Thermoresponsive Hybrid Colloidal Capsules as an Inorganic Additive for Fire-Resistant Silicone-Based Coatings

Improving the fire-resistant efficiency of silicone-based polymeric coatings is important in building industry and electrical utilities. In this study, water-containing hybrid calcium carbonate (CaCO3)–silica (SiO2) colloidal capsule has been developed optimized as an inorganic flame-retardant additive. This exhibits excellent thermal stability up to 1000 °C with a remaining intact hollow spherical structure. When used filler at 15 wt %, it not only reduces potential fire hazards by over 44% (i.e., sumHRC reduced from 112.00 J/g K 62.00 K) but also improves heat-barrier 30% temperature steady state 350 360 below 250 °C) coatings. addition, capsule–polymer composite coating ductility which can withstand heat-induced mechanical stresses prevent crack propagation under radiative heating conditions. The mechanism related strongly encapsulated water core reactions between SiO2 CaCO3 elevated temperatures. They contribute cooling effect on flammable pyrolysis gases induce insulative resulted char during combustion. significant advances study will have high impact customizing functional additives for better design coating.