Projects / Programmes
Mineralization of wood by soluble carbonate based compounds for improved essential properties
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.01.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T460 |
Technological sciences |
Wood, pulp and paper technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
wood, mineralization, impregnation, flame retardants, essential properties.
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
35412 |
PhD Andreja Pondelak |
Materials science and technology |
Head |
2018 - 2020 |
98 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Due to its unique properties wood is considered an important sustainable material. Unfortunately, it is flammable and susceptible to degradation by a wide variety of microorganisms, water and ultraviolet radiation. To improve wood’s reaction to fire, many approaches have been proposed so far, including addition of fire-retardants, deposition of flame retardant coatings or the development of wood composites. When burning some fire retardants release toxic and carcinogenic substances. Therefore their use is progressively restricted and prohibited which opens new opportunities for development of non-toxic and "eco-friendly" alternatives. A promising direction is mineralization of wood by incorporation of metal carbonates or hydroxides. Upon their endothermic decomposition non-flammable gases, CO2 and H2O, are released, which leads to dilution and cooling of flammable combustion products. Recently two promising procedures for incorporation of CaCO3 into the wood structure have been proposed. The first is based on a solid-exchange process by alternating solution-exchange cycles with CaCl2 in ethanol and NaHCO3 in water and second on alkaline hydrolysis of dimethyl carbonate in the presence of calcium ions inside the cell wall structure. The main disadvantage of both methods is that they are time consuming and involve formation of harmful by-products, such as NaCl and methanol. The former causes corrosion of metal objects, which are often incorporated in wood, while the latter is harmful to the environment.
In the present project we will develop a new method for integrating carbonates (CaCO3, MgCO3 and SrCO3) and hydroxide (Al(OH)3) into the wood structure based on deep impregnation with soluble organic compounds in order to improve wood’s reaction to fire and durability. The principle is based on the decomposition of soluble organic compounds in the wood structure in the presence of water into carbonate/s or hydroxide with no harmful by-products. The proposed method signifies a simple, ecologically friendly and more effective mineralization of wood in a comparison to the traditional incorporation of carbonates. The main objective of the project is to obtain and deepen the knowledge about wood mineralization procedures. In particular we will evaluate the effect of proposed mineralization process on essential properties of wood, mainly its reaction to fire and determine the mechanisms of action of incorporated carbonates and hydroxides. A combination of vacuum and pressure will be used for wood impregnation. For selected wood species, i.e. spruce and beech, we will determine: (i) the optimal impregnation parameters for deep penetration and high retention of impregnation solution, (ii) optimal drying mode of impregnated wood samples and (iii) the optimal impregnation formulation. The evaluation of suitability of proposed impregnation formulation/s regarding efficiency and toxicity will be evaluated as well. For evaluation of the wood mineralization advanced research equipment will be used, such as TG/DTA coupled with GC-MS, SEM, FE-SEM, µCT, FTIR, XRD, gas sorption, cone calorimetry, etc.
Significance for science
A new proposed method will open new research areas of wood mineralization. It is assumed that the new method will give an eco-friendlier modification for improvement of wood’s flammability. Proposed new method could substitute traditional methods based on incorporation of toxic fire retardants or time consuming methods with harmful by-products.
The method of using soluble calcium carbonate based compounds was already proposed and patented for reinforcement of mineral substrates (e.g. wall painting, render, mortar or carbonate based stone) by the research group, including the leader of the present project proposal [1]. However, the use of this compound on wood has not been applied yet and will therefore open new research areas. Moreover three additional possible compounds based on SrCO3, MgCO3 and Al(OH)3 are suggested for wood mineralization. The proposed method presents completely new approach for mineralization of wood and further wood based materials.
Research will bring a new knowledge in interactions between inorganic compounds (carbonates and hydroxide) and biological material (wood). Moreover the solutions of soluble strontium, magnesium and aluminium organic compounds will be characterized for the first time. Therefore research will bring completely new knowledge about these compounds. It is expected that results obtained in the project will have an influence in the field of crystallization as well. Knowledge about CaCO3, SrCO3, MgCO3 and Al(OH)3 in the wood structure as well as their crystal modifications will be obtained. Proposed new method for mineralization of wood by eco-friendly, soluble compounds for improvement wood’s reaction to fire is not yet described neither in scientific nor technical literature what increase the importance and the novelty of the results of the project. The results will be patentable and publishable in scientific high-impact journals.
Besides the impact on science, it is expected that results obtained in the project will have some additional impacts:
Health impact: in the process of production and application of proposed retardants and also in the case of fire no toxic or carcinogenic compounds are released,
Economic impact: increased durability of the wood-inorganic composites prepared by proposed method means prolonged service life of timber, less wood harvest and lower costs due to less consumption of wood preservatives,
Environmental impact: an improved, simple, one-step method means lower costs of wood protection compared to solid-exchange process where two-step methods is used, in addition increased durability of wood means decrease in wood harvest.
[1] L. Škrlep, A. Pondelak, A.S. Škapin, Method for Reinforcing Porous Construction Materials and Use Calcium Acetoacetate Solution to this Aim, EU Pat. 3004028 B1, 2017.
Significance for the country
A new proposed method will open new research areas of wood mineralization. It is assumed that the new method will give an eco-friendlier modification for improvement of wood’s flammability. Proposed new method could substitute traditional methods based on incorporation of toxic fire retardants or time consuming methods with harmful by-products.
The method of using soluble calcium carbonate based compounds was already proposed and patented for reinforcement of mineral substrates (e.g. wall painting, render, mortar or carbonate based stone) by the research group, including the leader of the present project proposal [1]. However, the use of this compound on wood has not been applied yet and will therefore open new research areas. Moreover three additional possible compounds based on SrCO3, MgCO3 and Al(OH)3 are suggested for wood mineralization. The proposed method presents completely new approach for mineralization of wood and further wood based materials.
Research will bring a new knowledge in interactions between inorganic compounds (carbonates and hydroxide) and biological material (wood). Moreover the solutions of soluble strontium, magnesium and aluminium organic compounds will be characterized for the first time. Therefore research will bring completely new knowledge about these compounds. It is expected that results obtained in the project will have an influence in the field of crystallization as well. Knowledge about CaCO3, SrCO3, MgCO3 and Al(OH)3 in the wood structure as well as their crystal modifications will be obtained. Proposed new method for mineralization of wood by eco-friendly, soluble compounds for improvement wood’s reaction to fire is not yet described neither in scientific nor technical literature what increase the importance and the novelty of the results of the project. The results will be patentable and publishable in scientific high-impact journals.
Besides the impact on science, it is expected that results obtained in the project will have some additional impacts:
Health impact: in the process of production and application of proposed retardants and also in the case of fire no toxic or carcinogenic compounds are released,
Economic impact: increased durability of the wood-inorganic composites prepared by proposed method means prolonged service life of timber, less wood harvest and lower costs due to less consumption of wood preservatives,
Environmental impact: an improved, simple, one-step method means lower costs of wood protection compared to solid-exchange process where two-step methods is used, in addition increased durability of wood means decrease in wood harvest.
[1] L. Škrlep, A. Pondelak, A.S. Škapin, Method for Reinforcing Porous Construction Materials and Use Calcium Acetoacetate Solution to this Aim, EU Pat. 3004028 B1, 2017.
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
