Scientists develop a new coating that makes polyurethane foam, etc. flame retardant

Now, scientists have demonstrated a new coating designed to limit the flammability of wood used in construction, giving people more time to escape a fire and also hindering its spread

Home fires account for the majority of fire deaths and cause billions of dollars in property damage each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association .

This treatment, which can be deposited by dipping, spraying or pressure treatment, can make the home safer

The project's principal investigator observed that the composition of the new coating is environmentally friendly and potentially less expensive than most existing flame retardant treatments

Many of these coatings are made by soaking a material or something in a solution consisting of one polymer with a large positive charge, and then in another solution consisting of a polymer with a large negative charge , then repeat these steps to achieve the preferred thickness

The researchers would love to extend this treatment to wood, but a multi-step approach is out of the question for producers because wood takes a long time to absorb these chemicals

However, the second solution always became viscous, so the reconstituted process was still not suitable for consumer or industrial applications

Instead of dipping the wood into the solution a second time to cure it, he exposed it to ultraviolet (UV) light for a few minutes

In laboratory flame tests, the treated wood reduces the amount of heat it emits when burning and rapidly develops a surface charcoal layer that protects the underlying wood—properties that can curb the spread and destruction of fires
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It also reduced smoke production by 56%, a very significant improvement
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In contrast to the team's previous coatings, which are held together by ionic bonds, this coating is covalently bonded
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As such, the lab speculates that it is water-resistant—and thus durable—perhaps anti-fungal and water-resistant as well
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Industrial users can use this coating on building materials such as dowels and other framing, or oriented strand board (an engineered wood similar to particle board)
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Homeowners can use knapsack sprayers to protect current structures, such as barns or fences, that have been shown to spread wildfires, officials said
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Other possible applications include polyurethane foams and textiles for household goods, clothing, and the aerospace and automotive sectors, the lab said
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The UV-cured polyelectrolyte could also be used as a resin to make 3D printed parts, which are flammable when produced with conventional resins, the researchers added
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This could be a major advantage in aerospace, such as the International Space Station, he observed
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