The Effects of Flame Retardants on Combustion of Some Tropical Woods

Abstract

Penta-erythritol, melamine and diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate were doped into emulsion paint and painted into some tropical woods that are commonly used for building, furniture, and other construction. These woods are Daniellia oliveri, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Mansonia altissima and Vitex doniana. The woods were also doped with a combination of urea fertilizer and alum dissolved in water. Paint formulations were prepared by using a combination of penta-erythritol, melamine and diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate and alone with gypsum. Some woods were painted with the formulations. The flame retardation effects of each of these formulations on the combustion of these tropical woods were determined through the following combustion parameters; ignition time, flame time, after glow, char length, flame propagation rate, moisture content and percent add-on. It was observed that the flame retardants really had retardation effect on the combustion of these tropical woods. The order of the degree of their retardation effects, a combination of urea fertilizer and alum is the highest, followed by paint mixed with gypsum and lastly, paint doped with penta-erythritol, melamine and diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate.

Keywords:  Flame retardants, wood, combustion, paint, perservatives