Monday, June 23, 2014

The Fire Retardant Coatings Outline

By Ina Hunt


In incidences of fire fighting, there are substances that are commonly used in order to reduce flammability of fuels or rather delays the combustion. An overview of fire retardant coatings will unfold these substances explaining the outside layer that cover them. This includes chemical agents, but may also include substances that work by physical action, such as cooling the fuels, such as fire-fighting foams and fire-retardant gels.

There are number of retardants types available in the market today for timber, wood and other components. They are being marketed as suitable for the treatment of the particular component. All made from different compositions to suit the needs of customers. This will be discussed as below.

Intumescent coatings are the most applied in firefighting equipment. Basically, an intumescent is a material that increasing in volume as the density decreases as a result of its exposure to heat which has the effects of making it to swell. Important to note is the two types of intumescents, which include soft char and hard char. Soft char intumescents generate a glow char, that prevents transfer of heat as it is a poor conductor of heat..

Melamine which is the expanding material, ammonium polyphosphate that is the source of acid and pentaerythritol that supplies carbon are the components that interact together to ensure that the expansion process of the intumescent coatings goes through. However, other components are normally added in order to develop the paint material goods, improve the build and facilitate faster drying as the above components are usually dipped in a water-borne polymeric tool.

on application of heat, chemical reaction begins whereby the heat helps in softening this polymeric binder as well as causing release of organic acid from ammonia phosphate which in this case is the acid source. This is then followed the carbonization of polyols while the melamine decompose and produces a gas that swells the mixture which has been molten after which the char solidifies in order to ensure that insulation is maintained. In ideal conditions, intumescent can increase to approximately a hundred times its initial breadth although this requires a watchful selection of the formulation apparatus.

Timber fire retardant is the commonly used and therefore it is important to scrutinize its coatings. It is generally a clear liquid fire retardant with a light density similar to water which has two basic types of application methods including surface saturation and pressurized impregnation. Usually, timbers are placed into large sealed chambers filled with liquid fire retarded after which the chambers pressurized for sometimes about 24-48 hours before the timber is removed and allowed to dry.

Timber fire retardant is frequently used and for that reason it is vital to analyze its coatings. It is usually a fluid whose density is also similar to water, its clear and has two primary types comprising of pressurized impregnation and surface saturation depending on the method of application. Habitually, timbers are organized into bulky conserved chambers full liquid fire retardant and then the chambers are pressurized for approximately 1 to 2 days prior to the timber being removed and put under proper conditions for drying.

As unfolded, there are various types of coatings for the this retardant, and therefore is upon an individual to chose. During the selection, it is recommended that one gets to understand the functions of theses coverings and the mechanism behind its use. This ensures good and effective decision making that will yield satisfactory




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment