Conversion varnishes are two-component, acid-catalyzed varnishes that are commonly used to finish cabinets. They are valued for their water- and stain- resistance, as well as their appearance. They have been found, however, to contribute to indoor emissions of organic compounds. For this project, three commercially available conversion varnish systems were selected. An EPA Method 24 analysis was performed to determine total volatile content, and a sodium sulfite titration method was used to determine uncombined (free) formaldehyde content of the varnish components. The resin component was also analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) (EPA Method 311 with an MS detector) to identify individual organic compounds.
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