A wonder adhesive for replacing the scarce metal
Authors: Kalinichenko A. L. 
Published: April 2024

Introduction. Based on archival materials, the article follows a little-known fact of the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945, namely, the scientific discovery by the specialists of the Central Research Institute (TsNIPS), related to the creation of the formulation for the TsNIPS-2 construction adhesive. With its help, in a difficult period for the country, the industrial production of new construction materials was established and Red Army gunsmiths, located on the front line, quickly restored small arms that went out of action in battles with the enemy.

Aim. To introduce into a scientific discourse the materials of archival sources on the history of creating a TsNIPS-2 new construction material, as well as on the individual research results of its inventor – a senior researcher, Cand. Sci. (Engineering) Maria N. Plungyanskaya, who worked for a long period in the TsNIPS Laboratory of Timber Structures.

Materials and methods. Archival materials on the current topic were used in the preparation of the publication. Due to them, as well as with the help of retrospective, historical-typological and comparative research methods, the author traced certain aspects of the complex path of creating a new adhesive by clarifying its composition, order of preparation and industrial application.

Results. The article studies and shows the individual stages of creating the TsNIPS adhesive formula, which ensured (due to cold-dry setting) the large-volume industrial production of high quality construction plywood of various thicknesses for the construction industry, as well as other timber structures that replaced the scarce metal. The procedure and rules for the practical use of the TsNIPS-2 adhesive by gunsmiths beyond the limits of stationary conditions (“in a trench”) for the successful restoration of wooden parts in rifles and assault rifles (butt, forearm, etc.), as well as the prompt return of thousands of weapons to the units are described.

Conclusions. The content of the article will serve as a vivid illustration in the scientific and educational context about the traditions and activities of scientific schools, presented by the institutes of JSC Research Center of Construction, their contribution to the research field on the creation of new construction materials for increasing the power of the country. The research work of the Institute’s scientists was of a great practical importance, offering the construction industry new types of light industrial collapsible structures with a high transportability, their numerous achievements were effectively used at the front to achieve the Great Victory. In the period of 1930–1940, the construction, widely developed in the country, required, on the one hand, high-quality design solutions and, on the other hand, the simplicity and economy of their implementation. In these conditions, adhesive and laminated plywood structures were of a particular importance, ensuring the industrialization of the wooden construction part production and the cost-effectiveness of using timber in construction. The important properties of the TsNIPs-2 adhesive, obtained by the researcher M.N. Plungyanskaya, including water resistance and durability, as well as simplicity and ease of its handling, made it possible to use the material in industry for assembling the hulls of wooden ships, producing laminated structures, parts of cars, and oil pipelines, made of veneer or thin plywood, as well as in combat conditions for the manufacture and repair of small arms, etc., thereby bringing a significant economic effect and expanding the possibilities of its use in the domestic industry.