Toshiro Harada

Thermal constants of wood during the heating process measured with the laser flash method

The thermal diffusivity, specific heat, and thermal conductivity of 13 species of wood were measured by means of the laser flash method to investigate the thermal properties of wood during the heating process. The temperature ranged from room temperature to 270°C in air or under vacuum. The thermal diffusivity varied little during the heating process up to 240°C. The values in air were larger than those under vacuum. There was a linear relation between the specific heat and the ambient temperature, and the specific heat under vacuum was larger than that in air at high temperature. The thermal conductivity increased with density and the ambient temperature. To discuss the effects of the atmospheric conditions on the thermal constants of wood, a theoretical model of thermal conductivity was proposed and its validity examined, where the wood was assumed to be a uniformly distributed material composed of cell walls and air.

Fire resistance of thick wood-based boards

Thick wood-based boards are used as construction materials for walls and floors in Japan. In this study, fire resistance tests (ISO 834-1) and cone calorimeter tests (ISO 5660-1) were conducted for thick plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard with sample thicknesses of about 28–30mm, and their suitabilities for quasi-fireproof or fire-preventive structures were evaluated. In the ISO 834-1 fire resistance test, the heat-shielding performance (insulation criterion) for walls was evaluated and the results showed that the larger the apparent density of a woodbased board, the higher its insulation performance. The insulation performance of thick wood-based boards in the fire resistance test could be forecast from the results of the cone calorimeter test, especially when the second peak of heat release rate appeared. In the cone calorimeter tests, the surface layer density of the plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard was the dominant parameter for the time to ignition and initial heat release rate. These results indicate that thick wood-based board is a suitable fire-preventive construction material.

Weatherability and combustibility of fire-retardant-impregnated wood after accelerated weathering tests

The weatherability and combustibility of fireretardant-impregnated wood during accelerated weathering for up to 2000 h were evaluated. The ability of coating to retain fire-retardant chemicals against leaching was also examined using four coating systems (water-borne or solvent-borne, pigmented or clear, film-forming or penetrating). Furthermore, the distribution of fire retardants in the specimens was observed by scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive analysis of Xrays (SEM-EDX). The fire performance of the specimens during weathering depended on the chemical retention, and was maintained at a quasi-noncombustible material level if the chemical retention was above 150 kg/m3. The maximum duration of accelerated weathering to keep this retention was 250 h for the uncoated specimens, but increased to over 1000 h for pigmented coatings. SEM-EDX revealed that the fire retardants were accumulated in the cell lumina throughout the wood tissues. However, in the uncoated samples, the leaching of fire retardants occurred for surfaces exposed to light and water, and was observed down to a depth of ∼150 μm after 500 h. The leaching depth extended throughout the specimen after 1000 h. In contrast, the fire retardants still remained in samples finished with a solvent-borne pigmented penetrating coating even after 1000 h due to their relatively high chemical retention.

The effect of ceramic coating of fire-retardant wood on combustibility and weatherability

In order to develop a fireproof wooden material, the synergic effect of fire-retardant chemicals and wood coatings was studied. The fire performance was evaluated by cone calorimeter. Impregnation of fire retardants including polyphosphatic carbamate, and ceramic coatings including alkoxy metal salt improved the fire performance of wooden materials. This treatment made it possible to meet the guidelines for fire performance of noncombustible materials in Japan. In addition to the vacuum-pressure impregnation treatment, hot-and-cold-bath impregnation treatment is an effective way to develop fire-retardant wood by impregnating fire retardant and ceramic coating. The weatherability of the developed material was also investigated. The ceramic coating was resistant to light and moisture.

Combustibility of fire-retardant impregnated and surface-coated wood after 5 years of natural weathering

The weatherability and combustibility of fire-retardant-impregnated wood during natural weathering for up to 60 months were evaluated. Fire-retardant chemicals used were modified guanidine phosphate with phenolic additives in order to retain chemicals against leaching. The ability of coating was also examined using four solvent-born coating systems:1 penetrating;semi-transparent(brown), 2 thin-film-forming;semi-transparent(brown), 3 film-forming;opaque(white), 4 film-forming;transparent. The systems 1 and 2 consisted of 2 or 3-coat application of each single coating composition, whereas 3 and 4 employed specific wood-sealers as an undercoat to stabilize the surface of wood prior to the application of topcoat. Phenolic additives were effective to maintain chemical retention for a certain period. After 60-month-natural weathering, coated specimens and uncoated specimen were at a quasi-non-combustible material level and a fire-retardant material level, respectively. Fire performance of specimens coated with 3 and 4 were better than 1 and 2.

Fire resistance of sugi covering materials for structural steel

Glued laminated timbers (glulam) or planks 50mm thick were added to structural steel columns and beams as covering materials. The wood used in the glulam was sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) laminated with resorcinol resin adhesive between woods and epoxy resin adhesive between wood and steel. The 50mm thick planks of sugi around the steel were fixed with spirally threaded nails (screws), and 25mm long wood plugs were used to cover the tops of the nails. The 50mm thick glulam showed 1h of fire resistance. The temperatures of the flanges and webs of steel were 100°C at 1h and 200°C after 4h. The epoxy resin used to bond the wood and steel was an appropriate adhesive from a recycling perspective because it is easy to separate or peel from the steel.