With what can wood be impregnated to make it more difficult to ignite and slower burning?

Wood can be impregnated with mineral salts to enhance its fire resistance properties. Mineral salts, such as ammonium phosphate or ammonium sulfate, are effective fire retardants. When these salts are applied to wood, they work by altering the wood’s combustion characteristics. They can lower the temperature at which the wood will ignite and reduce the speed at which it burns by promoting charring rather than flaming. This process provides additional time for escape and for firefighting efforts, which is crucial in emergency situations.

The effectiveness of mineral salts lies in their ability to absorb moisture and create a protective layer when subjected to heat. This layer can prevent flames from spreading rapidly across the surface of the wood, making it a valuable treatment for construction materials in areas susceptible to wildfires or where fire safety is a concern.

Other materials listed do not provide the same level of fire resistance. For instance, aluminum oxide is primarily used as an abrasive and does not offer fire retardant properties. Mineral spirits are a type of solvent used in paint thinner and are flammable, providing no protection against fire. The last option indicates that wood offers no fire resistance when untreated, which is inaccurate as untreated wood is inherently flammable but can be made less so through specific treatments like those with mineral