engleski

Comparison of an older generation particleboards properties with modern particleboards

Subject of this research were particleboard panels after twenty seven years of use as integral element of an office table cabinet. Physical properties of particleboard panels were tested, with particular emphasis on swelling in thickness. Mechanical properties with emphasis on bending and tensile strength and free formaldehyde concentration using the WKI method were also tested. The analysis of results from oak wood veneered particleboard panels testing, showed extremely low swelling, significantly lower in comparison to an average thickness swelling of modern particleboards. Mechanical properties of veneered particleboard panels are very high, especially tensile strength perpendicular to the plane of the board. Free formaldehyde concentration determined by diffusive WKI-24 method, with application of iodometric titration shows high values. Spectrometric analysis shows somewhat lower values, but still very high, according to which this office desk with cabinet could not qualify on market today. Due to the application of carbamide-formaldehyde resin with significantly higher carbamide and formaldehyde mole ratio, particleboard panels produced about thirty years ago have higher emission potential in relation to those produced today. Newly produced particleboard panels in relation to particleboards produced thirty years ago have more intense odour. Still, their emission potential is lower, which shows that the odour does not come from free formaldehyde. That is logical, because human sense of sensibility does not usually respond to such extremely low concentrations.

veneered particleboard panels; free formaldehyde; carbamide-formaldehyde resins; technical properties; diffusive method

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