Polyphenol-based fire-resistant coatings: a bio-inspired solution for forest fire prevention†

IF 9.3 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Green Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-04-02 DOI:10.1039/D4GC06191H

Mark John Castillo, Jumi Kang, Jinkyu Lim, Minok Park and Kyueui Lee

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The bark of hardwood trees contains abundant polyphenols, which can rapidly transform into a graphite layer that acts as a thermal barrier, minimizing fire damage. Inspired by this natural fire resistance mechanism, we developed an eco-friendly, cost-effective fire-retardant coating system for forest fire prevention. Comprising only pyrogallol (PG) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), the system forms a polyphenolic layer through oxygen-mediated oxidative crosslinking when exposed to air. This method uses water as the sole solvent and requires no additional catalysts, allowing easy, material-independent application via spray-coating. Heat resistance tests showed that the PG–PEI coating improved the wood's inherent fire resistance by approximately threefold, attributed to the rapid coating conversion into a graphite layer at high temperatures, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies. Furthermore, a 70-day colorimetric analysis under simulated weathering conditions exposure demonstrated the coating's durability against environmental stresses. The PG–PEI coating also preserved wood's natural functionality, supporting tree health, as evidenced by the high survival rates of the treated trees. These findings suggest the PG–PEI coating is a promising solution for mitigating forest fire damage while maintaining eco-friendliness and practicality.

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多酚基防火涂料：森林防火的仿生解决方案

硬木树皮含有丰富的多酚，可以迅速转化为石墨层，作为热障，最大限度地减少火灾损失。受这种天然防火机制的启发，我们开发了一种环保、经济高效的森林防火防火涂料系统。该体系仅由邻苯三酚（PG）和聚乙烯亚胺（PEI）组成，当暴露于空气中时，通过氧介导的氧化交联形成多酚层。这种方法使用水作为唯一的溶剂，不需要额外的催化剂，允许简单的，材料无关的应用，通过喷涂涂层。耐热测试表明，经x射线光电子和拉曼光谱证实，PG-PEI涂层在高温下迅速转化为石墨层，使木材的固有耐火性能提高了约三倍。此外，在模拟风化条件下进行的70天比色分析表明，该涂层具有抗环境应力的耐久性。PG-PEI涂层还保留了木材的天然功能，支持树木的健康，经处理的树木的高存活率证明了这一点。这些发现表明，PG-PEI涂层是一种很有前途的解决方案，可以在保持生态友好性和实用性的同时减轻森林火灾损害。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Green Chemistry 化学-化学综合

CiteScore

16.10

自引率

7.10%

发文量

677

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Green Chemistry is a journal that provides a unique forum for the publication of innovative research on the development of alternative green and sustainable technologies. The scope of Green Chemistry is based on the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P T Anastas and J C Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998), which defines green chemistry as the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry aims to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. The journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of research relating to this endeavor and publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. For a work to be published, it must present a significant advance in green chemistry, including a comparison with existing methods and a demonstration of advantages over those methods.