Fire Retardant Coatings Research Articles

The protective effect of a fire-retardant coating on the insulation failure of PVC cable

The failure time of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulated power cables was studied using an infrared radiation heating furnace and insulation resistance measurements. The temperature–time curve inside the furnace was similar to that of the ISO 834 standard. Two popular fire protection methods were employed for the cables; one method applied fire-retardant coatings directly on the cable surface, and the other inserted the cables into metal conduits coated with structural steel fire-retardant coating. The results showed that for both protection methods, the failure time of the cable increased with the thickness of the coating. However, if the cable coatings were thicker than 1.5mm, the coating will crack in the case of cable movement. When the steel structural coating was thinner than 1mm or thicker than 3mm, the protective effect was not remarkable for the relatively small expansion multiple. For the longest failure time of the cables, less than 10min in these tests, neither of the two methods was effective in protecting the electrical cables that supply power (on transmit a signal) to equipment required to operate over a relatively long duration in fire conditions.

Effect of Inorganic Fillers on Thermal Performance and Char Morphology of Intumescent Fire Retardant Coating

Effect of Inorganic Fillers on Thermal Performance and Char Morphology of Intumescent Fire Retardant Coating

A Study of Using ZnB Nanoparticles and SWCNT to Enhance Flame Retardance of Fire-retardant Coating

A Study of Using ZnB Nanoparticles and SWCNT to Enhance Flame Retardance of Fire-retardant Coating

Enhancing the Char Resistant of Expandable Graphite Based Intumescent Fire Retardant Coatings by Using Multi-Wall Carbon Nano Tubes for Structural Steel

In the intumescent fire retardant (IFR) coating char thickness and its strength play a vital role to protect the base steel structure from the fire. The IFR coating contains expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine, boric acid, bisphenol, epoxy resin BE-188 (BPA) which is used as a binder with ACR hardener H-2310 polyamide amine and multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A range of different formations were prepared to study the heat shielding effect and char expansion after fire test. The intumescent coating was tested at 800°C for one hour in the furnace and found to be very stable and well bonded with the steel substrate. The characterization was done by using Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) after fire test. The results confirmed that MWCNTs enhanced the char resistant of IFR coating on steel substrate after fire test. Keywords: Intumescent fire retardant coating, Expandable Graphite, Multiwall Carbonnano tubes, FESEM and TGA.

Effect of Boric Acid with Kaolin Clay on Thermal Degradation of Intumescent Fire Retardant Coating

Effect of Boric Acid with Kaolin Clay on Thermal Degradation of Intumescent Fire Retardant Coating

Experimental Researches on Fire Resistance of CFS Shear Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams

Fire-resistance performance experiments with static loading-fire are investigated about one carbon fiber sheet（CFS） shear strengthened and one without CFS strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams exposed to the ISO834 standard fire. Shear strengthened RC beams are wrapped with fire insulation material- thick painted fire retardant coatings. Relationship between measure points temperature, displacement and time are achieved. The results suggest that: the ratio of shear-span is the main factor to fire-resistance rating and failure modes of CFS shear strengthened RC beams in fire; shear-failure fire-resistance rating are increased by thickening fire insulation to shear strengthened RC beams; mid-span deflection of shear failure is approximate one half of bending failure when shear strengthened RC beams.

Studies on Fire Resistance of FRP Shear Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams

Fire-resistance performance experiments with static loading-fire are investigated about two carbon fiber sheet (CFS) shear strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams exposed to the ISO834 standard fire. Shear strengthened RC beams are wrapped with fire insulation material- thick painted fire retardant coatings. Relationship between measure points’ temperature and time are achieved. The results suggest that: the ratio of shear-span is the main factor to fire-resistance rating and failure modes of CFS shear strengthened RC beams in fire; shear-failure fire-resistance rating are increased by thickening fire insulation to shear strengthened RC beams. A computer program is developed to calculate the temperature fields of fire insulated concrete beams shear strengthened with CFS coated thick fireproof material. This program is validated comparing with experimental results. Researches can give a supplement to produce overall fire-resistance factors of CFS shear strengthened reinforced concrete beams at high temperatures.

Analysis on Properties of Water-Based Fire-Retardant Nano-Coatings

The study explores the effects of the flame-retardant properties of nano-particles on water-based fire-retardant coatings, which include the effects on thermal stability and combustion properties. The coating used by the paper is acrylate resin (VAC), which is added with 3 basic components, including fire-retardant ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol and melamine (APP-PER-MEL), to form an itumescent fire retardant (IFR). Then the fire retardent is added with magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2, MH) nano-particles, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and zinc borate (ZB) nano-powders of different concentrations, to form water-based fire-retardant coatings. By adjusting and controlling the concentration ratios of flame retardant to the 3 kinds of nano-particles with different profiles, the study analyzes the fire-retardant multiplying effect of nano-particles on water-based coatings. The nano-coatings mixed in special proportion are coated on plywood. Through thermogeavimetric analyzer (TGA) and cone calorimeter (CCT), the study inspects the thermal stability and combustion properties of water-based fire-retardant nano-coatings. The experimental results show that when the fire-retardant nano-coating composed of MH of concentration 28% and MWNT of concentration 2% is compared with the fire-retardant coating added with flame retardant only, the amount of residue can be increased by around 80% at combustion temperature 580°C. Besides, when the fire-retardant nano-coating composed of MH of weight concentration 28% and MWNT of weight concentration 2% is compared with the fire-retardant coating added with flame retardant only, the maximum heat release can be decreased by about 15%. The time required for this fire-retardant nano-coating to achieve maximum heat release is delayed by around 70 seconds when compared with other samples. Besides, the char-layered structure formed during thermal decomposition of nano-coating is more compact than the char-layered structure of water-based coating composed of the flame-retardant APP-PER-MEL components only. Therefore, nano-coatings can effectively decrease the transfer of heat and inflammable volatiles to plywood surface, and can enhance the flame retardant performance of plywood.

Effect of Vermiculite Addition on Thermal Characteristic of Water-based Acrylic Fire Retardant Coating Formulation

Effect of Vermiculite Addition on Thermal Characteristic of Water-based Acrylic Fire Retardant Coating Formulation

Fire Protection Studies on Steel Staggered-Truss Structure Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process

A new design method for fire protection, based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP), was put forward, to explore an economic and secure strategy for fire protection of steel staggered-truss structure (SSTS). The chords and web members of SSTS were classified into different important grades by AHP according to the influence which components make on the stability of structure at elevated temperature. And the components are protected by different levels based on the important grades. Furthermore, a comparative investigation was conducted in order to appraise the economic and practical performance of the provided new fire protection method with traditional fire protection. The results indicate that the proposed fire protection strategy for SSTS based on AHP could achieve higher security with the same volume of fire retardant coatings.

Influence of rheological additives on char formation and fire resistance of intumescent coatings

Styrene–butyl acrylate copolymer based fire retardant coatings were prepared using intumescent flame-retardant additives and mineral clay type rheological additives. Three different widely used nanoclays, organic-modified montmorillonite, palygorskite and sepiolite were applied in order to determine their effect on the flame retardancy. Significant differences were found when their heat-shielding activities were evaluated. It was observed that the addition of different clay particles in amount of 0.25 w% changes the char formation process; the height, the morphology, the structure and also the mechanical resistance of the protecting shield. The different geometry and composition of the additives induced different changes in fire performance. In case of palygorskite the catalytic effect of Fe accelerated mainly the thermal decomposition, therefore the fire resistance decreased. The plate-like montmorillonite reduced the extent of the intumescent char, whereas also improved the mechanical and sustained heat resistance of the fire protecting shield. The fibrous sepiolite of low Fe content assisted the development of efficient protecting shield, which exhibited optimal cell structure, suitable thickness, and thus ensured better heat-insulating performance. Consequently, fire retardant effect of sepiolite was found to be better than the other studied clay types.

Surface modification and application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in fire-retardant coatings

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by grafting an amphiphilic polymer,which were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The modified MWCNTs were added to an intumescent fire-retardant coating and their effects on the performance of the coating were studied. Results show that the amphiphilic polymer can be attached to the surface of MWCNTs by appropriate processing,and the modified MWCNTs exhibit a remarkable solubility in butyl acetate and distilled water. The modified MWCNTs added to the coating can strengthen the carbonized layers,increase intumescent times and decrease the increasing rate of the rear temperature when the coating was exposed to a fire. The modified MWCNTs can also enhance the crack resistance of the coating.

Molecular dynamics simulation of thermo-mechanical properties of montmorillonite crystal

The clay phyllosilicate mineral montmorillonite, which is composed of 1-nm lamellar crystals (lamellas), attracts more and more attention due to its significant role in many industrial applications, such as petroleum and civil engineering, the food and cosmetic industry, heterogeneous catalysis, waste storage (including radioactive), etc. Special interest in these mineral appeared after it was disclosed that nanoclay fillers can significantly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of polymer composites and decrease their humidity and gas permeability. Such nanocomposites are now used as barrier films in packaging, as fire retardant coatings, in aerospace and automotive parts, and they have potential applications in aviation, medicine, and other industries. Calculating the elastic properties of the composite requires accurate knowledge of the elastic modules and the behavioral properties of the components, including clay particles; however, their experimental study is a rather complicated problem because montmorillonite is not perfect crystal. In this situation, computer simulations have become very useful. In this review, alongside single with clay lamellae, we also deal with a dynamics simulation of the structure and thermo-mechanical properties of montmorillonite crystals intercalated by water or polyethylene oxide.

Surface Coating and Metal-Based Organic Additives—Approaches for FRSS PVC Cables

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used polymers today. One of its major applications is in electrical and control cables. Although PVC is intrinsically self-extinguishing, it supports flame spread along its length because of the additives used during processing. The spread of fire along electrical cables may be alleviated either by using flame-retardant smoke-suppressant (FRSS) additives or by applying fire-retardant intumescent coatings to the surface of the cable sheath. The intumescent coating also acts as a fire-protective barrier for electrical cables. Plasticized PVC compositions incorporating a molybdenum-based organic (MBO) complex were prepared and evaluated for their fire performance. Excellent smoke suppression was observed in the specimens modified using the complex, which acts as an FRSS additive. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) was also found to be fairly high, particularly when the PVC samples were plasticized with a phosphate plasticizer. FRSS intumescent coatings were applied on PVC-sheathed electrical cables. Their fire performance was evaluated using national and international standard procedures. Significantly low levels of smoke generation was observed along with zero flame spread when the coated cables were exposed to standard test conditions. The formulations used in both the treatments — coating as well as additive — offer improved resistance to ignition, flame spread and smoke generation.

Studies on the Effect of Atmospheric Oxygen Content on the Thermal Resistance of Intumescent, Fire-Retardant Coatings

Studies are conducted to measure the rate of thermal degradation and the thermal resistance of three intumescent fire-retardant coatings under atmospheres of varying oxygen content. The degradation trials are conducted using thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis in an atmosphere of nitrogen or air. It has been found that a low oxygen content in the atmosphere significantly affects the rate of degradation of the char material at temperatures greater than 540°C. The global kinetics of the thermal degradation is modeled using three or four first-order parallel reactions. The degradation of char is modeled using the method of invariant kinetic parameters. The derived kinetic parameters are reported. The thermal resistance of the materials coated on steel plates is determined using a cone calorimeter with controlled oxygen content in the atmosphere. It has been found that the thermal resistance of two of the coatings has been strongly influenced by the oxygen content of the atmosphere; hence, this factor may be of importance when predicting the performance of intumescent materials in real fire scenarios.

Fire hazard assessment of combustibles in big terminals

It is observed that some big terminal buildings were functioning as more than just a passenger terminal, leading to the placing of combustibles in the big hall. For example, polyurethane sofas were put in areas providing catering services. A preliminary fire hazard assessment based on the identified scenario on burning those combustibles will be reported in this paper. Hazard assessment included studying the heat release rate, smoke filling in the hall and the air temperature distribution. Full-scale burning tests, empirical equations on key parameters and computational fluid dynamics are used. It is not good practice to close businesses in this economic climate. Therefore, remedial actions such as spraying fire retardant coatings which can stand higher radiative heat fluxes in case of accidental fire and implementing appropriate fire safety management are recommended.

Kinetics of Degradation Reactions within Intumescent and Subliming Fire Retardant Coatings

Thermal degradation of subliming and intumescent fire retardant coatings is studied and kinetic information is derived for the various physical and chemical processes occurring within the coatings. An approach that requires estimation of the invariant values of kinetic parameters is used in the study. The probability associated with eighteen different kinetic equations were evaluated to estimate the influence of each process on the oxidative degradation of the coating material. These probabilities were then used to model the global kinetics for the degradation of the coatings and the results were used to predict the behaviour of the fire retardant coatings when subjected to elevated temperatures.

Surface controlled fire retardancy of polymers using plasma polymerisation

Fire retardant coatings are deposited on polyamide-66 using plasma polymerisation. Chemical composition and thickness of deposits are adjusted varying the plasma treatment based on hexamethyldisiloxane mixed with oxygen. The fire retardancy performances are evaluated using a cone calorimeter. The correlation between fire retardancy and thickness as well as chemical composition is discussed.

Elaboration of fire retardant coatings on polyamide-6 using a cold plasma polymerization process

A cold remote nitrogen plasma process is involved to induce the polymerization of the 1.1.3.3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) monomer mixed with oxygen. Oxygen addition to TMDS promotes the formation of more thermally stable coatings. The fire retardancy performances of polyamide-6 coated with this organosilicon polymer are evaluated using the cone calorimeter and limiting oxygen index test. The deposits are efficient fire retardant coatings: the rate of heat release of coated PA-6 can decrease by approximately 30% in comparison to PA-6.

Thermogravimetric study of phosphated polyurethane ionomers

Segmented polyurethane dispersions containing bound phosphate groups on the soft segment have been synthesised from a phosphate containing macroglycol, a diisocyanate and a chain extender. TGA study of these polymers has revealed three stages of degradation. The initial weight loss temperature for the phosphated polyurethane dispersions was lower than the ones without phosphate indicating that degradation started at the soft segment that contains the phosphate groups. The degradation profile of the dispersions was also dependent on the neutralising base. The higher char yield of phosphated polyurethanes was related to its fire retardant property and could be used as fire retardant coatings.