Installations and Assembly
technical
BULLETIN
VOC Emission Barrier Effects
of Laminates, Overlays and Coatings for Particleboard,
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and Hardboard
Introduction
A principal goal for designers and architects is to
enhance the aesthetic and functional qualities of the
products they use and specify. Concerns about
indoor air quality in homes and offices have added
another laudable goal: to reduce volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions.
Composite wood panels are a family of wood
products that have expanded the design and
performance envelope while offering substantial
cost savings over alternative products, particularly
when combined with decorative surface finishes. In
addition to the significant increase in design
flexibility, many of the laminate and coating options
available to designers today reduce VOC emissions
dramatically.
This technical bulletin addresses the different
surfacing options used with composite wood panels
with a focus on their capabilities as emission
barriers.
Finished Composite Panel Components
The three major components of finished composite
panel products - including particleboard, medium
density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard - are
wood fiber, adhesive binder, and surface finish.
Primary Wood-Base Component
The foundation for particleboard, MDF and
hardboard are wood particles and fiber. These raw
materials are generally by-products of other
woodworking operations (lumber shavings,
sawdust, trimmings, etc.), and are often called
residual wood or residues. In recent years, post
consumer or urban wood has become an important
resource. Wood fiber from all these sources that was
previously landfilled or burned has now become a
valuable and useful product ingredient in the
manufacture of composite wood products.
The Role of Laminates and Coatings as VOC Emission Barriers in Composite Wood Panels
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