A lava-inspired ceramicized strategy to fabricate flame retardant coating with glass powder and boron nitride for wood fire prevention

In order to improve the fire safety performance of wood, an explainable ceramicized organic–inorganic hybrid flame retardant coating was prepared in this study. An organic flame retardant containing nitrogen and phosphorus was first prepared by reacting phytic acid and melamine, followed by the introduction of glass powder and boron nitride to form an organic–inorganic hybridized coating. When the wood is exposed to flame, the coating forms a lava-like ceramic char layer that protects the substrate. Flame retardant test data show that the coating exhibits excellent flame retardancy with an limiting oxygen index of 36.3 %. Compared with pure wood, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of wood coated with a hybrid coating were significantly reduced by 64.7% and 31.3%, respectively. Furthermore, when coated wood is used in outdoor construction, its fire resistance is far superior to that of pure wood. This study provides an economical and effective solution to enhance the fire safety of wood in modern buildings.