A commercial application of fire retardants to dry-formed hardboards

Abstract

Based on laboratory performance with a number of fire-retardant chemicals, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate-boric acid and dicyandiamide-phosphoric acid-formaldehyde were selected for treating fiber and making 4 foot by 8-foot dry-formed hardboards on a commercial production line. The boards were evaluated for performance under exposure to fire, strength, dimensional stability. and durability. Both treatment systems produced boards that met the acceptance flamespread criteria for Class B material. In a 25-foot tunnel furnace. The disodium octaborate tetrahydrate-boric acid gave the lowest smoke development index and resulted in the strongest and most stable boards. The treatments did not offer resistance to water leaching.

Keywords

Chemical treatments, hardboard, fire retardants, resins, phenolic compounds, tensile strength, accelerated aging, flammability, fire performance

Citation

Meyers, Gary C.; Holmes, Carlton A. 1977. A commercial application of fire retardants to dry-formed hardboards. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-298. Madison, WI : U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 8 pages