RESEARCH CONCERNING THE FORMALDEHYDE EMISSION OF PARTICLEBOARDS THROUGH THE FLASK METHOD UNDER STANDARD CONDITIONS AND SOME MODIFIED VARIANTS OF THE BOARD PACK CONFIGURATION
Part 1: Methodology

Valeriu Petrovici

Prof.dr.eng. – “Transilvania” University of Brasov – Faculty of Wood Industry
Address: B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Tel: 0040 268 412921/int. 166. Fax: 0040 268 415315.  E-mail: petrovic@unitbv.ro

Kinga Judith David
PhD student - “Transilvania” University of Brasov – Faculty of Wood Industry
Address: B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania. E-mail: petrovic@unitbv.ro

Simona Nicoleta Urdea

PhD student - “Transilvania” University of Brasov – Faculty of Wood Industry
Address: B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania. E-mail: urdeas@yahoo.com

Oana-Andreea Pirnuta
Lecturer dr. - “Transilvania” University of Brasov – Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Address: B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania. E-mail: p.oana-andreea@unitbv.ro

Abstract:
The main aim of the present research was a study concerning the formaldehyde emission of particleboards through the flask method under standard conditions and some modified variants of the board pack configuration, as concerns their structure, thickness and volume density. Being the simplest and cheapest method of determining this feature, it might be easily implemented in the field of woodprocessing industry in Romania, both for the internal control at a wooden boards producer and for the external control at a certain beneficiary, the present study being a very good example in this respect.
The article has two parts. The first part comprises some general considerations, which are absolutely necessary in order to make clear te concepts of formaldehyde content and formaldehyde emission, as being two completely different technical characteristics. Then the main aims of the performed research are stated and, finally, the experimental method is described. The latter refers to the  material used withim the experiments, including the physical and chemical characteristics of the particleboards under work, and it also presents details concerning the apparatus and the experimental methodology employed. The significance of the different modified variants is detailed correspondingly, so as to explain the necessity and appropriateness of their choice.
The second part of the article, concerning the experimental results and their interpretation is to be presented within the following issue of this journal.

Key words: formaldehyde content, formaldehyde emission, flask method, perforator method, particleboards.