Developing fire-retardant and water-repellent bio-structural panels using nanocellulose

Abstract

The fire-retardant and water-repellent bio-structural panels (BISPs) were successfully developed using cellulose nanofibrils, corn starch, boric acid, and n-dodecenyl succinic anhydride with adhesive-free character. Its performance properties were evaluated and compared with other well-known products on the market. The BISP's density (0.1 g/cm(3)) and permeance value [41.81 g/day/m(2) with 5.76% coefficient of variation (CV)] were found higher than compared competitor products. The BISPs' contact angle was found 132.13 degrees (1.59% CV) for BISP. The BISP was the only fire-retardant product, and the only one developed almost no smoke 2.20%.