Crushed mussel shell powder and optional borax in surface char layers to protect four wood species against fire

Abstract

The goal is to protect semi-finished/finished wood components from burning/fires in a variety of settings (wooden buildings, historical sites, restoration, etc.). Natural (organic) sea mussel shells (Chamelea gallina) were crushed and prepared with water in various solution concentrations (10%, 15%) after the pyrolysis process, either alone or together with boron compounds (borax). The limiting oxygen index value (LOI) was determined by making retention calculations. Coatings were applied to the wood as a double treatment, with boron compounds (borax) used for comparison purposes. Eastern spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.), Anatolian chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), and locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) were chosen for this research. When the pyrolysis-treated impregnated samples were compared to the pyrolysis-treated control sample, the limiting oxygen index value (LOI) was found to be significantly higher in the impregnated samples. After impregnation, 15% borax (0.89%) in acacia wood had the highest retention value, whereas 10 percent mussel shell (0.22%) in spruce wood had the lowest. The maximum limiting oxygen index value (LOI) was found in acacia wood (42.8%), while the lowest value was found in acacia wood (28.9%) impregnated with 10% mussel shell powder after the pyrolysis process.