Effect of acrylic polymer and nanocomposite with nano-SiO 2 on thermal degradation and fire resistance of APP–DPER–MEL coating

Abstract

Acrylic nanocomposite and flame retardant coatings with different acrylic polymers were prepared. The effect of molecular structure and molecular weight of acrylic resins and nanocomposite with nano-SiO 2 on the interaction and char formation of ammonium polyphosphate–dipentaerythritol–melamine (APP–DPER–MEL) coating was investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG), Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fire protection test. The interaction of APP, DPER, MEL and 3F-1 acrylic resin led to the formation of intumescent coherent char at 300–450 °C. Owing to low molecular weight and lack of benzene rings, F-963 acrylic resin decomposed at lower temperature than APP, and hence their endothermic interaction was destroyed. The well-distributed nano-SiO 2 particles in acrylic nanocomposite could modify char formation and anti-oxidation of char structure at high temperature. It is noted that the fire protection properties of nanocoating with acrylic nanocomposite were better than those of flame retardant coatings with conventional acrylic resins.