TO-98-23-2 -- Effects of Airflow on Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Carpet-Adhesive Assemblies PDF

The effects of local air velocity and turbulence on the emissions from carpet-adhesive assemblies have been studied in a small-scale chamber. Velocities in the range of approximately 0.01 m/s to 0.25 m/s were imposed along with either a low or a high turbulence level. The concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and of nonane, decane, and 4-phenylcyclohexane (4PC) were measured as a function of time from which emission rates for each were computed.

For the conditions studied, it was found that increased velocities generally resulted in increased emission rates during the first 30 hours of a test in the higher velocity range of those studied and that increased turbulence levels also enhanced the early emission rates at lower average velocities. However, for the cases with the increased peak emission rates during the first 30 hours of a test, there were no perceptible corresponding reductions of the long-term emission rates as would have been desirable from an indoor air quality perspective.

Units: SI