- Sol–gel technology was applied in tailoring
novel wood-made-inorganic composites with improved
thermal and fire properties. In practice, composites materials
were prepared by impregnating pine sapwood wood with
nano-scaled precursor solutions derived from titanium(IV)
isopropoxide followed by a thermal curing process. Thermal
and fire properties were evaluated by thermal analysis and
cone calorimetry, whereas flammability was specified by
oxygen index (LOI) and UL 94 test. Peak heat release rates
were moderately reduced indicating fire retardance potential
in terms of flame spread attributed to the appropriate protection
layer action of the titania-based depositions. LOI
(oxygen index) values of these composites were increased up
to 38 vol.% in comparison to 23 vol.% for untreated wood.
The flame retardancy performance depends on the fire scenario
and is strongly influenced by wood loading and crackfree
deposition of the titania layers inside the composite.