Influence of heating conditions and initial thickness on the effectiveness of thin intumescent coatings

The study presented herein shows an experimental methodology aimed at analysing the effectiveness of intumescent coatings through detailed characterisation their thermo-physical response for a range heating conditions and applied initial dry film thickness (DFT). Steel plates coated with commercial solvent-based thin coating were exposed to well-defined highly-repeatable in accordance H-TRIS test method. Experimental results emphasise that swelling process resulting swelled govern coatings, thus effectiveness. During swelling, steel asymptotically tends temperature 300–350 °C, regardless condition or DFT. Thermo-gravimetric analysis demonstrates undergoes reaction this range. Once is completed, increases above 350 °C. acts as indicator process, occurs near steel-coating interface. swells insulates substrate by displacing already-swelled towards direction heat source. Aiming predicting empirical correlations are derived: rate governed maximum