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Microstructure of wood char

Part 2: Fire retardant treated wood

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Summary

The exposure of wood treated with a commercial fire retardant chemical to fire conditions resulted in different patterns of char and fissure development than are seen in untreated whole wood. In addition microstructural observations demonstrated the existence of particulate fire retardant residues in char from treated wood. The source and mode of growth of these particles is considered as well as effects of fire retardants on crack growth, char development and overall appearance of chars from treated wood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Products Laboratory, University of California, Richmond, California

    J. B. Zicherman

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Berkeley, California

    R. B. Williamson

Authors
  1. J. B. Zicherman
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  2. R. B. Williamson
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Additional information

The authors wish to acknowledge the general support of the University of California Berkeley Fire Research Group (NSF-RANN-S-22053, NFPCa-S-22584), University of California Berkeley Electron Microscopy Lab. (NSF-GB-38359) and the University of California, Davis Department of Botany (NSF-GB-29653). In addition we would also like to thank Dr. Arno P. Schniewind, University of California Forest Products Laboratory and Dr. R. Falk, University of California, Davis, Department of Botany

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Zicherman, J.B., Williamson, R.B. Microstructure of wood char. Wood Sci. Technol. 16, 19–34 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351372

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351372

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