Charring

Charring is a chemical process of incomplete combustion of certain solids when subjected to high heat. The resulting residue matter is called char. By the action of heat, charring removes hydrogen and oxygen from the solid, so that the remaining char is composed primarily of carbon. Polymers like thermoset or most solid organic compounds like wood or biological tissue, exhibit charring behaviour.

Charring is the result of naturally occurring processes like fire but also a deliberate and controlled reaction used in the manufacturing of certain products.

The mechanism of charring is part of the normal burning of certain solid fuels like wood. During normal combustion the volatile compounds created by charring and pyrolysis are consumed at the flames within the fire, while combustion of char can be seen as glowing red coals or embers which burn without the presence of flames.

Production of char

Coke and charcoal are both produced by charring, whether on an industrial scale or through normal combustion of coal or wood. Normal combustion consumes the char as well as the gases produced in its creation, while industrial processes seek to recover the purified char with minimal loss to combustion. This is accomplished by either burning the parent fuel (wood or coal) in a low-oxygen environment or by heating it to a high temperature without allowing combustion to occur. In industrial production of coke and charcoal the volatile compounds driven off during charring are often captured for use in other chemical processes.

A "coal burning" blacksmith's forge actually produces the heat necessary for high-temperature metalworking by the continuous production and consumption of coke within a carefully managed fire. An inner ring of burning coke provides heat which converts the encircling coal into coke, which is then itself fed into the center of the fire to provide the required heat and to create more coke; coal itself is incapable of producing the heat required for some blacksmithing operations.

Charring and fire protection

Charring is an important process in the combustion ignition of solid fuels and in smouldering. In construction of heavy-timbered wood buildings the predictable formation of char is used to determine the fire rating of supporting timbers and is an important consideration in fire protection engineering. If a wood column is of large enough diameter, during a structure fire its exposed surface will be converted to char until the thickness of char provides sufficient insulation to prevent additional charring. This layer then serves to protect the remaining structurally sound core of wood, which can continue to carry the building loads if appropriately designed.

Legal definitions

Charring had a special meaning under the common law of England. Under that system, the crime of arson required charring of a dwelling—actual damage to the fiber of the material from which the structure was built—and not mere "scorching" or damage to the surface, or to surface coverings such as carpets and wallpaper.