Reinforced hybrid wood-aluminum composites with excellent fire performance

The fire performance of several types of wood-aluminum composites (WAC) was analyzed by the small vertical furnace test. The time needed to reach the temperature of 139 degrees C/181 degrees C (T-139 degrees C/181 degrees C) and the linear char rate of 300 degrees C (L-300 degrees C) were obtained by evaluating the fire performance of WAC. The T-139 degrees C/181 degrees C values ranged from 23.6 to 44.8 min. The presence and position of the aluminum alloy sheet remarkably affected the fire performance of WAC. In addition to an initial delay of 19 min, the L-300 degrees C also increased when the aluminum alloy sheet was located on the surface. However, the times for 300 degrees C only increased slightly when the aluminum alloy sheet was in the middle. The initial delay observed for the aluminum alloy sheet on the surface was reduced by more than 50% when the wood veneer was located on the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet. The mechanical properties of WAC were also investigated. It was concluded that the uniformity and strength of different composites was improved after the lamination of the aluminum alloy sheet. In addition, the modulus of elasticity of WAC quadrupled, and the bonding strength between the aluminum alloy sheet and the oriented strand board (OSB) was greater than that of the OSB.