Development of Flame Retardant Property on Sodium Silicate Treated Paper Based Materials

The preparation of cellulose-based flame retardant paper treated with sodium silicate and silicon dioxide (SiO2) colloidal particle by simple immersion process is reported. Cellulose-based paper was preheated at 90°C for surface preparation. The heat treated paper was immersed in solution of sodium silicate-SiO2 at different immersion time ranging from 15 min to 24 hrs. Treated solution diffused into paper coated on the paper fiber and filled the void in the paper microstructure. Treated paper was heated at 90°C to convert an impregnated sodium silicate-SiO2 precursor into silicate framework. The treated paper showed Vsym Si-O-Si from siloxane bond at 792 cm-1 which confirmed a presence of SiO2 in paper. Treated paper at 1 hr immersion showed the highest weight percent gain (WPG) of 40% and total combustion time was improved to 14 sec.