Combustion properties of impregnated spruce (Picea orientalis L.) wood

Abstract

Wooden material is one of the most commonly used construction materials since history of humanity due to its environment friendly and renewable natural source. This structure of wood material is also preferred because it is lightweight, easy to work, resistant to factors such as earthquake and fire, as compared to other used building materials. However, organic structure of the wooden material causes it to be affected negatively because of damages that might occur outdoors under inappropriate conditions. Due to this reason, in this study were investigated effects of various chemicals (impregnated and varnish type), used to prevent environmental damages (biotic, abiotic pests, fire etc.) on combustion resistance of the wood exposed to air conditions for a year. For this purpose, prepared Caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis L.) specimens were surface treated (synthetic and water-based varnish) after impregnated according to ASTM-D 1413-76 principles with various chemicals (Tanalith-E and Wolmanit-CB). Test specimens with impregnated, varnished and processless, were left in outdoor conditions for a year. Combustion experiment was conducted according to the principles in ASTM-E 160-50 combustion test standards. According to the results of the experiment, control and year specimens had close results in the weight loss. Weight loss was found be lower Wolmanit-CB impregnated specimens (92.12%) among the impregnated materials to synthetic varnish coated specimens (% 91.89) among the varnished specimens. It was determined that using Wolmanit-CB for impregnating and synthetic varnish for varnishing would be better according to the results. Furthermore, the amount of O2 (25.84ppm) in control specimens in combustion with flame; the amounts of CO and CO2 (31787, 19.92ppm respectively) in year specimens in combustion without flame and the amount of NO (54.65ppm) in year specimens in glowing was observed to be the highest.