Impact of drying temperature and pressing time factor on VOC emissions from OSB made of Scots pine

Abstract

Abstract Correlations between process parameters and VOC emissions from an oriented strand board (OSB) made of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) were demonstrated. Terpene and aldehyde emissions were affected by the pressing time factors in different ways: terpene emissions were lowered with elevated pressing times, whereas the formation of volatile aldehydes was accelerated. Drying temperature mainly affected the dynamics of aldehyde formation, with a clear rise and fall in aldehyde concentration after drying at elevated temperatures (170°C and >200°C). As a consequence of lower temperatures (120°C), aldehyde emissions from OSB constantly increased over the testing period. In spite of this context, a sustainable reduction in aldehyde emissions by adjusting the relevant process parameters does not seem to be feasible, as the concentrations released from all panels converged during emission testing.