Replacing natural materials with a man-made analogue has become a familiar practice for humans. The high cost of natural wood and its apparent lack during construction booms led engineers, chemists and technologists to create a similar material - chipboard.
Where and when did wood chipboard appear?
Few people know that the “birth” of chipboard could not have happened, since any wood chips in the first quarter of the 20th century in Europe were used exclusively for the manufacture of briquettes for heating. Thus, it was waste applicable only for heating the home.
But already in the 30s, the situation changed: work began on the manufacture of composite building material from sawdust and gluing agent. Then the first practical experiments appeared.
A new direction developed rapidly. During the Second World War, plywood was already used, but due to the shortage of building materials its price has risen sharply. From the beginning of the thirties, the German Max Himmelheber actively experimented with particleboard composites, experiments yielded results. Inexpensive material was created, the technology was refined, and in the 40s in Germany began the mass production of chipboard.
There were no interruptions to raw materials: non-business timber and any waste from sawmills were suitable for production. Phenolic resins have become the main constituent. Himmelheber came to the conclusion that they are ideal for forming a strong composite plate. Inexpensive and with excellent technical characteristics, the material has become popular throughout the world. They build temporary housing from it, use it to decorate houses and offices, and produce high-quality furniture.
The ability to improve the individual qualities of particle boards has further expanded the scope of their application: moisture-resistant material is suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, and fire-resistant boards are in demand.
Phenol formaldehyde resin and health hazards
The first reaction of our ancestors to the achievements of chemical scientists was the joy of the opportunity to use advanced technologies, the desire to quickly bring them to life. Subsequently, it turned out that some of the technologies not only made life easier, but also significantly shortened it. Therefore, today every product made by people is tested for toxicity and environmental safety.
- One of the substances, the attitude to which is ambiguous, is phenol-formaldehyde resin. Of great importance for industry (high strength, corrosion resistance), it has toxic components - phenol and formaldehyde. The greatest damage from their exposure can be received by employees of enterprises where they produce products containing phenols and formaldehydes, provided that they do not use personal protective equipment. During curing in adhesive resins, the oligomeric moieties crosslink with free phenol. As a result, the phenol content is reduced to trace amounts that allow sanitary standards of the Russian Federation.
When particle boards began to be used everywhere, fill niches traditionally occupied by other building materials (wooden boards, more expensive plywood, etc.), manufacturers that were losing the market, attracting environmentalists, began to publish materials that damage the reputation of chipboard manufacturers.
Over time, standards change, technology improves.
At a time when the dangers of phenols were not considered, the percentage of their content in the adhesive mixture was higher than today. With increased awareness, standards have also changed.
Today, there is hardly a home or office where chipboard is not used. This is due to its advantages:
- acceptable price;
- flat, smooth surfaces;
- strength, uniformity, the material does not delaminate, does not curl, does not dry out;
- the broadest possibilities for application.
So, is chipboard furniture harmful?
The human body is daily affected by many harmful factors: industrial emissions, tar and nicotine from cigarettes, car exhaust, the background created by electronics, household chemicals and cosmetics, and others. The least damage to humans is caused by the release of volatile components of resins from furniture. Moreover, some wood species evaporate harmful substances in the same amount as particleboard class E1.
Rumors about the dangers of using quality chipboard are nothing more than speculation on consumer anxiety and the belief that everything created with the help of chemistry is harmful.
How to choose high-quality and safe material?
The key to maintaining health is the use of certified materials. Regardless of what kind of particleboard is used, it is labeled with which class of emissions for the release of free formaldehyde:
- E1 - 100 grams of the composite emits no more than 10 mg of a volatile substance (formaldehyde content in particleboard is within the acceptable range). In Russia and abroad, from this material it is allowed to make furniture for children's rooms and premises where people are constantly located;
- E2 - marking, which indicates the inadmissibility of the use of plates in children's and residential premises.
Collaboration with reputable companies offering certified products guarantees the acceptable norm of toxic substances in purchased materials and the preservation of your health!