This new, transparent intumescent flame retardant coating is world‐first; it increases the fire-safe design of timber whilst maintaining its most authentic natural appearance.
Safeguarding the Past, Embracing the Future
Wood has been prized for millennia as a building and furniture material, highly valued for its economy of supply, workability, and remarkable structural properties. Nonetheless, it is highly flammable and as a result presents a real risk, particularly in restoration projects of old buildings where the original character may need to be retained.
The fabrication of highly transparent flame-retardant or fire-resistant coatings has always been a challenge, although extensive efforts have been made to improve the flame-retardant properties recently. Perhaps it was this urgency that prompted researchers from the State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute and Sichuan University to work on a groundbreaking solution – new-generation transparent intumescent flame-retardant coating (TIFRC) that has the potential to revolutionise wood protection_READONLY.
The Science Behind the Breakthrough
The coating developed by the researchers includes a combination of phosphorus and nitrogen as well as silicon to add protection but retain the natural look of the timber. It is a big step taken to make the fire safety technology of wooden materials more advanced.
Its unique chemical composition and structure are the secret behind its success as a coated layer. The researchers showed that the deposition of phytic acid anion and quaternary ammonium cation could combine into a cross-linked network, displaying remarkable intumescence properties. Because of its porous cellular structure, the flame-extinguishing effect is very significant and the limit oxygen index (LOI) has been increased to 35.5%, which also makes the wood difficult to ignite. Overall, the coating limits total heat release by 13.9%, which in turn delays combustion.
What makes this breakthrough so impressive is its incredibly high transparency, allowing the wood’s natural beauty to shine through and making it an excellent choice for anything from historical restoration to aesthetic applications. The dense char layer that comes up during a fire episode stands as the best obstruction to heat, and oxygen securing all wood under it.
Conclusion
The invention of the transparent intumescent flame retardant coating by a research team at Sichuan University and the State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute is a revolutionary breakthrough in wood preservation technology. This new solution allows to comply with the strict fire regulations for wooden constructions without negatively impacting the appearance of wood, allowing heritage preservation in combination with additional fire safety measures at cultural sites. This discovery allows us to protect our heritage and live safely with fire in the future.
