Investigation of the sorption phenomena of VOCs on material surfaces

Ability of building materials to adsorb and desorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been studied. Five different building materials (gypsum board, wood fibre board coated with wall paper, chip board coated with plastic sheet, varnished parquet and PVC floor covering) were exposed to paint in a big chamber (model room). Experimental arrangements corresponded properly the reality. Benefits were the facts that the materials could be exposed with a real product and that it was possible to do the test series in a long period. This article covers the results of the sorption behaviour of the above mentioned building materials on the VOCs emitted from the latex paint tested. Concentrations of VOCs are also compared between material surfaces and indoor air. Clear discrepancies in sorption behaviour of the materials were noticed. Especially capability of porous materials to emit VOCs long after the original solvent contain product hardened was distinguished obviously in test series.