Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions of wood-based panels coated with nanoparticles modified water based varnish

The VOCs emissions of veneered particleboards coated with nanoparticles modified waterborne polyurethane varnish were investigated in this study. For the improvement of nanoparticles dispersion in waterborne polyurethane varnish, the surface of the nanoparticles was modified with KH550 silane coupling agent. VOCs emissions of coating panels containing various nanoparticles were evaluated with small-scale chamber method. The effect of nano TiO₂, montmorillonite (MMT) and the mixture of them in varnish on VOCs degradation of wood-based panels were discussed and compared to the original varnish coating panels without nanoparticles herein. The results showed that treatment of nanoparticles with KH550 improves nanoparticles dispersion, and the modified waterborne polyurethane varnish used for wood-based panels finishing improved VOCs emissions. Various nanoparticles additions in varnish coating panels result in different degradation capacity on VOCs emission. After UV irradiation, the equilibrium concentrations of TVOC emitted from nanoparticles modified varnish coating panels were 21.05–41.57 % lower than of control panel. In addition, aldehydes and ketones compounds were found to exhibit good reduction.