Category: Transient Plane Source
Author(s): Baljinder K. Kandola, Piyanuch Luangtriratana, Serge Bourbigot, Sophie Duquesne
Keywords: char expansion, coatings, composites, cone calorimeter, epoxy, fire protection, glass, intumescent coatings, thermal barrier properties, thermal conductivity, transient plane source technique
Abstract: The reaction to fire properties of three commercial coatings designed for steel structures were investigated. The coatings in this study were covering a glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite. It was determined that the thermal barrier effectiveness of these coatings was dependent on the degree of expansion and the thermal conductivity of the expanded char. Using these two parameters, the required thickness of a coating that can enable a structure to withstand fire conditions for a specified period of time. Two of the three coatings that were tested were epoxy based, while the third was water based. Minimal effects were observed when water was applied to the epoxy based coatings. The intumescing and thermal barrier properties of the water based coating were significantly altered.
Reference: Materials 8, 8 (2015) 5216-5237
DOI: 10.3390/ma8085216