Abstract
Fire protection has been a major challenge in wood construction for many years, mainly due to the high flame spread risk associated with wood flooring. Wood fire-retardancy is framed by two main axes: coating and bulk impregnation. There is a growing need for economically and environmentally friendly alternatives. The study of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) for wood substrates is in its infancy, but PECs’ versatility and eco-friendly character are already recognized for fabric fire-retardancy fabrics. In this study, a new approach to PEC characterization is proposed. First, PECs, which consist of polyethyleneimine and sodium phytate, were chemically and thermally characterized to select the most promising systems. Then, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) was surface-impregnated under reduced pressure with the two PECs identified as the best options. Overall, wood fire-retardancy was improved with a low weight gain of 2 wt.% without increasing water uptake.
Highlights
Biophilia is a concept that was introduced in the 1980s by Edward O
Yellow birch (YB) boards measuring 60 × 10 × 0.4 cm3 were provided by Boa-Franc S.E.N.C. (Saint Georges, QC, Canada) and cut across the grain
Polyelectrolyte complexes consisting of polyethyleneimine and sodium phytate are investigated to develop fire-retardant wood
Summary
Biophilia is a concept that was introduced in the 1980s by Edward O. Biophilia refers to a strategy that reconnects people with the natural environment by creating wide openings onto nature or by incorporating natural elements [2]. Studies have proven the positive impact of this strategy on health, with reduced stress and increased productivity [3]. In this scope, wood interior finishing is a major tool. Wood is a widely available, durable, and easy to process material. It is highly combustible, leading to major fire safety concerns (notably in terms of flame spread) [4]. Improving wood’s fire behaviour is necessary to increase the presence of wood in buildings
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