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-2), time to flameout (336s), THR (21.36 MJ m-2), 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.

Keywords

• Cone calorimetry
• Fire performance
• Ultra-low density fiberboards
• Si-Al compounds