Effect of loading ratio, conditioning time and air exchange rate on the formaldehyde emission from wood-based board using large chamber and desiccator method

The emission of formaldehyde is critical factor in the evaluation of environment and health effects of wood-based composite materials. Different test methods are used in different countries. The comparison study was done between commonly used American test methods, large chamber ASTM E1333-10, and Japanese desiccator method JIS A 1460-2001 for testing Formaldehyde emission form 16 mm uncoated particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF) under the different conditioning days, air exchange rates, and loading ratios. In case of reduction of the loading ratios, the good correlation between the large chamber method and the desiccator test could be obtained for particleboard tested. With the reduction of the loading ratios, the correlation between the large chamber method and the desiccator test was improved. At the loading ratio of 0.04 ft(2)/ft(3), the coefficients of determination (R-2) showed 0.995 for 0.5 AC/HR, and 0.989 for 1.0 AC/HR. Large chamber emission rate at 1.0 AC/HR was 0.727 time Large chamber emission rate at 0.5 AC/HR. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.