Sustainably sourced and carrageenan-based hydrogels as fireproof coatings for the protection of wooden constructions during wildland urban interface fires

Wang X. Cheng Z. Bekeshev A. Cai W. Fei B. Hu Y.
10 August 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Journal of Cleaner Production
2025 #519

Existing hydrogel coatings for fire prevention, which are mainly based on chemically synthesized polymers, have environmental burdens and low adhesion. They dry easily at high temperatures and strong winds, limiting their use. Here, we propose a novel marine polysaccharide-based flame-retardant hydrogel coating. This coating has inherent flame-retardant properties and strong adhesion due to strong molecular interactions. It is made entirely of bio-based materials and forms a protective char layer when dry, preventing the substrate from catching fire. Compared with untreated wood, hydrogel-coated wood had a significantly longer ignition time of 67 ± 5 s, a 24.17 % reduction in the total heat release (THR), and a 37.2 % reduction in heat release rate (HRR), whereas the fire performance index (FPI) improved from 0.04 m²/(s·kW) to 0.17 m²/(s·kW), and the fire growth index (FGI) decreased from 3.49 kW/(m²·s) to 1.57 kW/(m²·s), improving the overall safety of wood materials. In addition, the coating has excellent antimicrobial properties, up to 99 % against E. coli and S. aureus, which is vital for fire protection in special situations, such as protecting grain silos, fighting wildfires and maintaining timber structures.

Fire protection , Flame retardant , Hydrogel , Wildfire , Wood

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State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Anhui, Hefei, 230026, China
Laboratory of Polymer Composites, K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University, Aliya Moldagulova Avenue 34, Aktobe, 030000, Kazakhstan
School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 999077, P, Hong Kong

State Key Laboratory of Fire Science
Laboratory of Polymer Composites
School of Fashion and Textiles

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