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Highly Transparent Fire-resistant Coatings with Intumescent Three-source Integration

  • Research Article
  • Special Issue: Functional Polymer Materials
  • Published:
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Abstract

Wood, a readily available and sustainable natural resource, has found widespread use in construction and furniture. However, its inherent flammability poses a potential fire risk. Although intumescent fire-retardant coatings effectively mitigate this risk, achieving high transparency in such coatings presents a significant challenge. In our approach, we employed a cross-linked network of phytic acid anion and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium cation to create a transparent “three-in-one” intumescent coating. The collaborative P/N/Si flame-retardant effect markedly improved the intumescent char-forming capability, preventing the wood from rapid decomposition. This resulted in a substantial reduction in heat release (13.9% decrease in THR) and an increased limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 35.5%. Crucially, the high transparency of the coating ensured minimal impact on the wood’s appearance, allowing the natural wood grains to remain clearly visible. This innovative approach provides a straightforward method for developing transparent intumescent flame-retardant coatings suitable for wooden substrates. The potential applications extend to preserving ancient buildings and heritage conservation efforts.

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Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The authors’ contact information: 2022322030100@stu.scu.edu.cn (L.Z.), haibor7@163.com (H.B.Z.)

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by State Grid Corporation of China Science and Technology Project Funding (No. 52199723000M), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52122302) and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2023NSFSC1943).

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Correspondence to Lin Zhang or Hai-Bo Zhao.

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Zeng, XL., Lan, XS., Wang, Y. et al. Highly Transparent Fire-resistant Coatings with Intumescent Three-source Integration. Chin J Polym Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-024-3100-1

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