No abstract

Thermal destruction of fire-retardant intumescent coating of the composition of ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/melamine (MA)/pentaerythrite (PE)/titanium oxide (TiO 2)/polymer, which can be applied for fire protection of steel structures, was studied. The influence of polymers of different nature-ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), vinyl acetate versatate (VAVV), styrene acrylates, and vinyl toluene acrylate on the processes of formation of a coke layer and fire-retardant effectiveness of appropriate coatings was determined. Chemical transformations of polymers EVA and styrene acrylate in the intumescent system of ARR/MA/ PE/TiO 2 in the temperature range of 200-800 °С were studied. It was established that the processes of the thermal destruction of vinyl acetate polymer are more harmonized with chemical reactions of the components of the intumescent system than similar processes for acrylate aromatic polymers. Thermal-oxidation destruction of intumescent compositions at the temperatures of 200-800 °С was explored. It was shown that basic chemical processes with polymers of EVA and VAVV begin after 300 °С and flow in the temperature range of 350-600 °С. It was found that the noticeable degradation of the carbon-phosphorus frame of intumescent compositions with styrene acrylate polymers begins at 450 °С, which is almost by 150 °С below the temperature of degradation of the compositions containing vinyl acetate binders. The conducted fire tests demonstrate that intumescent compositions with the use of acrylate aromatic polymers are more effective at the low coating thickness in ensuring the fire resistance boundary of 30 min. In order to ensure higher values of fire resistance, it is necessary to use intumescent coatings containing vinyl acetate co-polymers as the polymer component. The study of the impact of polymers of intumescent coatings on the boundary of fire resistance of steel structures has scientific and practical significance for the development of differentiated fire protection means, oriented to the given class of fire resistance. Fire-retardant intumescent compositions examined in this study can be used as the basis for the formulations of materials for fire protection of building structures under conditions of a standard fire

This paper reports a study into the effect of nanoclays on the water-resistance of the intumescent system ammonium polyphosphate/melamine/pentaerythritol/titanium dioxide/polymer (ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or styrene acrylate (SA). It has been established that adding nanoclay to a coating based on ethylene vinyl acetate increases the fire resistance limit of a metal plate by 30 %, and to a coating based on styrene acrylate – by 50 %. At the same time, coatings that include the EVA polymer are characterized by greater fire-retardant efficiency and less water resistance than coatings containing the SA polymer. It has been shown that intumescent coatings, regardless of the nature of the polymer, under the conditions of 80 % humidity over 800 days their reduce fire-protective properties by an average of 10 %. The loss of coating fire resistance occurs due to the leaching of pentaerythritol, ammonium polyphosphate, and polymer degradation by hydrolysis. The admixtures of nanoclays with a high degree of exfoliation to the studied system create a barrier effect and maximize the chemical formulation of the intumescent coating. The fireproof properties of coatings with organically-modified montmorillonite admixtures are maintained or reduced to 5 % under the conditions of 80 % humidity over 800 days. It has been determined that the direct effect of water on the coating over a period of more than 2 days leads to a significant decrease in the swelling coefficient of intumescent coatings, regardless of the content of a nanoclay admixture in their composition. At the same time, the half-decay period of coatings without nanoclay, calculated on the basis of solubility constant in water, is 0.5 days. For coatings, which include the admixtures of organically-modified nanoclays, the half-decay period increases to 2 days. The results reported in this paper could be recommended for designing water-proof fire-resistant reactive-type nano-coatings with prolonged service life.

Purpose. To study the influence of the carbonizing agent structure on the formation of thermal insulating char layer of intumescent system acid donor/polyol and on the fire protection efficiency of the system at high temperatures. Methodology. A fire retardant mixture of an acid donor (phosphates ammonium, urea, melamine)/ polyol was chosen as a model intumescent system. Dispersion of vinyl acetate copolymer with ethylene was used as a polymeric component. The study applied the characteristics of the char layer of the intumescent composition at a certain temperature. The volumetric intumescent coefficient (K, cm3/g), mass of char residue (m, %), structure and density of the char layer are proposed as the main estimated parameters of flame retardant effect. IR spectroscopy was used to identify products of thermolysis of intumescent systems. Determination of fire protection efficiency of intumescent coatings was carried out in a mini-oven under standard fire conditions. Findings. The influence of polyol structure on the formation of thermal insulating char layer of intumescent acid donor/polyol system and the prediction of fire protection efficiency of this system under high temperature conditions has been investigated. It has been shown that under conditions of thermal shock the fire protection efficiency is more dependent on the nucleophilic reactivity of the polyol towards the unsaturated phosphorus atom of the acid donor than on its thermal stability. It has been found that pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, starch, dextrin, xylitol and sorbitol are the most effective carbonizing agents, regardless of the structure of the acid donor. It has been proved by infrared spectroscopy that at high temperatures as a result of the decomposition of pentaerythritol one of the reaction products is the aldehydes interacting with pentaerythritol with the formation of oligomeric compounds with a simple ether bond C-O-C. At the same time, pentaerythritol can be considered as a universal source of carbon framework for intumescent flame retardants regardless of the phosphate structure used. Originality. It has been shown that an important factor to increase the fire protection efficiency of intumescent systems is the use of polyols with an increased nucleophilicity in the esterification between polyol and phosphoric acid.Practical value. The optimal polyols as carbonizing agents for formulation of intumescent coatings with enhanced fire protection properties have been determined.

Purpose. Study of influence of blowing agents amines structure on the construction processes of thermal insulating char layer of intumescent system ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol/amine and fire protection efficiency of this system at high temperatures. Methodology. A fire retardant mixture of ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol/amine was chosen as a model intumescent system. Dispersion of vinyl acetate copolymer with vinyl ether of versatic acid was used as a polymeric component. A step-by-step study of the characteristics of the char layer of the intumescent composition was applied in the study, consisting in the analysis of the characteristics of the char formed after keeping the intumescent composition samples at a certain temperature between 100 and 800 °C, char residue mass (m, %), structure and density of the formed char layer. The method of infrared spectroscopy was used for identification of products of thermolysis of intumescent systems. Determination of fire protection efficiency of intumescent coatings was carried out in a mini-oven under standard fire conditions. Findings. The influence of the structure of amines blowing agents on the formation of char layer of intumescent system ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol/amine was studied. Physico-chemical parameters of char layer formed during high temperature swelling of intumescent system components with varying amine: urea, melamine, dicyandiamide, guanidine, thiocarbamide, formylthiosemicarbazide, thiosemicarbazide, phenylethylcarbamide have been determined. In the temperature range 200–400 oC for systems with linear amines (urea, thiocarbamide, thiosemicarbazide), there is a rapid formation of insulating layer with intense outgassing (high intumescent coefficients K) and the same rapid its destruction with significant losses of char residue mass (Δm). The presence of melamine, dicyandiamide and guanidine in intumescent system provides constancy of intumescent coefficient at minimal mass loss. Chemical transformations of intumescent systems were studied by the method of infrared spectroscopy when the investigated amines were varied. It was found that linear diamines do not form stable spatially branched phosphamide compounds with phosphates as the basis of a thermostable heat-insulating frame. At the same time in IR spectra of char residue systems with melamine, dicyandiamide and guanidine the absorption bands of P-N-C bonds (1070–1050 cm-1) and P-N (980–950 cm-1) up to 600–700 oC are observed. Fire tests proved that melamine, dicyandiamide and guanidine are blowing agents providing maximum protection of metal against fire and can be used for composition of fire retardants for steel constructions.Originality. It has been proved that amines in intumescent polyphosphate system perform at least two functions: blowing agents by means of thermal destruction to incombustible gases and nucleophilic compound that takes part in char layer formation by aminolysis of electrophilic substrates.Practical value. The optimum amine blowing agents for developing formulations of intumescent coatings with enhanced flame retardant properties have been established.