Electromagnetic shielding and fire-retardant wood obtained by in situ aniline polymerization

In living spaces where wood is commonly used for both construction and decoration, it is crucial to minimize electromagnetic pollution and the risk of fire. In this study, we applied aniline treatment to wood in situ and examined its impact on electromagnetic shielding and fire resistance. By enabling in situ polymerization and the deposition of polyaniline particles within the wood, we enhanced the wood’s conductivity while maintaining its porous structure, thereby improving its ability to absorb microwaves. The results indicated that wood species with low density exhibited higher electromagnetic shielding efficiency after treatment due to their greater polyaniline loading. Specifically, an specific electromagnetic shielding efficiency up to 65.8 dB cm −3  g −1 was achieved on the cross sections of treated wood. Furthermore, the total heat release and smoke production decreased by 43.9% and 66.7%, respectively, while the wood char mass increased by 66.3%. The results demonstrated that polyaniline-treated wood with bifunctional features could serve as a promising candidate in this field.