Production of fire-retarded, hydrophobic woods using silver nanoparticles

Iranian researchers from Shahid Rajaee Teachers Training University succeeded in the production of fire-retarded woods by using silver nanoparticles. Materials used in the produced fire-retarded woods are pretty harmless to the environment. The researchers also produced woods resistant to water and air by using cycocel nanoparticles and taking advantage from their hydrophobic properties. This type of wood does not have the common problems of wooden compound products such as water adsorption or thickness elongation. This plan has applications in the furniture of houses and offices. Dr. Hamid Reza Taqiyari, member of the Scientific Board of Wood Industries Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, elaborated on the research, and said, “Saturated woods have higher thermal conduction. Therefore, in case they are exposed to high temperature or to direct flame, heat does not accumulate in one spot and the wood does not reach the burning point or, at least, reaches there later. As a result, the burning takes place with more difficulty and as we call it, the wood becomes fire-retarded.” In another research, the same researcher used the hydrophobic properties of cycocel nanoparticles to solve the problem with water adsorption and elongation in wooden compound products (chipboard and MDF). Dr. Taqiyari explained, “In this research, we increased significantly the life of the products by using these nanoparticles through making MDF products hydrophobic. We help the conservation of our national forests and wood resources through this method.” Negotiations have been made to transfer the license of the technology to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to be used in MDF manufacturing companies in this country. Results of the research have been published in September 2012 in Wood Science and Technology, vol. 46, issue 5. For more information about the details of the research, study the full article on pages 939-952 on the same journal.