防火木材用于军舰。
Non-inflammable wood, or fireproof wood, as it is commonly spoken of outside of the circle of experts, has received considerable attention from naval constructors and naval engineers since the Yaloo river fight in the China [apan war, and more especially at the International Congress of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers at London, England, and from the naval authorities of the United States and Japan. The chief of the Bureau of Ordnance of the United States Navy recently made some tests of fireproof wood for the purpose of reporting upon its value for use in making boxes for fixed ammunition. His report declares that the wood, by being treated with the chemicals used in the fireproof process, lost considerable strength and was difficult to work; that it also corroded a piece of brass placed between two pieces of it. absorbed moisture to a marked extent, and refused to receive paint. This report resulted in instructions by Secretary Long to the Board of Bureau Chiefs to make a thorough investigation of the use of fireproof wood; and the result is predicted that the Government will find it advisable to cancel contracts that have been made for fitting vessels under construction with wood thus treated. The Board of Bureau Chiefs has received several reports already. The Columbian Iron works, at Baltimore, reports that five coats of paint were tried on a single section of fireproof wood, and it refused to receive any of them. Of the superintending constructors at the various naval statious, one report declares that the tools employed in working the wood have been badly corroded by the chemicals used in the fireproofing treatment. Another makes a report upon the corrosive effect upon the steel and iron in the ship. It is also reported that the wood is exceedingly porous and is apt to make the decks of a ship spongy. An article recently appeared in an English service paper, written by “an expert” in which the writer described the decks of the armored cruiser, Brooklyn, as of non-inflammable wood,and he contrasted their appearance disadvantageously with those of the British men-of-war. He also predicted that the decks would not wear well, and was generally uncomplimentary to non-inflammable wood. Prof. Biles, the well-known English expert, has coriected this statement by declaring that the decks of the Brooklyn are not of non-inflammable wood, but that they are “thoroughly sound and thoroughly durable” and in every respect up to the mark. The decks of the Brooklyn are of Oregon pine. The gunboat Helena is fitted with a deck made of fireproof wood, and the Board of Bureau Chiefs is to make a close inspection of the material and its effect upon the ship,and report upon the advisability of its use in the future. The only large vessel in the Navy, the docks of which are built with the fireproof wood is the battleship Iowa.
The subject of non-inflammable wood was discussed at much length by the International Congress of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Charles E. Ellis, describing the process of making wood non-combustiole, said that it increased the weight from eight to fifteen per cent , and that the arguments for its use rested upon two grounds only—i.e，因为它是不易流的，并且由于由于其热电导率低，因此可以用来代替更大的导电能力。其他人对材料进行了满意的评价。它的主要缺点是其重量和成本。Biles教授建议，如果将甲板用在防火过程中使用的化学物质洗涤，天气对木材的影响无效。该系统实际上是美国人的提及，Tie国会对这个主题进行了如此多的讨论，以至于英国金钟已下令在Chatham Dockyard进行一系列实验。
