Flammability studies of a pine sawdust coated with multicomponent suspension

Abstract

This paper reports results of developed multicomponent suspension for pine sawdust, which improves physical properties, resistant to fire. Currently, wood and agricultural wastes are used for biofuel production thus providing short-term benefits. The use of these waste materials in the production of thermal insulating materials would bring long-term benefits and contribute to the current energy performance of buildings. The objective is to test if loose-fill thermal insulating materials from wood waste could be used as thermal insulating fire-resistant materials . The aim is to take sawdust waste from large-scale wood processing facilities and convert them into eco-friendly fire-resistant thermal insulating materials for buildings, which should be non-polluting, eventually recycled, and locally available. 36 samples with different multicomponent suspension compositions for pine sawdust were prepared and analyzed. (sawdust, liquid glass, tung oil, expandable graphite). The reaction to fire properties of organic waste materials was evaluated by thermogravimetric measurements, combustion heat, continuous smoldering, and single-flame source methods. The results of the combustion heat tests showed that liquid glass, depending on the amount in proportion, can decrease the combustion heat by up to 33% from 18,5 Mj/kg to 12,4 18 Mj/kg. The results of the single flame source method showed that using only liquid glass does not guarantee the acceptable result of the tested specimens. The multicomponent suspension has to be added to sawdust to achieve better performance. Continuous smoldering tests showed, that only a few of 36 multicomponent suspension compositions can pass the test. It was found that even 2 % of tung oil makes pine sawdust smolder, and that ratio between pine sawdust, liquid glass, expandable graphite 1:0,75:0,1 is acceptable-tested specimen passes the continuous smoldering test. The thermal behavior of treated and untreated specimens in an air atmosphere was tested. The main decomposition occurred at the range 180 ° C and 320 ° C, leading to a mass reduction of 37.23 % at 280 ° C. This weight loss was mainly ascribed to the release of combustible gases of the sawdust [1]. Weight loss slowed when the temperature was greater than 320 ° C. When the temperature was 670 °C, the total weight loss of the sawdust was 52.25 %, while untreated sawdust had 90% of mass reduction at 490 °C. This indicated that the silicate inorganic components in the hybrid can endure higher temperatures and can hopefully improve the thermal stability of poplar wood.