Solvent-Free Intumescent Fire Protection Epoxy Coatings

A recent study shows the production of fire protection epoxy coatings with excellent smoke suppression, toxicity reduction, and durability enabled by a micro/nano-structured P/N/Si-containing flame retardant.

The development of solvent-free intumescent fire protection epoxy (EP) coatings with excellent durability is an extremely important issue for the protection of storage tanks and structural steels in the coating industry. In a new work, a micro/nano-structured phosphorus/nitrogen/silicon-containing flame retardant (APP@Si) was synthesised by silica nanoparticles-modified ammonium polyphosphate, which was utilised to prepare high-performance intumescent fire protection epoxy resin coatings via a solvent-free method.

Enhanced properties

APP@Si enhanced fire protection, smoke suppression, toxicity reduction, mechanical properties, and durability of solvent-free EP coatings. APP@Si with a 10 wt% loading level endowed solvent-free EP coating (EP/10APP@Si) with a limiting oxygen index value of 32.4 % and a UL-94 V-0 rating. Meanwhile, APP@Si declined the peak heat release rate, smoke factor, and peak CO production rate values of EP/10APP@Si by 77.5 %, 92.6 %, and 56.4 %, respectively, compared with those of pure EP.

Source: European coatings