Review on effects different modifier towards formaldehyde emission, physical and mechanical properties of melamine urea formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde bonded particleboard / Mohammad Farhan Iskandar

Particleboard is one of the composite panels most commonly used in the mechanical industry. Particleboards are more cheap, dense, and uniform than conventional wood and plywood, and replace them where cost is greater than strength and appearance. However, too much emission was produced in the production of particleboard sespecially on MUF and UF. Free formaldehyde releases from wood composite panelsare impacting to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has nevertheless considered the application of formaldehyde-based resins as synthetic binder in wood-based panels as a human carcinogen, which can cause a burning feeling in eyes, nose and throat, coughing, and queasiness. In order to reduce formaldehyde emissions from particleboard production, several modifiers have beenadded. Hemp flour. Liquid condensates and Amines were used as different modifier to reduce formaldehyde emission. However, addition of modifier will give impact towards the physical and mechanical properties of the board. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of modifier towards formaldehyde emission, physical and mechanical properties of the board after the modifier was added as a formaldehyde scavenger. The result shows that addition of modifier was produce a good result in reducing formaldehyde emission. However, the application of a formaldehyde scavenger has an impact on the board's mechanical or physical properties.