Summary
Mono and diammonium acid phosphate, ammonium sulfamate, and sodium silicate were compared with polyethylene glycol-1000 as bulking dimension stabilizing agents using Engelmann spruce cross sectional wafers. Limiting antiswell efficiencies are equal to the volume fraction of chemical in a saturated solution. The experimental antiswell efficiencies due to bulking are the percent increase in the dry cross sectional area of the wafers caused by deposition of dry chemical within the cell walls divided by the percent swelling in water. These values for the phosphates, the sulfamate, and the polyethylene glycol approach the limiting values from solubility indicating that chemical continues to diffuse into the cell walls as the wood is dried to virtually attain a saturated solution within that structure. The sodium silicate gave an apparent negative antiswell efficiency as collapse of the fibers on drying exceeded the actual bulking. Antiswell efficiencies between 0 and 30% relative humidity, 0 and 90% relative humidity and 30 and 90% relative humidity were in general still lower. This is largely due to the treated systems taking up more water than the controls, especially at the higher relative humidity. Antiswell efficiencies for the mono ammonium acid phosphate ranged from 20 to 27%, for the diammonium acid phosphate from 28 to 37%, the ammonium sulfamate from 51 to 66% and the polyethylene glycol from 63 to 77%.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chemical Rubber Co. 1966. Handbook of chemistry and physics.
Cupery, M. E. 1939. Rendering materials less readily combustible. U. S. Patent 2, 142, 115.
Dow Chemical Co. 1956. Choosing the right polyglycol. Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Michigan USA.
Goldstein, I. S. 1973. Degradation and protection of wood from thermal attack. Chapter 9. Wood deterioration and its prevention by preservative treatments. Syracuse Univ. Press, Syracuse, N. Y. USA.
Goldstein, I. S., Dreher, W. A. 1961. Fire retardant treatment for wood. Forest Prod. J. 11 (5): 235–237.
Hunt, G. M., Garratt, G. A. 1963. Wood preservation. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. N. Y. USA.
Lange, N. A. 1949. Handbook of chemistry. Handbook Publishers, Inc. Sandusky, Ohio USA.
Stamm, A. J. 1934. Effect of inorganic salts upon the swelling and shrinking of wood. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 56: 1195–1204.
Stamm, A. J. 1937. Minimizing wood shrinkage and swelling: treatment with sucrose and invert sugar. Ind. Eng. Chem. 29: 833–836.
Stamm, A. J. 1956. Dimensional stabilization of wood with carbowaxes. Forest Prod. J. 6 (5): 201–204.
Stamm, A. J. 1959. Effect of polyethylene glycol treatment upon the dimensional stabilization and other properties of wood. Forest Prod. J. 9 (10): 375–381.
Stamm, A. J. 1964. Wood and cellulose science. Ronald Press Co., N. Y. USA.
Stamm, A. J. 1974. Solid modified woods. Chapter 2, Vol. 2, Principles of Wood Science and Technology. Edited by F.F.P. Kollmann, J. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Tarkow, H., Feist, W. C., Southerland, C. F. 1966. Interaction of wood and polymer materials: penetration versus molecular size. Forest Prod. J. 16 (9): 104–107.
Union Carbide Chemicals Co. 1959. Carbowax (polyethylene glycols) for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Union Carbide Chemicals Co., N. Y. USA.
Van Kleeck, A. 1956. Fine-retarding coatings. U. S. Dept. Agr. Forest Products Lab., Mimeo No. 1280.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper No. 4245 of the Journal Series of North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, North Carolina
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stamm, A.J. Dimensional stabilization of wood with water soluble fire retardant bulking chemicals compared with polyethylene glycol-1000. Wood Science and Technology 8, 300–306 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351863
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351863