Mechanical and thermal analysis of basalt grid reinforced particleboards containing flame retardants

Flame retardants and other additives can reduce the performance of adhesives used to produce wood-based panels such as particleboards (PB). Basalt reinforcement was evaluated to compensate for the loss of bending strength to allow the panels to be used in the construction sector. A basalt grid with a grammage of 200 g m⁻² was used to reinforce PB containing 15 m% nitrogen-phosphate based flame retardant. The modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the reinforced panels were higher (69% and 24%, respectively) than those of corresponding reference panels. The thermal analysis revealed that the addition of the flame retardant could result in the PB being upgraded to Euroclass B with a reduced crack formation, as identified via 3D-microscopy. Consequently, the use of basalt grid as a reinforcement material could be a way to reinforce panels that contain strength-reducing additives.