A Study on Dynamic Volatile Organic Compound Emission Characterization of Water-Based Paints

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from surface coatings have caused growing public concern for air quality. Even the low-emitted VOC impact from water-based paints on indoor air quality in urban areas has caused concern. This paper presents experimental data using a mathematical model to simulate dynamic VOC emissions from water-based paints that is based on mass transfer and molecular diffusion theories. A series of field-analogous experiments were carried out to continuously measure the VOCs emitted from two typical water-based paints using a gas chromatography-flame-ionization detector monitor in an artificial wind tunnel system. In the study cases, the mass flux of VOCs emitted from the water-based paints was up to 50 g/m 2 sec. It was found that the time needed to completely emit VOCs from water-based paints is just hundreds of seconds. However, the order of magnitude of the VOC emission rate from water-based paints is not lower than that from some dry building materials and solvent-based paints. The experimental data were used to produce a useful semiempirical correlation to estimate the VOC emission rates for water-based paints. This correlation is valid under appropriate conditions as suggested by this work with a statistical deviation of Ϯ7.6%. With this correlation, it seems feasible to predict the dynamic emission rates for VOCs during a painting process. This correlation is applicable for assessing the hazardous air pollutant impact on indoor air quality or for environmental risk assessment. Associated with the dynamic VOC emission characterization, the air-exchange rate effect on the VOC emission rates is also discussed.

Association between maternal exposure to housing renovation and offspring with congenital heart disease: a multi-hospital case–control study

“…In addition, the quality of air ventilation may also link to CHD. The structural characteristics, indoor temperature, absolute humidity and air-exchange rate of a building were shown to greatly affect the dynamic VOC emission rates [42] which may influence the concentration of air pollutants. The confounders with significant difference or contributing to the change of main effect were therefore recruited as covariate factors in the model.…”

“…The concentration of VOCs released from the redecoration materials seemed to be the highest level in the newly renovated houses. The time at which VOCs from water-based paints, dry building materials and solvent-based paints are completely emitted is only approximately hundreds of seconds [42]. Over time, VOCs will slowly evaporate and the concentration will be gradually reduced [50,51].…”

Assessment of steady state diffusion of volatile organic compounds in unsaturated building materials based on fractal diffusion model

“…Shen et al and Crawford et al extended the classical Fick's diffusion law to a fractal diffusion model of VOCs in dry porous building materials [19,21]. Altinkaya, Chang et al and Li et al, improved the classical vapor pressure and boundary layer model by considering the mass transfer process inside the wet materials [6,20,22,23]. However, in practices, most of building materials in nature usually exhibit unsaturated feature [24], viz., are partially full of water or gas.…”

“…In particular, some studies considered that either chamber testing approaches or other cup methods may be inappropriate for some porous materials [14,17]. On the other hand, theoretically, several researchers have attempted to model the diffusion-driven emission of VOCs based on fluid dynamics in completely dry or wet building materials [6,19,20]. Shen et al and Crawford et al extended the classical Fick's diffusion law to a fractal diffusion model of VOCs in dry porous building materials [19,21].…”

Preparation and Performance Optimization of Two-Component Waterborne Polyurethane Locomotive Coating

“…Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) is environmentally friendly comparing to traditional solvent coatings, which contains low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and harmful air pollutants (HAPs) [1][2][3]. WPU reduces the risk of explosion and poisoning during the coating production process, and increases human health and safety [4].…”