Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Formaldehyde Emission of Plywood Manufactured for Construction Applications

This study was aimed to evaluate some mechanical properties and formaldehyde emission of beech plywood panels manufactured from rotary cut veneers using phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin. Six plywood panels of 5 plies with 15 mm thickness were manufactured. Modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and formaldehyde emission values were determined. The values of MOR and MOE were higher than the EN requirements. Furthermore, the formaldehyde emission values measured by the European small-scale chamber (EN 717-1) and gas analysis (EN 717-2) methods were lower than the E1-emmison class. The results showed significant variations (P<0.001) among beech plywood panels, most of them caused by sample heterogeneity, and inconsistency of the values was related to the inter-panel variation. Moreover, a strongly positive correlation between the formaldehyde emission values measured by EN 717-1 and 717-2 methods was found (R2 value of 0.87).