• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2 s.130
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• pp.29-39
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• 2005

Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels bonded with pine and wattle tannin-based adhesives, urea-formaldehyde resin (UF), melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF), and co-polycondensed resin of urea-melamine-formaldehyde (UMF) were measured by the Japanese standard method using a desiccator (JIS A 1460) and the EN 120 (European Committee For Standardization, 1991) method using the perforator value. In formaldehyde emission, all particleboards made using the wattle tannin-based adhesive with three different hardeners, paraformaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine, and tris(hydroxyl)nitromethan (TN), satisfied the requirements of grade $E_1$. But only those made using the pine tannin-based adhesive with the hexamine as hardener met the grade $E_1$ requirements. Hexamine was effective in reducing formaldehyde emission in tannin-based adhesives when used as the hardener. While the UF resin showed a desiccator value of $7.1mg/{\ell}$ and a perforator value of 12.1 mg/100 g, the MF resin exhibited a desiccator value of $0.6mg/{\ell}$ and a perforator value of 2.9 mg/100 g. According to the Japanese Industrial Standard and the European Standard, the formaldehyde emission level of the MDF panels made with UF resin in this study came under grade $E_2$. The formaldehyde emission level was dramatically reduced by the addition of MF resin. The desiccator and perforator methods produced proportionally equivalent results. Gas chromatography, a more sensitive and advanced method, was also used. The samples for gas chromatography were gathered during the experiment involving the perforator method. The formaldehyde contents measured by gas chromatography were directly proportional to the perforator values.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2019

This study aimed at developing an accelerated collection method that reduces measurement and collection time by improving and complementing the desiccator method, which is mainly used for quality control in wood-based panels and furniture production sites. First, this study measured the formaldehyde emissions from the wood-based panels by grade using the desiccator method. Further, this study compared the desiccator method with the developed process and analyzed the correlation in optimal temperature, time, and exposed area. The results showed that the developed process resulted in relatively similar outcomes in comparison to the desiccator method when the temperature was $100^{\circ}C$, the time was 1 h, and two specimens were used, at which the correlation was high. To verify the developed process, this study commissioned Korea Conformity Laboratories with the standardized temperature, time, and the number of specimens to compare them with the specimen that was not used in the actual test. As a result, the correlation to the desiccator method was shown to be very high. However, the formaldehyde emission measured by the accelerated collection process was mostly higher than that measured by the desiccator method. The formaldehyde emission grades from several specimens were one level higher. However, from the perspectives of quality control, it was determined that the accelerated collection method developed in this study could be sufficiently used.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.24-37
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• 2007

The Korean Ministry of Environment started controlling indoor air quality (IAQ) in 2004 through the introduction of a law regulating the use of pollutant emitting building materials. The use of materials with formaldehyde emission levels above $1.25 mg/m^2{\cdot}h$ (JIS A 1901, small chamber method) has been prohibited. This level is equivalent to the $E_2$ grade ($>5.0mg/{\ell}$) of the desiccator method (JIS A 1460). However, the $20{\ell}$ small chamber method requires a 7-day test time to obtain the formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission results from solid building interior materials. As a approach to significantly reduce the test time, the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC) has been proposed in Europe with a total test time less than one hour. This paper assesses the reproducibility of testing formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from wood-based composites such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), laminate flooring, and engineered flooring using three methods: desiccator, perforator and FLEC. According to the desiccator and perforator standards, the formaldehyde emission level of each flooring was ${\le}E_1$ grade. The formaldehyde emission of MDF was $3.48 mg/{\ell}$ by the desiccator method and 8.57 g/100 g by the perforator method. To determine the formaldehyde emission, the peak areas of each wood-based composite were calculated from aldehyde chromatograms obtained using the FLEC method. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and benzaldehyde were detected as aldehyde compounds. The experimental results indicated that MDF emitted chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xy-lene, styrene, and o-xylene. MDF emitted significantly greater amounts of VOCs than the floorings did.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.42-51
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• 2006

The this study, the effect of rice husk flour (RHF) as scavenger on formaldehyde emission rate and formaldehyde content from urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin bonded RHF content wood particleboards (PB). Two type of particle size ($30{\mu}m$ and $300{\mu}m$) of RHF was premixed with the UF resin at 5% and 15% by weight. The performance of UF resins is greatly influenced by the curing characteristics in their curing processing. The curing behavior was monitored activation energy ($E_a$) by DSC and pH variation according to RHF contents. PB with dimensions of $27cm{\times}27cm{\times}0.7cm$ was prepared at a specific gravity of 0.75 using $E_1$ and $E_2$ class UF resins. Formaldehyde emission and formaldehyde content from RHF filled PB bonded with UF resin was measured by 24 h desiccator and perforator method, respectively. RHF causes an increased pH of UF resin. $E_a$ of the modified UF resin decreased independently of RHF particle size. As the pH and the $E_a$ variation of the UF resin containing RHF increased, the amount of formaldehyde content decreased. The formaldehyde emission and formaldehyde content levels of the PB bonded with 15 wt% of $30{\mu}m$ RHF and $E_2$ type UF resin were low and satisfied grade $E_1$, as measured by 24 h desiccator and perforator method. The result of a comparison between 24 h desiccator and perforator test using PB showed that the linear regression analyses show a good correlation between the results for the 24 h desiccator and the perforator tests. The linear regression of a correlation between the desiccator and the perforator was Y=4.842X-0.064 ($R^2=0.989$). RHF was effective at reducing formaldehyde emission and formaldehyde content in urea-formaldehyde adhesives when used as scavenger.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.401-410
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• 2022

This work reports an oven drying test performed on weathered granite soil from Yecheon, Korea, in order to find an effective method for measuring the weight of pure soil particles. After samples were oven dried, weights measured following desiccation using the method specified by the Korean Industrial Standard (KS F) were compared with weights measured without prior desiccation. Soil samples exposed to air for 45 min after oven drying absorbed moisture from the air and gradually increased in weight. When a desiccator was used, results measured 30 s after exposure to air indicated weight increases of 0.103-0.735% (depending on the particle size of the soil) relative to equivalent samples measured without desiccation. Using a desiccator after oven drying leads to overestimation of the pure soil weight. Therefore, measuring the weight of a soil sample immediately after oven drying without using a desiccator can reduce the error of weight measurement.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2004

This paper attempted to review measuring methods of formaldehyde emission from wood-based panel products. Methods included for the discussion were desiccator methods, extraction method, and various chamber methods. First, the procedures and testing conditions of 24-hour desiccator method was critically reviewed, and an improvement of this method was proposed to meet international standards. Two different small chamber methods ($20\ell$ and $1m^3$ chamber methods) were also compared in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the regulation levels of formaldehyde emission of wood-based composite panels were compared for different countries. The selection of a reference method of measuring formaldehyde emission of wood panel products should consider the ease of conducting test and cost required. Results should be exchangeable for different methods.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.29-41
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• 2006

This study was to investigate the effect of adding additive as tannin, rice husk and charcoal, for reducing the formaldehyde emission level, on the adhesion properties of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin for particleboard. We controlled the hot-pressing time, temperature and pressure to determine the bonding strength and formaldehyde emission. Blends of various UF resin/additives (tannin, rice husk and charcoal) compositions were prepared. To determine and compare the effect of additives (tannin, rice husk and charcoal) content, 0, 5, 10 and 15%, by weight of UF resin, were used. $NH_4Cl$ as hardener added. To determine the level of formaldehyde emission, we used the desiccator, perforator and 20 L-small chamber method. The formaldehyde emission level decreased with increased additions of additive (except rice husk). Also, increased hot-pressing time decreased formaldehyde emission level. At a charcoal replacement ratio of only 15%, the formaldehyde emission level is under F ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ grade (emit < $0.3mg/{\ell}$). Curing of the high tannin additive content in this adhesive system indicated that the bonding strength increased. But, in the case of rice husk and charcoal, the bonding strength was much lower due to the inorganic substance. Furthermore, rice husk was poor in bonding strength as well as formaldehyde emission than tannin and charcoal.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2012

This study analysis the effect of various temperatures (20, 35 and $50^{\circ}C$) on the formaldehyde emission from wood composites, which were particleboard (PB), medium density fiberboard (MDF), high density fiberboard (HDF) and laminated HDF (L-HDF) by Japanese desiccator method. Also, to reduce formaldehyde emission by wood composites, it has been suggested that undergo a bake-out conditions. On average, the level of formaldehyde emission increased many times with a $15^{\circ}C$ increase in temperature from 20 to $35^{\circ}C$ for PB, MDF, HDF and L-HDF, respectively. Formaldehyde emissions from wood composites could be expected to increase with increasing ambient temperature. At $35$ for 28 days bake-out treatment of boards, the free formaldehyde emission reduced 67.8% (PB), 40.1% (MDF), 37.8% (HDF), and 35.2% (L-HDF). On the other hand, after the bake-out at $50^{\circ}C$ for 28 days, the formaldehyde concentration decreased by 88.2, 66.9, 62.2 and 59.3% of the concentration before the bake-out for PB, MDF, HDF and L-HDF, respectively. An interesting of the bake-out treatment at $50^{\circ}C$ after 14 days, formaldehyde emission grade of PB & MDF down $E_2$ to $E_1$, and HDF & L-HDF down $E_1$ to $E_0$.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.58-66
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• 2007

The objective of this research was to develop environment-friendly adhesives for face fancy veneer bonding of engineered flooring. Urea-formaldehyde (UF)-tannin and melamine-formaldehyde (MF)/PVAc hybrid resin were used to replace UF resin in the formaldehyde-based resin system in order to reduce formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the adhesives used between plywoods and fancy veneers. Wattle tannin powder (5 wt%) was added to UF resin and PVAc (30 wt%) to MF resin. These adhesive systems showed better bonding than commercial UF resin with a similar level of wood penetration. The initial adhesion strength was sufficient to be maintained within the optimum initial tack range. The standard formaldehyde emission test (desiccator method) and VOC analyzer were used to determine the formaldehyde and VOC emissions from engineered flooring bonded with commercial UF resin, UF-tannin and MF/PVAc hybrid resin. By desiccator method, the formaldehyde emission level of UF resin showed the highest but was reduced by replacing with UF-tannin and MF/PVAc hybrid resin. MF/PVAc hybrid satisfied the $E_1$ grade (below $1.5mg/{\ell}$). VOC emission results by VOC analyzer were similar with the formaldehyde emission results. TVOC emission was in the following order: UF > UF-tannin > MF/PVAc hybrid resin.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.600-606
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• 2016

Wood-based composite panels such as plywood, particleboard (PB), or medium density fiberboard (MDF) are mostly used in the lamination on their surface for the manufacturing of furniture, or interior building products, the concern on the formaldehyde emission (FE) from the surface laminated wood panels is increasingly attracting attentions from the public. Thus, this study was conducted to understand influence of surface laminating materials to the FE from PB and MDF with or without edge sealing, using 24-hour desiccator method. Both PB samples that had been laminated on their surface with low-pressure laminate (LPL) or polypropylene (PP) film and MDF that had been treated with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) or coating were tested for the FE with or without edge sealing. As expected, the FE of PB with the sealed edges decreased to 37.4% and 80.7% with the LPL and PP lamination, respectively. The surface laminated MDF with the sealed edges also showed a decrease in the emission up to 57.8% and 54.3%, with the PVC lamination and coating, respectively. However, the coated MDF samples showed 5.3% increase in the emission when their edges were not sealed, indicating a FE form the solvent used for coating. These results showed that the type of surface lamination materials on wood-based composite panels has a great impact on their resultant FE, indicating that the influence of surface laminating materials should be taken into consideration for the formaldehyde mission measurement.