Clay nanopaper as multifunctional brick and mortar fire protection coating—Wood case study

• Cellulose nanofibers can be combined with clay for the preparation of nanopaper.
• Clay nanopaper exhibits highly ordered brick-and-mortar structure.
• The processing of clay nanopaper is environmentally friendly and simple.
• The use of clay nanopaper is proposed as fire protection coating for wood.
• The time to ignition of coated wood samples increased up to about 4 1/2 min.

Wood is one of the most sustainable, esthetically pleasing and environmentally benign engineering materials, and is often used in structures found in buildings. Unfortunately, the fire hazards related to wood are limiting its application. The use of transparent cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/clay nanocomposites, with unique brick-and-mortar structure, is proposed as a sustainable and efficient fire protection coating for wood. Fire performance was assessed by cone calorimetry. When exposed to the typical 35 kW/m2 heat flux of developing fires, the time to ignition of coated wood samples increased up to about 4 1/2 min, while the maximum average rate of heat emission (MARHE) was decreased by 46% thus significantly reducing the potential fire threat from wood structures.

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