EPA/600/A-96/111
Source Reduction of VOC and Hazardous Organic Emissions
from
Wood Furniture Coatings
Eddy W. Huang
AeroVironment, Inc.
222 E. Huntington Drive
Monrovia, CA 91016
and
Robert C. McCrillis
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
ABSTRACT
Under U.S. EPA sponsorship, AeroVironment, Inc. and Adhesives Coating Co. are teaming up to
develop and demonstrate a wood furniture coating system containing no volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), making it less hazardous to use, and emitting no
detectable VOCs and HAPs during curing, therefore contributing significantly to emission reduction.
Earlier work on a new topcoat showed excellent performance characteristics in terms of adhesion,
gloss value, dry time, hardness, organic solvents content, and chemical/stain resistance. The VOC
contents of both the clear topcoat and the white pigmented topcoat were less than 10 g/L, the detection
limit of the test method (EPA Method 24). This coating's performance and properties compared
favorably with those of other low-VOC waterborne coatings. Currently, low-/no-VOC stain and sealer
wood coatings are being developed so that a complete low-/no-VOC wood coating system will be
available for public use. The compatibility of coating components (a stain and sealer) to go with the
topcoat is currently being evaluated. The complete system will be demonstrated at several furniture
plants. A marketing plan of the developed products is part of this demonstration project.
INTRODUCTION
The failure of nearly 100 metropolitan areas in the United States to attain the National Ambient
Air Quality Standard for ozone1 is one of the major environmental issues currently faced by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and local regulatory agencies. The formation of ground-
level ozone results from complex atmospheric reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight. Thus, the control of VOCs and NOx, which are
precursors of ozone, is essential in order to meet the ozone standard. While most of the large stationary
sources of VOC and/or organic, air toxic emissions, are covered by existing regulations, small dispersed
sources of these pollutants generally are not and may significantly contribute to the ozone non-attainment
problem.
The use of a wide range of consumer products and industrial processes has been identified as a
substantial source of VOC and/or organic air toxic emissions. More recent regulatory initiatives are
moving the focus away from end-of-pipe controls and toward pollution prevention at the source.
Pollution prevention can be achieved by changes in equipment or technologies; process or procedural
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improvement, raw material substitutions, reformulation or redesign of products, and operational
improvement in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control.
Traditional wood coating technologies emit large quantities of pollutants into the air and consume
energy for drying the coatings and powering air pollution abatement equipment. Air emissions can be
reduced through a shift from high to low-/no-VOC coatings. By phasing in low-/no-VOC coatings,
industries will be able to reduce air emissions without installation of add-on controls and their attendant
increase in energy consumption. VOC emissions are released from the coatings during their application
and drying/curing. Coatings are applied to protect the wood and create the desired cosmetic look.
Substrates commonly used include solid wood, wood composition, simulated wood used in combination
with solid wood or wood composition, and paper laminated on wood-fiber based substrates. The typical
coating process is to apply the stain, then sealer, and finally the topcoat, with sanding steps between each
pair of coats For a more "custom look," the coating steps could include glaze, toner, and another sealer
between the sealer and topcoat steps. The most common method of coating application is by atomized
spray inside a spray booth, typically using a high-volume/low-pressure (HVLP) spray gun. Other
methods include roller coaters, flow coaters, dip tanks, or hand application (brush, roller, wipe rag).
Stains are frequently applied by hand with a wipe rag or hand-wiped after being applied mechanically in
order to uniformly color the wood grain.
The percentage of solids in stains is lower than in other coatings; stains contain little or no resin.
A stain is primarily a dye dispersed in a solvent. When calculating the VOC content in coatings, including
stains, the laboratory measures and then subtracts the water and exempt solvents from the total volatiles
to arrive at the VOC reading
DISCUSSION
The following discussion addresses three areas where emissions can be reduced, low emission
wood coatings; a new, zero-VOC/zero-HAP wood furniture coating in development, and application
methods which increase coating transfer efficiency resulting in more efficient use of coatings.
Low emission wood coatings
Wood product manufacturers and coating manufacturers have been actively pursuing low-/no-
VOC technologies. Waterborne coatings are the most predominant with high solids/catalyzed coatings
and ultraviolet (UV) curable coatings becoming more widely investigated. Further development of
waterborne UV coatings is a promising avenue for maximum VOC reductions. This technology will
reduce VOC from both coatings and cleanup. Implementation of these low VOC coating technologies is
expected to provide the wood coating industry with emission reductions.
Waterborne Coatings. Waterborne topcoats generally contain 30-40% solids by weight with a
VOC content of anywhere from 100 to 275 g/L. One company listed in the study has a clear topcoat
with over 50% solids and 40 g/L VOC content2. Most waterborne coatings require some organic
solvents (called co-solvents) in the formulation to dissolve the resin. The dissolved resin may then be
dispersed in water. Upon application, both the water and the co-solvents evaporate. There are also some
resins that release light molecular weight fragments, during cross linking (curing), which become air
pollutants.
High gloss finishes may be achieved by applying multiple coats of clear topcoats. The facilities
that coat a paper substrate laminated to a wood product need to apply a barrier coat prior to the sealer
and topcoat to create the necessary adhesion. Fire and fume hazards are reduced when using waterborne,
compared to solvent-borne, coatings.
Waterborne coatings can take longer to cure than conventional solvent-borne coatings.
Premature packaging (packaging before the coating is sufficiently cured) may cause pieces of furniture to
stick to the packing and cause carton imprinting to occur during shipping. Some companies who have
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switched to waterborne coatings have set up a temporary storage area to complete the curing prior to
shipping. Others have added a heating step by installing gas-fired or infra-red ovens to accelerate the
curing of the coated products. The optimum drying temperature for waterborne-coated wood products is
110 - 130 °F (43 -54°C). However, forced drying is not necessarily a requirement to maintain the same
production levels of solvent based coatings if there is sufficient space in the facility to accommodate a
longer production line.
Another potential difficulty is dusting, which is the settling of sanding dust or dry overspray onto
the surface of a partially cured coating. A cleaner environment may be required such as the installation of
enclosures around spray booths and at building entrances to minimize dust. Waterborne coatings are
more sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, including during shipment of the finished product.
For cleanup, water can be used if the coating is not dry. If cleanup is not performed before the coatings
dry, then an organic solvent is required for cleanup. In many cases, waterborne coatings, when cured,
exhibit very high chemical resistance and can be removed only by mechanical methods (i.e., sanding).
High Solids/Catalvzed Coatings Catalyzed conversion varnishes are available with VOC contents
typically between that of waterborne and solvent-based materials; but there are some catalyzed coatings
at the low end of the waterborne VOC content range. There are both waterborne and solvent-based
catalyzed coatings. The solids content is also between that of waterborne and solvent based materials.
Currently, a clear topcoat is available with a content of over 95% solids and a VOC content of 40 g/L.
One of the more widely used catalyzed coatings is the acid catalyzed, or conversion varnish, system. It is
based on a melamine type resin catalyzed by a strong acid catalyst. This coating often contains some free
formaldehyde; additional formaldehyde may be formed and emitted during the curing process.
Ultraviolet fUV) Curable Coatings. The three primary factors to consider in selecting a UV
coating process are application, lamps, and coating formulation. Different types of lamps emit different
wavelengths. Coatings can be formulated for different wavelengths and different applications. Each
application dictates the coating formulation and lamp type.
The UV coatings do not cure (they remain wet) unless exposed to UV light. Since the coatings
do not cure until exposed to UV light, application equipment does not necessarily have to be cleaned as
frequently if the exposure to sunlight and interior lighting is minimal. Cleanup requires a 100% VOC
solvent such as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). UV cured coatings may or may not emit VOCs and or
HAPs, depending on whether solvents are used for viscosity adjustment and what reaction products are
formed during the curing process.
Waterborne UV Curable Coatings. This is an emerging technology. The resins are recently
available for manufacturers to formulate into coatings. Waterborne UV curable coatings use water,
instead of an organic solvent, for viscosity adjustment. As with 100% solids UV coatings, less VOC is
associated with the use of these coatings (generally <24 g/L) compared to solvent-borne coatings. Water
can be used for cleanup, which eliminates the high VOC cleanup associated with the 100% solids UV
coating process. The coatings are free of multi-functional acrylates, the components which irritate the
skin. They have better sprayability with low viscosity. A range of gloss from low to high can be
achieved. The cured coatings can be buffed to a high gloss if desired. The coatings are cheaper than
100% solids UV coatings. They have low odor and are nonflammable. Thin films are easily attainable
using spray systems, roller coaters, or curtain coaters. If multiple coats are required, each coating can be
sanded before the subsequent coating is applied, then finally cured in the UV oven.
The water in the sealer/topcoat (topcoat is recommended to be used as the sealer) must be driven
off prior to curing in the UV oven. When the coating is applied, it has a milky finish due to the water in
the coating; when the water is gone, the coating film is clear. An infrared (ER) lamp/heater can be used to
drive off the water along with parallel air flow. If the water is not completely eliminated before UV
curing, the final product will still be milky. The need for additional drying time is probably the biggest
disadvantage of the waterborne UV coatings.
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Other Technologies. Acetone, siloxanes, and PCBTF (parachlorobenzotrifluoride), recently classified as
exempt solvents by the EPA, are not expected to be significant substitutes for VOCs in wood products
coatings. Some manufacturers are working on wood coatings with these compounds as VOC substitutes,
but no information is available as to what extent these coatings will be found acceptable. Reduced VOC
acetone-based products are expected to be difficult to formulate because of acetone's high volatility
Acetone-based coatings would dry quickly, especially upon atomization. Acetone-based cleaning
solvents are available, but they too evaporate quickly. Some coating manufacturers have indicated they
do not plan to develop acetone containing coatings.
Emission Reductions. Full conversion from nitrocellulose lacquers to currently available waterbome
technology will result in a VOC emission reduction of approximately 87%. Further reductions may be
possible with conversion to UV technology. Some facilities may elect to convert partially to UV by using
UV topcoat and sealer along with waterbome or solvent based stains. This type of hybrid system will
have reductions between that of complete waterbome and complete UV systems.
New zero-VOC/zero-HAP wood coating technology
The following paragraphs describe this new coating being demonstrated with EPA assistance and
the current status of the work.
Coating development. Adhesive Coatings Co. (ADCO) of San Mateo, California, currently holds
patents on some no-VOC coating technologies3,4,5,6'7. Under an initial contract from the South Coast Air
Quality Management District (SCAQMD) (see ACKNOWLEDGMENTS) to develop a no-VOC wood
topcoat, ADCO's coatings were reformulated, and performance characteristics were tested. The resulting
topcoat showed excellent performance characteristics in terms of adhesion, gloss value, dry time,
hardness, level of solvents, and chemical/stain resistance. The VOC contents of both the clear topcoat
and the white pigmented topcoat were less than EPA Method 24 detection limit of 10 g/L. This coating's
performance and properties on finished material compared favorably with other low-VOC waterbome
wood coatings8. However, no-VOC stain and sealer wood coatings need to be developed so that a
complete no-VOC wood coating system will be available for public use. It is also desirable to determine
the compatibility of coating components (a stain and a sealer) "to go with this new no-VOC topcoat.
Under U.S. EPA sponsorship, AeroVironment Inc. and ADCO have teamed up to develop and
demonstrate a no-VOC/no-HAP wood furniture coating system. The complete absence of organic
solvents in the preparation and formulation means that this new coating system is not only less hazardous
to use but also emits no VOCs (as measured by EPA Method 24), and therefore contributes significantly
to emission reduction. This new no-VOC coating's high gloss and excellent chemical resistance
properties are ideal for the wood manufacturing industry for flat stock; particle, chip, and wafer products;
spray primers for door skins; and finishing systems for interior wood products such as furniture and
kitchen cabinets This material can be manufactured using readily available raw materials and standard
resin manufacturing equipment without polluting the atmosphere.
The objective of this project is to develop a new no-VOC/no-HAP wood coating system through
continuing research, formulation adjustments, and application testing. The high value-added coating
products will be developed using existing technical know-how and data related to the new water-based
epoxy technologies. In addition to the research and development of a new no-VOC/no-HAP wood
coating system, on-site demonstration and workshops will be included as part of this program. A
technology transfer plan, which includes working with manufacturers and suppliers, will be developed to
get the products into use by the public.
The new two component water-based epoxy coating system developed in this project has the
potential to meet the performance of the solvent-based system and may replace current solvent systems.
The coatings properties which make them promising can also be applied in the wood products area.
These properties include:
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low or no formaldehyde
extreme water and chemical resistance
very fast cure
liquid at high solids
low temperature cure
no solvents and thus no VOCs
In the simple system (consisting of a maximum of four steps including the use of stain, sealer, and
topcoat), the stain was either sprayed or wiped on. A seal coat was sprayed, then two topcoats were
sprayed on each panel. In order to ensure that evaluations were completely unbiased, the American
Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) methods were used as the scientific basis of measurement
throughout this project.
Sanding between waterborne coatings is done for three primary reasons. First, sanding smooths
the substrate surface before the next coat is applied. Secondly, sanding cuts off any wood fibers which
surfaced after the waterborne coatings. This process flattens the substrate surface to make the
subsequent layers of coating flow smoothly. Also, sanding scratches or mars the surface of the coating to
provide a surface which will allow for a good mechanical bond of the next coat. Many waterborne
coatings require this type of sanding between coats because, unlike solvent-borne coatings, waterborne
coatings do not remelt between coating layers. For example, with nitrocellulose solvent-borne systems,
the solvent in subsequent coats partially dissolves the previously applied coating, resulting in the whole
coating's becoming a single layer Epoxies and urethanes, in contrast, remain in distinct layers.
Grain raising is the swelling and standing up of the wood grain caused by absorbed liquids. Grain
raising is more common in softwoods than in hardwoods. During development, it was found that there
was slight to heavy grain raising after application of a normal sealer coat. To minimize grain raising, it
was found that application of a dust (light) coat of the sealer, to seal the pores of the substrate, followed
by a normal sealer coat was effective. The dust coat will seal the wood, and allow for better spraying of a
heavier second coat. A technique to minimize grain raising, when using a waterborne coating, is to use a
400 grit wet or dry sandpaper to grind or bite the substrate while applying the stain. The stain should
then be wiped off, using conventional methods.
Coating Evaluation. Polymer variations of ADCO's basic EnviroPolymer (A) in combination with
each of several proprietary curing agents (B) were tested. All combinations contained no VOCs. Up to
eight different ratios were evaluated for each combination, and the best ratio observed was then selected
for further evaluation by applying this coating on solid oak. The choice of equipment was a Binks Mach
1 HVLP cup spray gun. Each coat was applied so a wet film thickness between 2 and 3 mils (5 and 7.5 x
10"5 m) was obtained. This thickness of coating was chosen because it ensured ease of spraying and good
flow characteristics. Also, the film thickness was held as constant as possible, so the evaluation of
coatings from different formulations would be consistent.
The most promising formulations were applied to a substrate for further determination of the
coatings performance characteristics (dry time, gloss, parallel groove adhesion, scrape/mar, and chemical
and stain resistance). Dry time was measured as the amount of time that was taken for the coating to
harden before it could be sanded and re-coated. To be objective, a gloss meter was used to put a
measured value on the degree of gloss. The method described in ASTM D 523Ū was followed.
Evaluation of adhesion to different surface treatments, or different coatings to the same treatment,
is extremely important to the furniture manufacturing industry. The method described by ASTM D
335910 was followed. After parallel grooves were cut into the coating, tape was applied over the grooves
and removed. The cross-hatch pattern was inspected through a magnifying glass and rated against the
standards Gt 0/5B was the best rating followed by Gt 1/4B, Gt 2/3B, Gt 3/2B, Gt 4/1B, and Gt 5/0B.
A modified ASTM D 219711 method was followed to differentiate between degrees of coating
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hardness After complete curing, the scrape/mar resistance was determined by pushing the panels beneath
a round stylus or loop that was loaded in increasing amounts until marring of the coatings was detected.
Resistance to various household chemicals is an important characteristic of wood furniture
finishes The methods described by ASTM D 130812 were followed This evaluation covers the effects
household chemicals have on organic finishes such as discoloration, change in gloss, blistering, softening,
swelling, and loss of adhesion.
SCAQMD method 30413 [Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Various
Materials] was used to conduct VOC analysis ASTM D 1475u was used to determine the density of
coatings. Total volatile content was measured by ASTM D 236915, and water content was determined by
ASTM D 379216
Most wood furniture is finished with nitrocellulose resin-based coatings averaging 750 g/L VOC
and 375 g/L hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). In the finishing of an average 4 x 6 ft (1.2 x 1.8 m) dining
room table about 9 kg of VOCs and 4.5 kg of HAPs are emitted. While progress has been made to
formulate low-VOC coating systems, many of them use ethylene glycol ethers, which are more toxic than
most of the solvents used with nitrocellulose systems. The SCAQMD /California Furniture Manufacturers
Association/Southern California Edison Cooperative study17 of low-VOC coatings for wood furniture
confirmed that most commercially available water-based coating systems contain VOC and air toxic
compounds
Coating performance characteristics. The resulting wood coating showed excellent performance
characteristics in terms of adhesion, gloss value, dry time, hardness, level of solvents, and chemical/stain
resistance in laboratory development tests as shown in Table 1. The VOC contents of both the clear
topcoat and the white pigmented topcoat were less than 10 g/L, the detection limit of the test method.
This coating's performance and properties in finished material compared favorably with those of other
low-VOC waterborne wood coatings.
More efficient coating application methods
The application process is a key element in determining how much product is used to complete a
given job. The transfer efficiencies of coatings will determine the economic environment in which these
products compete. In the application process transfer efficiency, a measure of the quantity of coating
actually reaching the part compared to the quantity of coating sprayed, is a major factor impacting air
emissions.
In addition to VOC compliance and issues of toxicity, performance characteristics included are
ease of use, durability, typical lifetime, and appearance. Ease of use is an appealing attribute of coatings:
it can increase the productivity of applicators and minimize the risk of costly application-related failures.
Included in this category of features are low temperature cure characteristics, ease of application, fast
recoat time, surface tolerance, and high film buildup. Other characteristics which are less often
mentioned include recoatability for epoxies, fast cure, fast adhesion, film build on edges, and
irregularities.
New application equipment with improved transfer efficiency is available to replace conventional
spray guns. These include: airless, air-assisted airless, electrostatic, and high-volume/ low-pressure
(HVLP) guns.
HVLP spray coating systems, because they have demonstrated increased transfer efficiency over
conventional spray guns, have come into fairly widespread use. Because the HVLP guns use low
pressure, the paint particles are carried to the substrate in a low turbulence flow which helps reduce
overspray. Depending on their application, HVLP systems have the potential to reduce paint usage,
reduce water wash or dry filter maintenance costs, reduce noise, reduce paint booth air turbulence, and
improve the worker's environment.
Airless spray equipment is designed to handle heavy-bodied and high solids coatings. Both
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electric and gas models have been introduced, and some can support up to three guns simultaneously
Other application features include an adjustable width roller frame, roller extension poles, and air-
powered paint mixers.
CONCLUSIONS
Compliance with environmental regulations has been and continues to be of concern to wood
furniture manufacturers. Solvent-based coatings have been the industry standard since the beginning of
the industrial revolution in the United States. With new environmental standards calling for cleaner air
and water, many manufacturing processes will have to alter the way they use coating materials. This
project was developed to assist wood manufacturers in the conversion to cleaner coatings
The source reduction opportunities in wood furniture manufacturing include coating
reformulation, high solid coatings, solvent substitutes, water-soluble cleaning solvents, higher transfer
efficiency, and proper training. The two areas that present the most promising pollution prevention
options are coating reformulation and application. The reformulation step would involve a change from a
solvent-based to water-based system. The application waste reduction option would involve a switch to
high transfer efficiency spray equipment and personnel training.
Water-based products have been introduced to the wood coating industry to replace the high
volatile organic compound (VOC) and high hazardous air pollutant (HAP) materials previously used on
plywood, hardboard, particleboard, and regenerated wood-finger jointed wood products. Many water-
based products, however, exhibit a reduction in performance properties such as hardness, toughness,
adhesion, and stain resistance. Their second weakness is in energy consumption, most water-based
coatings require long dry times at elevated temperature to achieve proper curing.
Based on the research conducted, conversion to waterbome coatings will take time and
adjustment on the part of many manufacturers. There is an educational curve that will take place which
will include re-training of workers on spraying techniques, sanding applications, repairability of coatings,
and acceptance of the finishes on the open market. In some instances production procedures may have to
be altered. Heat may be required to achieve proper curing within some production operations.
Manufacturers will have to work closely with raw material as well as coating suppliers. As with any new
product, acceptance will take time.
The proper procedure for applying stains and sealer will take time to learn so that grain raising
will be minimized. When using waterbome coatings, consideration will have to be given to the
appearance of the coatings. Clear finishes with no stains or dyes will tend to be drab in color. In order to
achieve a rich, full color, stains and/or glazes may have to be used. Many companies will realize a
reduction in materials costs with the use of waterbome coatings. High solids coatings will save many
manufacturers money because they will not have to use as much coating to cover a production item.
Companies using waterbome coatings will also realize a savings in insurance costs. Because this project
was a direct result of industry concerns, three seminars will be held in which the following topics will be
addressed
Cooperative Partnerships and Compliance
Live Demonstrations of Spraying Applications
Sanding Technique
Testing Results
Operation and Repair Procedures
A survey will be distributed to furniture manufacturers and wood coating suppliers to collect data
and consumer feedback Besides the emission benefits of this new no-VOC/no-HAP wood coating
system, the coating life and wear characteristics will be assessed This new no-VOC coating system's
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advantages/disadvantages will also be determined in the consumer follow-up program.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This ongoing program is being conducted under U.S. EPA sponsorship, EPA Contract No. 68-
D5-0128, with AeroVIronment, Inc. The authors would like to thank Jim Bird sail of Adhesive Coating
Co. and John Hornung of JH Associates for their technical contribution. This program is a continuation
of prior research, cofunded by the U.S. EPA under Cooperative Agreement CX819072-01-3 with
SCAQMD, performed under SCAQMD Contract No. S-C93101 entitled Research and Product
Development of Low VOC Wood Coatings.
TABLE 1. CHARACTERISTICS OF ADCO NO-VOC COATING"
Drying time @ 70°F (21°C) & 60% RH
Gloss using 60° gloss meter
Hardness
Hot/cold check
Parallel groove adhesion
Scrape/mar
Stain resistance (after 1 hour of exposure)
VOC Content
20 - 25 minutes
50-60
Pass 2H pencil
Passed
Gt 0/5
1000 g
Coffee
Cold/Hot Tap Water
Detergent
Ethyl Alcohol
Grape Juice
Ketchup
Laundry Spot Cleaner
Margarine
Vinegar
Vodka
Less than 10.0 g/L (0.1 lb/gal)
REFERENCES
1. Curran, T., R. Faoro, T. Fitz-Simons, N. Frank, and W. Freas, National Air Quality and
Emissions Trends Report, 1990. EPA-450/4-91-023 (NTIS PB92-141555), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research
Triangle Park, NC, 1991.
2 Draft Staff Report: Technology Review for Adhesives, Coatings, Inks, and Solvents, South
Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar, CA, October 18, 1995.
3. U.S. Patent No. 4,490,520, "Epoxy curing agents, method for making, method for curing
epoxy resins, and cured epoxy resins," Adhesives Coating Co., San Mateo, CA, December
5, 1984.
4. U.S. Patent No. 4,574,145, "Epoxy curing agents and method for making," Adhesives
Coating Co., San Mateo, CA, March 4, 1986.
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5. U.S. Patent No. 4,659, 787, "Method for making epoxy curing agents," Adhesives Coating
Co., San Mateo, CA, April 21, 1987.
6. U.S. Patent No. 4,812,493, "Dual cure rate water-based coating composition," Adhesives
Coating Co, San Mateo, CA, March 14, 1989.
7. U.S. Patent No. 4,906,726, "Water-based coating compositions containing hydroxides and
oxides of calcium and strontium and barium," Adhesives Coating Co., San Mateo, CA, March
6, 1990.
8. Huang, Eddy W., Research and Product Development of Low-VOC Wood Coatings: Final
Report, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report No. EPA-600/R-95-160 (NTIS PB96-
121520), November 1995.
9. D 523-89. "Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss," American Society for Testing and
Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA.
10. D 3359-93, "Standard Test Method for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test," American
Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA.
11. D 2197-86, "Standard Test Method for Adhesion of Organic Coatings by Scrape Adhesion,"
American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA.
12. D 1308-87, "Standard Test Method for Effect of Household Chemicals on Clear and
Pigmented Organic Finishes," American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St.,
Philadelphia, PA.
13. Choa, C.B. and S. Horn, Laboratory Methods of Analysis for Enforcement Samples, "Method
304-91, Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (V OC) in Various Materials," South
Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar, CA, June 1991.
14. D 1475-90, "Standard Test Method for Density of Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related
Products," American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA.
15. D 2369-93, "Standard Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings," American Society for
Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA.
16. D 3792-91, "Standard Test Method for Water Content of Water-Reducible Paints by Direct
Injection into a Gas Chromatograph," American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race
St., Philadelphia, PA.
17. Evaluation of Complete Waterbome Coatings Systems. A Cooperative Partnership Project
by South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Furniture Manufacturers
Association, and Southern California Edison, August 1995.
18. Huang, E.W., and R.C. McCrillis. "Developing a No-VOC Wood Topcoat," Modern Paint
and Coatings. July 1995, Vol. 85, No. 7, pp. 38-41.
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,IDMDT dtd.p.im technical report data
IN WaVlK Lj~ rl a .r xr 106 (Please readlaitructioni on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO. 2.
EP A/600/A-96/111
3. RECIPIE
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Source Reduction of VOC and Hazardous Organic
Emissions from Wood Furniture Coatings
5. REPORT DATE
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
E.W. Huang (AeroVironment) and R. W. McCrillis
(EPA, NRMRL-RTP)
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
AeroVironment, Inc.
222 E. Huntington Drive
Monrovia, California 91016
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
It. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
68- D5-0128
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND AOORESS
EPA, Office of Research and Development
Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Published paper; 9/S5-4'96
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/13
IB.supplementary NOTES APPCD project officer is Robert C. McCrillis, Mail Drop 61,
919/541-2733. Presented at AWmA Conference, New Orleans, LA, 9/4-6/96.
16. abstractpaper discusses the development and demonstration of a wood furniture
coating system containing no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or hazardous air pol-
lutants (HAPs) (making it less hazardous to use) and emitting no detectable VOCs or
HAPs during curing (contributing significantly to emission reduction).] Earlier work
on a new topcoat showed.excellent performance characteristicsj.n^terms of adhesion,
gloss value, dry time, hardness, orgi^'The VOC contents of both the clear topcoat and the white pigmented topcoat
were < 10 g/L, the detection limit of the test method (EPA Method 24). -This coat-
ing's performance and properties compared favorably with those of other low-VOC
waterborne coatings.- Currently, low-/no- VOC stain and sealer wood coatings are
being developed so thatxa complete low-/no-VOC wood coating system will be avail-
able for public use. The compatibility of coating components (a stain and sealer) to
go with the topcoat is currently being evaluated. The complete system will be demon-
strated at several furniture plants. A marketing plan of the developed products is
part of this demonstration project.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENOED TERMS
c. COS ATI Field/Group
Pollution Volatility
Coatings Toxicity
Wood Stains
Furniture Sealing
Emission
Organic Compounds
Pollution Prevention
Stationary Sources
Wood Furniture
13B 20M
11C 06T
11L
15E 13H
14G
37C
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
Unclassified
21. NO, OF PAGES
20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73}
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