Montmorillonite-catalyzed furfurylated wood for flame retardancy. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Liangliang; Xu, Jiasheng; Shen, Haiying; Xu, Jiaqi; Cao, Jinzhen
• Is Part Of: Fire safety journal. Volume 121(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Wood -- Montmorillonite -- Furfuryl alcohol -- Catalyst -- Flame retardancy; Fire prevention -- Periodicals; Incendies -- Prévention -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Fire prevention -- Research; Periodicals; 628.92205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2021.103297
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-7112

Abstract

Abstract: Flammability, as an undesirable inherent nature of wood, limits its usage in many fields of structural applications. Hybrid organic-inorganic modification offers a way to improve the flame retardancy of wood. In this study, montmorillonite (MMT)-catalyzed furfurylated wood was prepared by polymerization of furfuryl alcohol (FA) with hydrogen-MMT (H-MMT) used as catalyst. Poplar wood ( Populus cathayana Rehd. ) was delignified at first to increase its nanoporosity, and then impregnated with H-MMT/FA suspensions, followed by curing at 105 °C to form the MMT-catalyzed fufurylated wood hybrids. The H-MMT/FA suspensions were dispersed in the cell walls and cell lumens of delignified wood. The acidic catalyst, H-MMT, catalyzed in situ the polymerization of FA in wood, restrained the smoke emission of FA and provided catalytic sites for char formation under combustion. Additionally, H-MMT sheets can be used as an effective flame retardant due to its thermal and gas barrier properties. Cone calorimeter test showed that the total heat release of modified wood was decreased by 29% compared with original wood. The modified wood exhibited excellent flame retardancy by reducing the amount of flammable gases and impeding the diffusion of heat. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: H-MMT was prepared by ion exchange to enhance acidity and keep hydrophilicity. Combination of H-MMT and furfuryl alcohol improved the flame retardance of wood. The polymerization of furfuryl alcohol was catalyzed by H-MMT. Smoke emission of FA was restrained by H-MMT.