The reduction of indoor air pollutant from wood-based composite by adding pozzolan for building materials

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physico-mechanical properties and characteristics on reduction of formaldehyde and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) emission from medium density fiberboard (MDF) as furniture materials with added volcanic pozzolan. Pozzolan was added as a scavenger to urea formaldehyde (UF) resin for MDF manufacture. The moisture content, density, thickness swelling, water absorption and physical properties of MDFs were examined. Three-point bending strength and internal bond strength were determined using a universal testing machine. Formaldehyde and TVOC were determined by desiccator and 20 L small chamber methods as Korean standards method. With increasing pozzolan content the physical and mechanical properties of the MDFs were not significantly changed, but formaldehyde and TVOC emissions were decreased. Because pozzolan has a rough and irregular surface with porous form, it can be used as a scavenger for MDFs without any detrimental effect on the physical and mechanical properties.