Effects of Temperature on the Emission Rate of Formaldehyde from Medium Density Fiberboard in a Controlled Chamber

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas that is found naturally in the environment. It is a popular additive in many consumer products including composite wood products. Composite wood products are engineered wood panels produced from pressing pieces, chips, particles, or fibers of wood together at high temperatures held together with a bonding agent. This bonding agent is often formaldehyde-containing resins that are known to release formaldehyde over time. This is concerning because of the carcinogenic classification of formaldehyde, the wide spread application of composite wood products, and the increasing amount of time spent in the indoor environment. In a controlled 0.53 m3 chamber, a panel of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a surface area of 4.49 m2 was subjected to multiple temperatures to measure formaldehyde emissions. The panels were allowed to acclimate for 48 hours followed by a 72 hour sample period using passive diffusive monitors at temperatures: 26.1, 29.3, 34.1, and 38.9 °C. The results of the study found a strong relationship (R2 = 0.9954) between the emission rate of formaldehyde from MDF and temperature. The emission rate increased 192% between 26.1 °C and 38.9 °C. The results of the study indicate that as temperature increases, the amount of formaldehyde emitted from a panel of MDF also increases. This results in higher airborne concentrations of formaldehyde in environments where the panels are present