Abstract
Traditional flame retardants often contain halogens and produce toxic gases when burned. Hence, in this study, low-cost, environmentally friendly compounds that act as fire retardants are investigated. These materials often contain nanoparticles, from which TiO2 and SiO2 are the most promising. In this work, pedunculate oak wood specimens were modified with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3, i.e., water glass) and TiO2, SiO2, and ZnO nanoparticles using the vacuum-pressure technique. Changes in the samples and fire characteristics of modified wood were studied via thermal analysis (TA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The results of TA showed the most significant wood decomposition at a temperature of 350 °C, with a non-significant influence of the nanoparticles. A dominant effect of sodium silicate was observed in the main weight-loss step, resulting in a drop in decomposition temperature within the temperature range of 36–44 °C. More intensive decomposition of wood treated with water glass and nanoparticles led to a faster release of non-combustible gases, which slowed down the combustion process. The results demonstrated that wood modifications using sodium silicate and nanoparticle systems have potentially enhanced flame retardant properties.
Highlights
Published: 16 December 2021Wood is a natural material widely used for the construction of buildings and for the production of various building elements, furniture, and goods
From noparticles leads to a faster release of non-combustible gases, which slows down the compoint of view, ZnO has the greatest influence among the nanoparticles investigated
The presence of sodium silicate resulted in a rapid drop in the decomposition temperature
Summary
Wood is a natural material widely used for the construction of buildings and for the production of various building elements, furniture, and goods It is ecological, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing; its use in building construction is limited and strictly regulated by fire and environmental safety rules because it is highly flammable. The fire protection agents applied to wooden structures contain ammonium phosphates or sulfates, chlorides, oxides, borates and other metal salts, boric acid, and halogen-containing flame retardants [1,2]. Many of these chemicals and their combustion products are highly toxic; new flame retardants are being sought out. Promising retarders from both environmental and economic points of view include nanomaterials [1,3]
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