MDI-bonded hardwood composites: some indications of the impact of MDI on formaldehyde and VOC emissions

Abstract

Formaldehyde and VOC emissions from wood and wood-based articles is an issue that increasingly arouses concerns, and regulatory controls and restrictions. It is commonly accepted that the main source of formaldehyde from wood composite panels produced with formaldehydebased polycondensate resins comes from the resin itself. For this reason producers are devoting resources to limiting and controlling resin-originated formaldehyde and VOC emissions. MDI-based resins do not easily decompose. The question is whether MDI resins impact positively, negatively or indifferently on wood originated-formaldehyde and VOC compounds.