Flame Retardant Performance of Oak Plywood According to Main Ingredients of Flame Retardant

The purpose of this preliminary study was to analyze the effectiveness and variability of the flame retardant performances of different flame retardants with different main ingredients. This study selected plywood made of oak and three types of flame retardants with different main ingredients. The flame retardant performance measurements were conducted according to Article 31, Paragraph 2 of the “Enforcement Rule of the Fire Safety Installation and Management Act” and Article 7-2 of the “Flame Retardant Performance Test of Flame Retardant Materials.” The flame retardant performance of the plywood was also measured according to the domestic legal standard. The following conclusions were drawn. First, the after-flame and after-glow times were both measured as 0 seconds regardless of the flame retardant treatment. This was presumed to be because oak plywood is made from a species of oak tree that is naturally fire-resistant owing to its thick bark layer. Second, the flame retardant performances differed depending on the main ingredient of the flame retardant used on the oak plywood. The experimental results confirmed that a phosphorus mixture was the most effective main ingredient. Third, based on the results of this study and previous studies, it was confirmed that flame retardant performances vary depending on their main ingredients and composition ratios, as well as according to the tree species and type of flame retardant. Therefore, it is necessary to continue researching and comparing flame retardant performances through quantitative measurements based on the main ingredients and composition ratios for various tree species and flame retardants.