Wooden constructions are not the only ones at risk for fires, but this is a concern that researchers at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University have had in mind recently, and they have succeeded in creating a new invisible and highly resistant coating for wood.

The researchers' invention works as a flame retardant. It is made up of a reactive resin that, when exposed to fire, turns into char and forms a protective layer that grows to be up to 30 times thicker, insulating the wood from heat.

In the words of the NTU researchers, "In our coating, we used technology to lock certain compounds and interact with the resin. They will actively participate in the chemical reactions in a systematic manner when exposed to high heat, thus leading to the formation of char."

The coating was tested in several laboratories, achieving the highest classification in the tests, standing out in its ability to prevent the spread of fire, its low smoke emission and its incredible protection of the wood, which was found to be intact at the end of the tests.

In addition to far exceeding the fire-retardant characteristics of other wood coatings, this new product is also interior design friendly — its thickness of 0.075 mm and its transparency make it the perfect coating for wood.