Fire-retardant chitosan/sodium phytate/MgO nanoparticle (CH/SP/nano-MgO) coatings were loaded on a wood substrate via electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The flammability and thermal degradation of the original wood and wood samples treated with chitosan, chitosan/sodium phytate, chitosan/sodium phytate/MgO nanoparticles were studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI), exposure combustion experiments and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The CH/SP/nano-MgO coating served as an intumescent fire-retardant system that created a physical protection cover and exhibited the best fire retardant performance. The LOI value was 30.2% and required approximately 16–17 s to self-extinguish when exposed to air. The TGA curves also showed that char formation protected the wood from combustion.

Magnetic wood would have potential uses in electromagnetic shielding and electromagnetic wave absorption. In this paper, magnetic coatings on a wood surface were synthesized using a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. As the cationic polyelectrolyte carrier, natural macromolecular chitosan was pre-immobilized on a wood surface first, followed by the alternate adsorption of anionic polyelectrolyte sodium phytate and positively-charged Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The concentration of pH-controlled chitosan solution, sodium phytate solution, and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle suspension, soaking time, and the number of alternating sedimentary layers varied. The morphology and crystal structure of the Fe₃O₄ modified wood samples were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The magnetic hysteresis loops showed that the modified wood had magnetic properties which were improved as the number of assembled layers increased.

This research explores the intersection of colour marketing and brand identity, focusing on the role of iconic colour in furniture branding. A comprehensive framework for crafting a furniture brand’s iconic colour was developed, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from three offline experiments with a total sample size of 111 subjects. The findings highlight the crucial influence of iconic colour on brand identity, revealing that both the referential meaning of hue and gender significantly impact brand perception. Contrary to conventional beliefs, variations in saturation and value are not solely detrimental; they can also enrich brand identity. The iconic colour serves as a cornerstone for ensuring consistency across internal and external brand dimensions, solidifying the brand’s core identifiers, and resonating with consumers’ minds. This research underscores the pivotal role of iconic colour in forging a coherent and distinct brand identity, offering valuable insights for marketers and brand strategists in the furniture industry and beyond.