CHARACTERIZATION OF INORGANIC NON-METALLIC FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY-BASED INTUMESCENT COATINGS AND CHARTEX 7 EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURE

The effects of fibre reinforcement to the char characteristics are studied using glass wool fibre, Rockwool fibre and ceramic wool fibre, which were first manually cut to 10mm in length, and then reinforced into epoxy-based intumescent coating formulations. The three new formulations were compared to Chartex 7, a commercial intumescent coating that was found to take longer to harden and dry naturally in ambient condition. TGA was conducted to study coatings’ thermal response in relation to their char strength. TGA curves of the various wool fibres are more complex implying more thermal reactions occurred in a fire. Char formation and physical properties were investigated after the samples were fire tested up to 800ºC. Char height, weight, crispness, cell structure were examined and compared. An SEM study showed that Al2O3/SiO2 ceramic fibre in Chartex 7 and ceramic wool fibre did not deform at the test temperature. Development of phosphorosilicate glass from mineral wool fibre and glass wool fibre within char was determined to enhance insulation and durability of the char. EDX analysis between coating and char showed increase of elements; O and P and reduction of Si element as the coating transformed in fire. Formation of BPO4, SiO2, magnesium aluminum hydroxide, maleimide and ammelide compounds as found by XRD gave rise to the char strength and fire protection.