Content Levels and Compositions Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) Emission from Architectural Coatings Based on Actual Measurement

Abstract

The content levels and composition characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from architectural coatings including interior wall coatings, exterior wall coatings, waterproofing coatings, anticorrosive coatings and floor coatings were investigated in this study. Architectural coating samples were obtained from manufacturers and retail outlets and the associated VOC contents and compositions were determined based on the domestic standard methods for measurement of VOCs in architectural coatings.The results showed that the VOC contents were 0-145 g·L-1 and 0-171 g·L-1 for interior and exterior wall coatings respectively. The proportion of samples that met the standards of HJ 2537-2014 were 90%, 80%, 96% and 94% for interior wall finishing coats, interior wall primary coats, exterior wall finishing coats and exterior wall primary coats respectively.The VOC content was found to be less than 10 g·L-1 for more than 90% of polymer-cement based waterproof coatings and acrylate polymer emulsion waterproof coatings respectively, and 1-324 g·L-1 for polyurethane waterproof coatings. The VOC contents for solvent-based coatings were found to be generally high, with VOC contents ranging from between 291-681 g·L-1 and 16-580 g·L-1 for solvent-based anticorrosive coatings and solvent-based floor coatings respectively, with great variation shown between different compositions and brands. The 1,2-propanediol and ethylene glycol were the most VOC in water-based coatings with methanol and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol equal second. The main VOCs in solvent-based coatings were toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes (total), ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate.