Melamine Polyimide Composite Fire Resistant Intumescent Coatings

Components of intumescent coatings acid source, carbon source and blowing agent like melamine linked together by a binder provide cumulative fire retardant properties. When temperature of the coating surface reaches a critical temperature under the heat of flame, the surface begins to melt and is converted into highly viscous liquid. Simultaneously, reactions are initiated that result in the release of inert gases with low thermal conductivity. These gases are trapped inside the viscous fluid forming insulating char. The special composite of melamine polyimide, a C source and melamine a blowing agent showed high performance heat resistance in the present study. Polyimides have excellent heat and chemical resistance, excellent adhesion to a number of substrates and superior mechanical properties, such as high flexural modulus and compressive strength. Polyimides are also known to possess outstanding dimensional stability under loads, which allows their use in high temperature environments. Effect of the monomer on chemical reactivity between the binder and the intumescent additives has been studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter and FTIR analysis. Thermal insulation studies by various intumescent composite coatings, applied on aluminium plates provided useful time temperature profiles.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(4), pp.442-446, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.487