Evaluation of formaldehyde emission from particleboard using the large chamber and desiccator method at various loading ratios

We studied formaldehyde emission from uncoated particleboard with 16-mm thickness using the large chamber and the desiccator method. A chamber of 28.4 m3 was installed to simulate a mobile home. The formaldehyde off-gassing properties of particleboard were evaluated using the chamber. The relationship between the concentration obtained by the chamber and the values by the desiccator test was discussed in this study under different conditions of conditioning day, air exchange, and loading ratio. These two methods were compared and discussed regarding the formaldehyde emission level. Three loading ratios, 0.429 m2/m3, 0.264 m2/m3, and 0.132 m2/m3, were chosen to represent different applications of particleboard products. There was strong correlation between emissions and air exchange rates at equal product-loading ratios in the large chamber, the related coefficient R 2 exceeded 0.90. There was also an indication of a generic correlation between the large chamber and the two-hour desiccator test with a single product designated loading ratio, air exchange rate, and climatic conditions.