Mineralization of wood by calcium carbonate insertion for improved flame retardancy
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Author / Producer
Date
2016-09
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
Wood can be considered as a highly porous, three-dimensional organic scaffold. It can be mineralized to create hierarchically structured organic-inorganic hybrid materials with novel properties. In the present paper, the precipitation of CaCO3 mineral in Norway spruce and European beech wood has been studied by alternating impregnation with aqueous and alcoholic electrolyte solutions. Microstructural imaging by SEM and confocal Raman microscopy shows the distribution of calcite and vaterite as two CaCO3 polymorphs, which are deposited deep inside the cellular structure of the wood. The confined microenvironment of the wood cell wall seems to favor a formation of vaterite, as visible by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. In view of a practical application, the mineralization of wood opens up ways for sustainable wood-based hybrid materials with a significantly improved fire resistance, as proven via pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry and cone calorimetry tests. Beyond that, this versatile solute-exchange approach provides an opportunity for the incorporation of a broad range of different mineral phases into wood for novel material property combinations.
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Publication status
published
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Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
70 (9)
Pages / Article No.
867 - 876
Publisher
De Gruyter
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Calcite; Calcium carbonate; Cone calorimetry; Fire retardant; Hybrid material; Mineral; Mineralized wood
Organisational unit
03917 - Burgert, Ingo / Burgert, Ingo
Notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.