Phytic Acid-Silica System for Imparting Fire Retardancy in Wood Composites

Fire-retardant (FR) treated wood-based panels, used commonly in furniture and construction, need to meet stringent fire safety regulations. This study presents a novel treatment for imparting resistance wood composites by applying separate solutions of phytic acid sodium silicate onto particles before the hot pressing at 160 °C. A scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analysis revealed that were uniformly distributed throughout particles, formation silica gel resulted aggregation elemental silicon. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) displayed caused thermal degradation hemicelluloses, which led brownish outer appearance FR-treated composites. Fire performance was assessed using both limiting oxygen index (LOI) cone calorimeter. These techniques showed higher LOI value significant reduction heat-release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), smoke-production (SPR), smoke production (TSP). In addition, calorimeter thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses consistently increased char residue Moreover, internal bond strength (IB) modulus elasticity (MOE) composite not significantly changed compared with those untreated composite. Surprisingly, composite, 24 h-thickness swelling, water uptake slightly decreased. Consequently, this new has potential increase retardancy composites, such as particleboard, without deteriorating key mechanical properties.