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Fire-retardant performance was imparted to the existing wood-fiber insulation boards (WIB) via internal and external treatment with silica- and phosphorus-based fire-retardants. The combustion and smoke characteristics were investigated using a cone calorimeter. Based on combustion for 600 s, the weight loss and shrinkage of WIBs decreased due to fire-retardant treatment. The time to ignition was delayed to more than 400 s on the WIBs treated internal and external fire- retardant (WIB-IEs), whereas that of WIB with only internal treatment (WIB-I) was 5 s. The overall heat release rate (HRR), HRRpeak, and total heat release (THR) of WIB-IE specimens decreased, and the fire resistance standard Class II was satisfied. The WIB-IE2 showed higher fire resistance performance, with a HRRmean level of 6.7 kW/m2 and a THR of 1.3 MJ/m2. The WIB-I showed extremely low total smoke release (TSR) compared to the external fire-retardant treated specimen. However, the externally treated WIB-IEs had an increased TSR of 165 to 256 m2/m2 due to the increase in incomplete combustion caused by the fire-retardant. After fire-retardant treatment, CO2 generation decreased because the rate of complete combustion decreased, but CO emission increased slightly. Therefore, silica- and phosphorus-based fire-retardants by internal and external treatments were suitable for WIBs.

As petrochemical products (including plastics) contribute to the destruction of the natural environment, the use of such products must be reduced. Plastics account for 90% of the insulation materials used in Korea, including extruded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polystyrene (XPS), and urethane foam. Wood-fiber insulation board (WIB) is a promising natural alternative to petrochemical insulation. This study aimed to determine the optimal amount of adhesive resin required for manufacturing WIB. Fire-resistant WIB was prepared with a melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin (ranging from 20% to 35%), and the physicochemical and fire-resistant properties were determined. Higher resin content led to improved physical properties, while the thermal conductivity was unaffected. With the exception of 35% resin content in the WIB, the formaldehyde emissions of the WIB samples complied with the Korean Industrial Standards requirements for Super E0 grade (less than 0.3 mg per L). The physicochemical properties of the WIB samples were sufficient for use as an insulating material, even at 20% resin content. A perpendicular flame test revealed that all samples formed a carbonized layer to prevent flame penetration, except for the specimen with 20% of the resin content. The cone calorimeter testing indicated that the MUF adhesives acted as an effective fire retardant at resin contents above 25%.