Comparison of three small chamber test methods for the measurement of VOC emission rates from paint

The aim of this study was to demonstrate a correlation between the measurement of emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in three different climate chambers. In order to achieve this aim, the early state of the emission process in the three chambers was investigated and the effects of some important factors on the emission rates from paint were determined. The paper presents results of measurements in three different climate chambers. For the study, a 1-m(3) chamber, a field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC), and a chamber for laboratory investigation of materials pollution and air quality (CLIMPAQ) were used. The airflow and surface area were selected so that the area-specific ventilation rates were identical in the three chambers. Temperature and relative humidity were identical during all the measurements. The paint examined was a solvent-based alkyd paint intended for indoor, which use contained between 30 and 60% of white spirit in wet condition. The paint was applied to electropolished and cleaned stainless steel plates. After application, the test material was stored for 14 days for drying in a well-ventilated conditioning room before the measurements were made. After 2 weeks storage, the most pronounced emissions were pentanal, hexanal, octanal, and decanol. The period before the emission rate stabilized differed for the three chambers studied. However, all chambers gave similar emission rates within the overall uncertainty used in these experiments.