Texas A&M scientists propose phosphorus-based one-dip UV cured fire protective coatings for wood and other materials. The new coating presented at the ACS (American Chemical Society) conference uses an aqueous solution of hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphate (HMP) monomer, polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer and a the photoinitiator TPO. After dipping wood, UV light is used to change the polarity of HMP, so causing a reaction with PEI with covalent bonds, generating a micromillimetre protective coating which is shown to reduce heat release, generate char and protect the underlying wood from fire.
“Making wooden construction materials fire-resistant with an eco-friendly coating”, ACS, 22 March 2022 https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2022/march/making-wooden-construction-materials-fire-resistant-with-eco-friendly-coating-video.html and video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPQi3WyY0rw
Image credit: Ethan Iverson