Binder compositions and uses thereof

1. An aqueous curable binder composition comprising (i) a polyphenolic macromolecular compound which bears a multitude of phenol or polyhydroxybenzene radicals or catechol radicals (dihydroxybenzene), and (ii) a polyamine functional compound comprising primary and/or secondary and/or tertiary and/or quaternary amine functional groups, and/or reaction product of (i) and (ii), the ratio of polyphenolic macromolecular compound to polyamine functional compound ranging from 98:2 to 50:50, wherein the binder composition further comprises a matrix polymer, wherein the matrix polymer is selected from naturally derived polymers, selected from polysaccharides, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), hydroxypropy cellulose (HPC), 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), oligosaccharides, synthetically derived polymers, selected from polyvinyls (PVA, PVAc, PAN), polyacrylics, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyacrylamide, poiymethacrylamides, polyurethanes, polyesters, aliphatic isocyanate oligomers, azetidinium containing polymer, chitosan and its derivatives, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.

2. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 1 wherein the polyphenolic macromolecular compound which bears a multitude of phenol or polyhydroxybenzene radicals or catechol radicals (dihydroxybenzene) is selected from the group comprising lignosulfonate salts and condensed tannins and mixtures thereof.

3. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 2 wherein the lignosulfonate salt is selected from calcium lignosulfonate, sodium lignosulfonate, ammonium lignosulfonate, magnesium lignosulfonate and mixtures thereof.

4. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 1 wherein the polyamine functional compound is selected from diamines, triamines, tetramines, pentamines and polymeric polyamines or polyimines.

5. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 3 comprising a lignosulfonate salt and a diamine.

6. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 1 wherein the polyphenolic macromolecular compound makes from 50 up to 98 w % based on the total of the three components; the polyamine functional compound makes from 1 up to 40 w % based on the total of the three components; and the polymer content ranges from 1 to 20 w % based upon the total of the three components.

7. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 1 further comprising dyes, antifungal agents, antibacterial agents, hydrophobes, silicone containing coupling agents and/or other additives, selected from silane, dedust oil, hydrophobic polymers, and/or combinations thereof.

8. An assembly of fibers or particles bonded with an aqueous binder composition according to claim 1 or with a binder resulting from the curing of a binder composition according to claim 1 .

9. The assembly of fibers according to claim 8 being an insulation product.

10. The assembly of particles according to claim 8 being a composite wood board.

11. A process for the manufacturing an assembly of fibers or particles characterized in that a combination of (i) an aqueous composition of a polyphenolic macromolecular compound which bears a multitude of phenol or polyhydroxybenzene radicals or catechol radicals (dihydroxybenzene), (ii) an aqueous composition of a polyamine functional compound comprising primary and/or secondary and/or tertiary and/or quaternary amine functional groups, and iii) a matrix polymer, is applied sequentially or simultaneously onto a collection of fibers or particles such that the ratio of polyphenolic macromolecular compound to polyamine functional compound ranges from 98:2 to 50:50 or an aqueous binder composition according to claim 1 is applied onto a collection of fibers or particles, in that the coated fibers or particles are gathered in an assembly and subjected to curing conditions whereby the polyphenolic macromolecular compound and the polyamine functional compound are caused to react to form a macromolecular binder and water is evaporated.

12. The process according to claim 11 wherein the polyamine functional compound is selected from diamines, triamines, tetramines, pentamines and polymeric plolyamines or polyimines, polyvinyl amine, polyether amine, polylysine, ethylene diamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, putrescine, tetraethylmethylenediamine, triethylenetetramine, polyethylenimines, and polyetheramines in linear and branched form.

13. The process according to claim 11 characterized in that curing is performed at a temperature ranging from 90° C.-200° C.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein the aqueous binder composition is applied by spraying onto the collection of fibers or particles.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein the assembly is a wood fiber board or wood particle board, subjected to pressing during curing.

16. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of polyphenolic macromolecular compound to polyamine functional compound ranges from 95:5 to 70:30.

17. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 4 wherein the polyamine functional compound is selected from hexamethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyvinyl amine, polyether amine, polylysine, ethylene diamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, putrescine, tetraethylmethylenediamine, triethylenetetramine, polyethylenimines, and polyetheramines in linear and branched form.

18. The aqueous curable binder composition of claim 17 wherein the polyethylenimine is selected from linear polyethylenimines, branched polyethylenimines and dendrimer polyethyleneimine.