Thesis

؜This project explores repurposing scrap wood into durable, heat-resistant planks. By grinding discarded wood and binding it with eco-friendly adhesives, optionally reinforced with fibers, we can create cohesive boards. Surface coatings like oils, waxes, or mineral treatments improve heat and moisture resistance. This approach reduces waste, lowers reliance on new timber, and provides a low-cost, sustainable building material that can be adapted for communities with limited resources.

؜

؜

Environmental Context

1. Climate change is increasing extreme heat, which causes hidden damage to buildings.

1. Prolonged high temperatures dry out wood, causing beams and planks to lose moisture.

1. This moisture loss makes wood brittle and structurally weaker, even if no damage is visible.

1. Weakened wood can compromise a home’s stability, increasing the risk of collapse during moderate rain or strong winds.

1. Boston now recognizes extreme heat as a major climate hazard, alongside flooding.

؜(Fire Proofing)

؜

؜

Intumescent Fireproofing

What is it?

Intumescent Fireproofing is a paint-like coating that expands when exposed to fire creating an insulation adjacent coating that slows the heat transfer to the material.

؜It's used mostly in commercial buildings (not commonly in homes) It delays structural collapse (Giving time for evacuation) It reduces sudden failure during flashover.

What does it do?

What doesn't it do?

It's a reactive material- not preventative, it only activates at very high temperatures (400 degrees), and its rarely used on residential housing. It does nothing for smoke toxicity, exterior ignition, or re-ignition.

؜(Fire Proofing)

Materials

؜(Fire Proofing)

Powdered sugar

Baking Powder

Corn Starch

Flour

Material Prototypes

1 Water

2 Flour

1Baking Powder

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Baking Powder

1 Corn Starch

1 Water

2 Flour

1 Corn Starch

1 Water

2 Flour

1 Baking Powder

1 Powdered Sugar

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Corn Starch

1 Powdered Sugar

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Powdered Sugar

1 Water

2 Flour

1Baking Powder

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Baking Powder

1 Corn Starch

1 Water

2 Flour

1 Corn Starch

1 Water

2 Flour

1 Baking Powder

1 Powdered Sugar

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Corn Starch

1 Powdered Sugar

؜1 Water

2 Flour

1 Powdered Sugar

؜(Fire Proofing)

Without

Without

Without

Without

Without

Without

Atomic Visualizer

Sodium Bicorbonate

Sodium Carbonate

+ 🔥 =

+

؜Water

؜Carbon Dioxide

؜+

Sodium

Oxygen

Hydrogen

Carbon

؜(Fire Proofing)

Material Research Proposal

Wood Idea:

1. Concept: Re-form wood scraps into engineered planks, similar to OSB

1. Benefits: Sustainable, strong, stable, cuttable like normal lumber

(Wood Testing)

Precedents

؜Engineered Wood Panels (OSB)

Engineered wood materials like OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are manufactured by compressing wood strands/scraps with adhesives into strong panels.

(Wood Testing)

Material Prototypes

Material

tool

duration

(Wood Testing + Combination Fireproofing)

؜Press

This small manual press is used to compress loose wood scraps into a dense, solid form before bonding. By applying steady pressure, the press helps remove air gaps and improves the strength and uniformity of the recycled wood panel. It demonstrates the basic principle used in manufacturing OBS/OSB panels on a much larger industrial scale.

(Wood Testing)

؜Control

Test

؜Control

Test

؜Control

Test