Characteristics of VOCs Released from Plywood in Airtight Environments

Abstract

In order to explore the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and different VOC components in airtight environments, polyvinyl chloride laminated plywood (PVC-P), melamine-impregnated paper laminated plywood (MI-P), water-based paint laminated plywood (WP-P) and unfinished plywood (UF-P) were tested as materials in 15 L small environment cabins. VOCs were collected after being sealed for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h and 30 h under different loading ratios (1 m2/m3, 1.5 m2/m3, 2 m2/m3, 2.5 m2/m3) and analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer. The results show that VOCs gradually increased and tended to be saturated with the increase of time in an airtight environment. The saturation of veneered plywood was faster than unfinished plywood and the pollution degree of three kinds of veneered plywood from lowest to highest was in order of PVC-P, MI-P, WP-P. Aromatic hydrocarbons account for more than half of VOC concentration, and was most obviously affected by the loading ratios. Surfaced laminated plywood can reduce the emission of aromatic hydrocarbons, but also increases the amount of other compounds released. The concentration of VOC-components shows different characteristic curves at different loading ratios due to the influence of decorative materials.