Bonding Fire Retardants to Wood. Part I. Thermal Behavior of Chemical Bonding Agents

Authors

  • Roger M. Rowell
  • Ronald A. Susott
  • William F. DeGrott
  • Fred Shafizadeh

Keywords:

Fire retardants, bonding agents, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal properties

Abstract

Bonding chemicals to wood can alleviate the problem of leachability, but the effects of such bonding on wood properties are not yet well researched. Propylene oxide, butylene oxide, acetic anhydride, and methyl isocyanate were bonded to southern pine, and the bonded wood's thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric and evolved gas analysis. The initial decomposition temperature was significantly increased by epoxide bonding, slightly increased by acetyl bonding, and slightly reduced with isocyanate bonding as compared to nonbonded control. The amount of char generated during pyrolysis was nearly the same for the control, acetyl-, and isocyanate-bonded wood, and was reduced for epoxide-bonded wood. The volatile decomposition products from the epoxide-bonded wood had a higher heat of combustion than those of the control, whereas the heat of combustion of volatiles from acetyl- and isocyanate-bonded wood was almost the same as that of the control.

References

Holmes, C. A. 1977. Effect of fire-retardant treatments on performance properties of wood. In I. S. Goldstein, ed. ACS Symposium Series 43, Wood technology: Chemical aspects. ACS, Washington, DC. Pp. 82-106.nRowell, R. M. 1982. Distribution of reacted chemicals in southern pine modified with acetic anhydride. Wood Sci.15(2):172-182.nRowell, R. M., and W. D. Ellis. 1981. Bonding of isocyanates to wood. In K. N. Edwards, ed. ACS Symposium Series 172, Urethane chemistry and applications, ACS. Washington. DC.nRowell, R. M., and D. I. Gutzmer. 1975. Chemical modification of wood: Reactions of alkylene oxides with southern yellow pine. Wood Sci.7(3):240-246.nSusott, R. A. 1980. Thermal behavior of conifer needle extractives. For. Sci.26(3):347-360.nSusott, R. A., F. Shafizadeh, and T. W. Aanerud. 1979. A quantitative thermal analysis technique for combustible gas detection. J. Fire Flammability10(April):94-104.n

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Published

2007-06-27

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Section

Research Contributions