Fireproof Wood Chip Material Using Silicate Binder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oriented strand boards (OSB) are highly flammable, have low water resistance, and utilize volatile substances that emit harmful organic compounds, limiting their application and safety.

Innovation Solution

A fireproof and water-resistant wood chip material composed of a mixture containing wood chips, an aqueous solution of silicate, aluminium hydroxide, and a stabilizer, with a specific molar ratio of silicon dioxide to sodium oxide, providing high thermal stability, fire resistance, and antifungal properties, and using an environmentally friendly binding agent that hardens into a heat-resistant glass-like substance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional binding agents (polyurethane, phenol formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde resins) are used in oriented strand boards, then the boards achieve adequate binding strength, but they become highly flammable and emit harmful volatile substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding strengthVSAvoidflammability and harmful emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the binding agent by using aqueous silicate solutions with specific density (1.08-1.20 g/cm³) and modulus (2.8-3.5), replacing conventional organic resins. This parameter change eliminates flammability and harmful emissions while maintaining binding strength through the inorganic silicate-based binder that forms a glass-like protective matrix.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite binding system combining aqueous silicate solution with aluminium hydroxide additive (3-15% by weight). This composite material provides both binding functionality and fire resistance, as aluminium hydroxide acts as a fire retardant that releases water vapor when heated, further suppressing combustion while the silicate matrix provides structural binding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If liquid paraffin emulsion is used as a binding agent in moisture-resistant boards, then water resistance is improved, but flammability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater resistanceVSAvoidflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces organic paraffin-based binders with inorganic silicate-based binders, fundamentally changing the chemical nature of the water resistance mechanism. The silicate solution penetrates wood chips and forms an inorganic gel matrix that provides water resistance through its hydrophilic-siloxane structure, eliminating the flammable hydrocarbon chains present in paraffin while maintaining moisture resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If aerogel is used in oriented strand boards to improve insulation properties, then insulating power increases, but the production technology becomes very complicated and the board becomes highly flammable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating powerVSAvoidproduction technology complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive, complex aerogel materials with a simple, inexpensive aqueous silicate solution that can be easily applied to wood chips. The silicate solution provides adequate thermal insulation through its inorganic glass-like structure formed after drying, eliminating the need for complex aerogel production technology while maintaining fire resistance and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Strength

If conventional chipboard materials are used, then they provide adequate structural properties, but they have low water resistance and release harmful organic substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural propertiesVSAvoidharmful organic emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention fundamentally changes the binding agent from organic resin-based materials to inorganic silicate-based materials. The aqueous silicate solution with controlled density and modulus parameters forms an inorganic binder that eliminates the release of harmful organic volatile substances while maintaining structural integrity through the formation of a cementitious silicate matrix between wood chips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The material achieves excellent fire resistance, water resistance, and antifungal properties, is environmentally friendly, and does not emit harmful substances, while providing strong, abrasion-resistant, and insulating properties suitable for industrial use.

Implementation Method 1

using an environmentally friendly binding agent that hardens into a heat-resistant glass-like substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVitrification: Vitrification

Implementation Method 2

The aluminium hydroxide used in the material advantageously acts as a burning retarder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

it is able to resist heat from a burning object and it releases the heat with considerable delay and in a limited extent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12138823B2Fireproof water-resistant wood chip material and method of its production
Publication Date: 2024.11.12 FIRST POINT AS

AI summary

A wood chip material, especially a fireproof water resistant wood chip material, especially a fireproof water resistant wood chip material to make oriented strand boards which consists of a mixture containing 30 to 43 weight percent of wood chips, 53 to 61.9 weight percent of an aqueous solution of silicate, 2 to 5 weight percent of aluminium hydroxide, 1 to 3 weight percent of water, 0.1 to 1 weight percent of a stabilizer of the aqueous solution of silicate, and a hardener of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate in the concentration of 0.5 to 5 weight percent to the pure aqueous solution of sodium silicate providing always that the density of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate ranges from 1370 to 1400 kg/m3 and the SiO2 to NA2O molar ratio in the aqueous solution of sodium silicate ranges from 3.2 to 3.4. A method of production of a wood chip material, especially method of production of a fireproof water resistant wood chip material, especially method of production of a fireproof water resistant wood chip material to make oriented strand boards according to which, as the first step, the aluminium hydroxide is mixed with water, then wood chips are added into the mixture and everything is stirred thoroughly in such a manner that a wood chip mixture is formed, then the stabilizer of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate is added in the aqueous solution of silicate and after that the hardener of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate is admixed in this solution. Then the solution is stirred for 1 to 10 minutes until a binding solution is formed. Then the wood chip mixture is poured, at continuous stirring, in the binding solution and everything is stirred thoroughly again. Then the resulting mixture is poured in the place of application.