Fire Performance of Si-Al Ultra-Low Density Fiberboards Evaluated by Cone Calorimetry

Abstract

To clarify how the fire resistance of ultra-low density fiberboards (ULDFs) was improved by the Si-Al compounds and to compare the effect of fire resistance between Si-Al compounds and fire retardant (chlorinated paraffin), the fire performance of ULDFs was evaluated by cone calorimetry. Comparing Si-Al compounds to chlorinated paraffin, the heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), mass loss, total smoke release, and off-gases (CO and CO2) release of ULDFs treated with Si-Al compounds significantly decreased. However, when Si-Al compounds and chlorinated paraffins were simultaneously added, the mixed fiberboards showed the best results for peak of HRR (100.76 kW m ), and residual mass (34.26%). These results indicated that the Si-Al compounds had a significant effect on improving the fire resistance of ULDFs, and the Si-Al compounds and chlorinated paraffins have a synergistic effect in ULDFs.

Fire Performance of Ultra-Low Density Fiberboard (ULDF) with Complex Fire-Retardants

“…For example, the char yield of MF at 350 °C and 500 °C increased by 78.31% and 112.78%, respectively, compared with CF. These results indicated that the fire resistance of fiberboards is improved by complex fire-retardants, which improve the protection properties of the residues (Chen et al 2015b(Chen et al , 2016a. …”

“…The inorganic film insulates wood against air during combustion (Unger et al 2012;Chen et al 2015b). Potassium carbonate (K2CO3), a component of Si compounds, releases noncombustible gas (CO2) at 400 °C.…”

“…The vapor phase follows the principle of free radical chain reaction. The large number of hydroxyl radicals (HO·) can react with CO to form the CO2 gas and hydrogen radical (H·), which reacts with oxygen to form hydroxyl radicals (Chen et al 2015b(Chen et al , 2016a. The described processes interrupt the exothermic processes and suppress combustion.…”

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Complex Fire-Retardants on the Fire Properties of Ultra-low Density Fiberboard (ULDF)

“…The HRR curves demonstrated a two-peak profile, especially the SF curve, due to the thermo-oxidative decomposition of the char. Furthermore, Si compounds formed a barrier to heat and mass transfer that caused the further decomposition and cracking of the char towards the burned ends where the second peak occurred (Hagen et al 2009;Shabir Mahr et al 2012;Chen et al 2015b). Compared with CF, the HRR profiles of BF, NPF, SF, HF, and MF were reduced.…”

“…Among BF, NPF, SF, and HF, the residual mass of SF (35.49%) was higher by 9.78%, 3.68%, and 14.01% than BF, NPF, and HF, respectively. This result could be ascribed to the inorganic film, which acts as a barrier to fuel transport (Sacristán et al 2010;Chen et al 2015b). In contrast, chlorinated paraffins cannot form a barrier to slow or prevent the release of fuel to the flame front, which corresponded to its high value of HHR and low percentage mass loss (21.48%).…”