IP Library Granted Patent US 12,559,936
Granted Patent B2
US 12,559,936 · App. 18/211,031 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Flame retardant clear coatings for building panels

Inventors: John E. Hughes (Lincoln University, PA); Suzanne M. Huntzinger (Lancaster, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
E04B1/94B32B27/28B32B33/00E04B1/66B32B2307/3065B32B2307/412B32B2307/7265B32B2311/30B32B2607/00E04B2103/04E04B2103/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,559,936
App. No.
18/211,031
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to a flame-retardant building panel comprising a body having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, an inorganic coating atop the first major surface, the inorganic coating comprising a flame retardant component that includes a phosphate compound, and a metal complexing agent. In other aspect, the invention is a method of forming a flame-retardant building panel comprising: a) applying an inorganic coating composition to a major surface of a body; and b) drying the inorganic coating composition at an elevated temperature.

Claims (48)

1 . A flame-retardant building panel comprising:

a body comprising a cellulosic layer, the body having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, and the first major surface of the body comprising the cellulosic layer;

an inorganic coating atop the first major surface, the inorganic coating comprising a flame retardant component that includes:

a phosphate compound;

a borate compound comprising boron trioxide;

a filler comprising calcium carbonate, aluminum carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and fumed silica;

a cross-linker comprising triethanolamine; and

a metal complexing agent;

wherein the phosphate compound and the metal complexing agent are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 50:1 to about 200:1; and

wherein the inorganic coating has a curing temperature ranging from about 225° F. to about 275° F.

2 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material is wood.

3 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the inorganic coating is glass-forming.

4 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the inorganic coating has a solids content of at least 99% based on the total weight of the inorganic coating.

5 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the phosphate compound and the metal complexing agent are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 75:1 to about 150:1.

6 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the inorganic coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mils to about 5.0 mils.

7 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 1 wherein the metal ion is iron and a weight ratio of the phosphate compound to the metal ion is at least about 20,000:1.

8 . A flame-retardant building panel comprising:

a body comprising a cellulosic layer, the body having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, and the first major surface of the body comprising the cellulosic layer;

an inorganic coating applied to the first major surface, the inorganic coating formed from a composition comprising a flame retardant blend that includes:

a phosphate compound;

a borate compound comprising boron trioxide;

a filler comprising three or more of calcium carbonate, aluminum carbonate, lithium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, fumed silica, and aluminum oxide; and

a metal complexing agent;

wherein the flame retardant blend is present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % based on the total weight of the inorganic coating; and

wherein the inorganic coating has a curing temperature ranging from about 225° F. to about 275° F.

9 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 8 wherein the cellulosic layer is wood.

10 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 8 wherein the inorganic coating is glass-forming.

11 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 8 wherein the inorganic coating has a solids content of at least 99% based on the total weight of the inorganic coating.

12 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 8 wherein the metal complexing agent comprises metal ion selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, zirconium, zinc, manganese, titanium, chromium, cobalt, and combinations thereof.

13 . A flame-retardant building panel comprising:

a body having a first major surface opposite a second major surface, the body comprising

a veneer layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;

an adhesive layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface; and

a substrate layer having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;

an inorganic coating atop the first major surface, the inorganic coating comprising a flame retardant component that includes:

a phosphate compound;

a borate compound comprising boron trioxide; and

a metal complexing agent comprising iron;

wherein the phosphate compound and the metal complexing agent are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 50:1 to about 200:1;

wherein the first major surface of the body comprises the upper surface of the veneer layer; and

wherein the inorganic coating has a curing temperature ranging from about 225° F. to about 275° F.

14 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 , wherein the veneer layer has a thickness ranging from about 10 mils to about 100 mils, as measured between the upper surface and the lower surface of the veneer layer.

15 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness ranging from about 5 mils to about 15 mils, as measured between the upper surface and the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

16 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 , wherein the substrate layer has a thickness ranging from about 20 mils to about 100 mils, as measured between the upper surface and the lower surface of the veneer layer.

17 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 , wherein the veneer layer comprises a cellulosic material.

18 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

19 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 wherein the inorganic coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mils to about 5.0 mils.

20 . The flame-retardant building panel according to claim 13 wherein the inorganic coating is substantially clear.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: HUGHES, JOHN E.; HUNTZINGER, SUZANNE M.
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063977/0365 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16166377 · Oct 22, 2018
Provisional Application 62581158 · Nov 3, 2017
Related Publication 20230323658A1 · Oct 12, 2023
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