The GA300 apparatus for the gas analysis test permits a rapid calculation of the amount of formaldehyde released by wood-based panels. Testing is conducted to meet EN ISO 12460-3 standard requirements. The sample, which has been suitably prepared for testing, is placed inside an hermetically sealed chamber at a controlled temperature, pressure and air flow. The formaldehyde released by the sample inside the chamber collects in the controlled flow of hot air that travels through the chamber. The air containing the formaldehyde is passed through wash bottles at outfeed where the formaldehyde recombines with the water. The amount of formaldehyde contained in the water is measured using the photometric method. The result is given in milligrams of formaldehyde per square meter of board surface in one hour (mg/m2h).
The GA300 gas analyser rapidly provides details on the amount of formaldehyde released by the boards produced to enable timely corrections to the production parameters. Since a full test lasts approximately 4 hours, the results will be received around every 2 hours if a two chamber lab tester is used, (with respect to the sample taken during the previous 4 hours). Whereas, in the case of the four chamber tester, the results are received every hour.