Środek ochrony drewna i materiałów drewnopochodnych przed działaniem ognia oraz sposób ich zabezpieczania
2018, WOJCIECH GRZEŚKOWIAK
The effect of veneer-surface modification with fumed nanosilica on the selected properties of water-resistant plywood
2025, Dukarska, Dorota, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Kawalerczyk, Jakub, Kuleczka, Weronika
The strength and fire properties of paper sheets made of phosphorylated cellulose fibers
2024, Tavakoli, Mehrnoosh, Mazela, Bartłomiej, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Proch, Jędrzej, Mleczek, Mirosław, Perdoch, Waldemar
Phosphorylated cellulose can be an intrinsic flame retardant and a promising alternative for halogenated fire inhibitors. In this study, the mixture of di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) and urea (U), containing phosphate and nitrogen groups, was applied to attain fire inhibitor properties. Functional groups of cellulose were grafted with phosphorous by keeping the constant molar ratio of 1/1.2/4.9 between anhydroglucose units of cellulose/DAP/U in different concentrations of bleached kraft pulp. Phosphorus concentrations were determined using the ICP hrOES method, and paper sheets were made using the Rapid Köthen apparatus. The tensile strength of phosphorylated cellulose increased twice compared with unmodified cellulose when the phosphorous concentration increased to 10,000 g/kg. An increase in the tensile index comes from the higher freeness of pulp and cross-linking of the phosphorous group between cellulose fibers. Remarkable fire retardancy effects were achieved in cellulose concentrations above 5 wt%. The raised phosphorous concentration above 10,000 g/kg due to the phosphorylation process caused the formation of a char layer on a cellulose surface and the nonflammable gas emission. That effect was indirectly confirmed by reducing the combustion temperature and HRR by 50 and 45%, respectively. Due to increasing phosphorus concentration in cellulose sheets, cellulose’s fire and strength properties increased significantly.
Current Standards for the Purposes of Assessing and Classifying Fire Hazards in Historic Buildings
2025, Jurecki, Andrzej, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Wieruszewski, Marek
The utilisation of fire resistance control systems in contemporary timber construction and the conservation of historic edifices has emerged as a pivotal solution, superseding conventional mandatory systems. Such approaches are particularly beneficial for the rational protection and assessment of unique buildings of historical or cultural significance. The objective is to achieve a balance between the necessity of protecting often irreplaceable structures and their contents, and the aspiration to preserve significant historical or cultural elements of the construction. The article provides a synopsis of fundamental American and European standards, with a particular emphasis on Polish and German standards, and addresses issues related to the implementation of quality and material constraints when developing the scope and methodologies for fire protection in historic buildings. The current state of knowledge on the natural fire resistance of wooden structural elements in historic buildings is defined, and the level of risk is described. The direction of adapting European standards for fire protection of historic wooden buildings to North American standards is indicated. The paper confirms the exemplary adaptation of ASTM standards to UNESCO requirements and provisions in the field of monument protection, as well as the need for changes in European standards.
Fire Properties of Paper Sheets Made of Cellulose Fibers Treated with Various Retardants
2024, Szubert, Zuzanna, Mazela, Bartłomiej, Tomkowiak, Karolina, Grześkowiak, Wojciech
This article presents the results of flame-retardancy tests conducted on cellulose sheets produced using a Rapid Köthen apparatus treated with retardants. The agents used were potassium carbonate (PC) K2CO3 (concentrations of 20; 33.3; and 50% wt/wt), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) NH4H2PO4 (concentrations of 35% wt/wt), diammonium phosphate (DAP) (NH4)2HPO4 (concentrations of 42.9% wt/wt), and bisguanidal phosphate (FOS) C2H10N6 (concentrations of 22.5% wt/wt). The agents were used to improve Kraft cellulose-based sheets’ flame-retardant properties and compare their performances. As part of the study, the flammability of the materials was determined by the following methods: an oxygen index (OI) test, a mass loss calorimeter (MLC) test, and a mini fire tube (MFT) test. All formulations showed an increase in flame retardancy compared to the control test. All protected samples were non-flammable for OI determinations, and DAP-protected samples showed the highest OI index. For the MLC test, DAP-protected and MAP-protected samples showed the best heat-release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), and average heat-release rate (ARHE) (samples did not ignite for 600 s). In the MFT test, all treated samples had comparably reduced weight loss. The best parameter was achieved for MAP and DAP (15% weight loss).
Properties of sandwich boards with a core made of bio-composite particleboard containing wood particles and walnut shells
2024, Dukarska, Dorota, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Kawalerczyk, Jakub, Klucewicz, Maciej, Florczak, Maciej, Góral, Błażej
AbstractThe aim of the research was to investigate the possibility of producing bio-composite particleboard with a density reduced to 500–550 kg/m3, containing 25% and 50% of walnut shells. In addition, the study also concerned the possibility of using these materials in sandwich systems. Based on the results, it was found that partial replacement of wood particles with ground shells leads to a significant reduction in the strength of the boards bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. However, the implementation of a hybrid gluing method consisting of gluing wood particles with UF resin and walnut shells with 4,4′-methylenediphenyl isocyanate (pMDI) caused a significant improvement in the strength of the boards, especially for the variant with the highest shells content. Despite that, the manufactured materials still do not meet the requirements for furniture boards. The next step of the research has shown that these boards can perform well as a core layer in the sandwich boards covered with high-strength HDF boards. Moreover, it was found that increasing the share of walnut shells positively affected the dimensional stability of the resultant boards (thickness swelling and water absorption). However, substitution of wood with shells accelerated the ignition and flameout times of the boards. It increased the heat release without significantly affecting the percentage loss of the boards’ mass during exposure to fire.
Bio-production of fire retardant and hydrophobic packaging paperboard with enhanced tensile strength through coating with modified cellulose nanofiber
2024, Tavakoli, Mehrnoosh, Ghassemian, Ali, Dehghani Firouzabadi, Mohammadreza, Mazela, Bartłomiej, Grześkowiak, Wojciech
The Influence of the Accelerated Aging Process on the Compressive Strength of Wood Treated with Components of a Salt Fire Retardant
2022, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Molińska-Glura, Marta, Przybylska, Marcelina
This paper presents the results of research on the influence of the components of salt flame retardants on the compressive strength of wood depending on the time of accelerated aging. The effect of the agent was assessed on the basis of the change in the strength of treated wood compared to that of untreated wood. In addition, a statistical analysis of the obtained results was used to determine which of the components most significantly affect the changes in the compressive strength of wood along the fibers, and to what extent. It was found that extending the aging process time in the case of control and boric acid-protected samples did not significantly change the strength properties. It has also been found that some compounds contained in fire retardant have an antagonistic effect related to the compressive strength of wood.
Phosphorus–Nitrogen Interaction in Fire Retardants and Its Impact on the Chemistry of Treated Wood
2024, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Ratajczak, Izabela, Zborowska, Magdalena, Przybylska, Marcelina, Patora, Marcin
This work focuses on the changes in the chemical composition of wood caused by impregnation with fire retardants such as guanidine carbonate (GC), urea (U), diammonium phosphate (DAP) and their mixtures. The treated wood was tested using the oxygen index (LOI), Py–GC/MS analysis and FTIR Spectroscopy. The wood was vacuum treated at a pressure of 0.8 MPa for 20 min and then subjected to thermal degradation using the LOI. This way, degraded and nondegraded layers were obtained and ground (0.2 mm). All treatment variants achieved the class of non-flammable materials based on LOI tests; the exception was the 5% urea solution, defined as a flame-retardant material. Using the analytical methods, it was found that cellulose and hemicelluloses undergo the fastest thermal degradation. This study found that the variant protected with a 5% mixture of GC and DAP before and after the degradation process had the best fire-retardant properties regarding cellulose content in the wood. The highest content of anhydrosugars characterised the same variants, the amount of which indicates a slowdown in the degradation process and, consequently, a reduction in the release of levoglucosan during combustion, suggesting potential applications in fire safety.
Impact of Cellulose Modification by Expandable Graphite andCarbon Nanotubes on Flammability and Thermal Properties
2024, Grześkowiak, Wojciech, Treu, Andreas, Mazela, Bartłomiej, Fongen, Monica