Formaldehyde emission, combustion behavior, and artificial weathering characteristics of electrostatic powder coated wood composite panels

Recently, research and development works have expanded to include the application of electrostatic powder coatings on non-conductive materials such as plastic, wood, and wood-based composite panels. Within the scope of this research, low temperature curing (120–130°C) was applied to wood-based composite panels of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and plywood panels to facilitate conductivity. Epoxy, polyester, and hybrid (epoxy-polyester) types of powder coating and waterborne acrylic liquid coating were applied to the surface of the materials. The panels coated with the powder coatings were compared to the panels coated with the waterborne acrylic resin coating (control group). Combustion behaviors was determined according to ISO 13927 standard, formaldehyde emission according to TS EN 717-2, and color and gloss changes after accelerated weathering according to ASTM G151 and ASTM G154. The best results for combustion behavior were obtained with the plywood panels and MDF panels coated with waterborne acrylic coating, for formaldehyde emission with plywood panels coated with epoxy powder coating and waterborne acrylic coating and plywood panels, MDF panels, and particleboard coated with polyester powder coating. The least color change and gloss loss were detected in the plywood panels, particleboard, and MDF panels groups with polyester-based powder coating.