesives and Coatings

Bio-based amines are emerging as valuable building blocks in the development of sustainable adhesives and coatings because they combine high chemical reactivity with the environmental advantages of renewable feedstocks. This chapter examines the role of bio-based amines in these materials, beginning with the fundamental principles of adhesion and coating performance, including wetting, interfacial interactions, curing, crosslinking, and durability. It then discusses the chemistry of amines and their importance as curing agents, crosslinkers, chain extenders, and functional modifiers in adhesive and coating systems. Renewable sources and synthetic pathways for bio-based amines are reviewed, with emphasis on biomass platforms such as lignocellulose, lignin, oils and fats, chitin, and proteins, along with key amination strategies including reductive amination, hydrogen borrowing, hydroamination, and nitrogen-retaining conversions. This chapter further highlights recent examples of bio-based amines in adhesive and coating formulations, showing how these materials can improve bond strength, fracture behavior, water resistance, curing performance, hydrophobicity, and protective properties. At the same time, it addresses the sustainability benefits, technical limitations, and practical challenges that currently restrict wider industrial use, including synthesis complexity, feedstock variability, cost, and performance trade-offs. Overall, this chapter presents bio-based amines as promising components for next-generation adhesives and coatings and emphasizes their potential to support the transition toward high-performance, lower-carbon, and more environmentally responsible material systems.