Synergistic Effects of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Borate on Thermal Degradation and Water Resistance of Epoxy Based Intumescent Fire Retardant Coatings

Abstract:

Abstract. This studies discuss the synergistic effects of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc borate on thermal stability and water resistance of intumescent fire retardant coatings. TiO₂ in association with a traditional intumescent flame retardant system which contains ammonium polyphosphate/expandable graphite/melamine/ zinc borate (APP–EG–MEL-ZB) was introduced to epoxy based coatings to improve the fire resistance. The influences of TiO₂ on the properties of the coatings were investigated in detail by using Bunsen burner fire test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and water immersion test. Bunsen burner test revealed that incorporation of titanium dioxide in intumescent formulation reduced the steel substrate temperature from 240 °C to 116 °C. The TGA results proved that addition of TiO₂ could enhance the anti-oxidation of the char layers and increase the residue weights of the coatings. The FESEM images demonstrated that addition of TiO₂ could improve the foam structure of the char residue. Sea water resistance test demonstrated that the optimum mass % age of TiO₂ (6%) exhibited great synergism with natural anti-corrosion agent, zinc borate, and improved corrosion resistance performance of intumescent coating formulations.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 740)
• Pages: 41-47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.740.41
• Online since: June 2017
• Authors: Norlaili Amir, Faiz Ahmad*, Muhammad Hazwan Abdul Halim, Qandeel Fatima Gillani, Puteri S.M. Megat Yusoff, Hammad Aziz, Rafiq Ahmad
• Keywords: Fire Performance, Intumescent Fire Retardant Systems, Titanium Oxide, Water Immersion Test, Zinc Borate

References

[1] M. Jimenez, S. Duquesne, and S. Bourbigot, Intumescent fire protective coating: Toward a better understanding of their mechanism of action, Thermochimica Acta, vol. 449, pp.16-26, 10/1/ (2006).

DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2006.07.008

[2] F. Ahmad, S. Ullah, W. F. Mohammad, and M. F. Shariff, Thermal performance of alumina filler reinforced intumescent fire retardant coating for structural application, in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2014, p.012023.

DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/60/1/012023

[3] W. F. Mohamad, F. Ahmad, and S. Ullah, Effect of inorganic fillers on thermal performance and char morphology of intumescent fire retardant coating, Asian J. Sci. Res, vol. 6, pp.263-271, (2013).

DOI: 10.3923/ajsr.2013.263.271

[4] S. Duquesne, S. Magnet, C. Jama, and R. Delobel, Intumescent paints: fire protective coatings for metallic substrates, Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 180, pp.302-307, (2004).

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2003.10.075

[5] S. Ullah and F. Ahmad, Effects of zirconium silicate reinforcement on expandable graphite based intumescent fire retardant coating, Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 103, pp.49-62, 5/ (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.02.016

[6] S. Ullah, F. Ahmad, A. M. Shariff, and M. A. Bustam, Synergistic effects of kaolin clay on intumescent fire retardant coating composition for fire protection of structural steel substrate, Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 110, pp.91-103, 12/ (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.08.017

[7] F. Ahmad, S. Ullah, and M. S. Hamizol, To Study the Effect of Aluminium Trihydrate and Fumed Silica on Intumescent Fire Retardant Coating, Journal of Applied Sciences, vol. 12, p.2631, (2012).

DOI: 10.3923/jas.2012.2631.2635

[8] J. H. Troitzsch, Overview of flame retardants, Chemistry today, vol. 16, (1998).

[9] K. S. Betts, New thinking on flame retardants, Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 116, p. A210, (2008).

[10] S. Ullah, F. Ahmad, and P. Yusoff, Effect of boric acid and melamine on the intumescent fire‐retardant coating composition for the fire protection of structural steel substrates, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, vol. 128, pp.2983-2993, (2013).

DOI: 10.1002/app.38318

[11] S. Bourbigot, M. Le Bras, R. Leeuwendal, K. K. Shen, and D. Schubert, Recent advances in the use of zinc borates in flame retardancy of EVA, Polymer degradation and stability, vol. 64, pp.419-425, (1999).

DOI: 10.1016/s0141-3910(98)00130-x

[12] D. M. Schubert, F. Alam, M. Z. Visi, and C. B. Knobler, Structural characterization and chemistry of the industrially important zinc borate, Zn [B3O4 (OH) 3], Chemistry of materials, vol. 15, pp.866-871, (2003).

DOI: 10.1002/chin.200320010

[13] H. Li, Z. Hu, S. Zhang, X. Gu, H. Wang, P. Jiang, et al., Effects of titanium dioxide on the flammability and char formation of water-based coatings containing intumescent flame retardants, Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 78, pp.318-324, 1/ (2015).

DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2014.08.003

[14] Z. Wang, E. Han, and W. Ke, Effect of acrylic polymer and nanocomposite with nano-SiO 2 on thermal degradation and fire resistance of APP–DPER–MEL coating, Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 91, pp.1937-1947, (2006).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.03.001

[15] E. ASTM, 119-05a Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, ed: ASTM International. West Conshohocken. Pennsylvania, (2005).

[16] G. Wang and J. Yang, Influences of glass flakes on fire protection and water resistance of waterborne intumescent fire resistive coating for steel structure, Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 70, pp.150-156, (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2010.10.007

[17] C. Feng, Y. Zhang, D. Liang, S. Liu, Z. Chi, and J. Xu, Influence of zinc borate on the flame retardancy and thermal stability of intumescent flame retardant polypropylene composites, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 115, pp.224-232, 9/ (2015).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2015.07.019

[18] K. Apaydin, A. Laachachi, V. Ball, M. Jimenez, S. Bourbigot, and D. Ruch, Layer-by-layer deposition of a TiO2-filled intumescent coating and its effect on the flame retardancy of polyamide and polyester fabrics, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 469, pp.1-10, 3/20/ (2015).

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.12.021

[19] R. G. Puri and A. S. Khanna, Effect of cenospheres on the char formation and fire protective performance of water-based intumescent coatings on structural steel, Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 92, pp.8-15, 3/ (2016).

DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2015.11.016

[20] T. Orhan, N. A. Isitman, J. Hacaloglu, and C. Kaynak, Thermal degradation mechanisms of aluminium phosphinate, melamine polyphosphate and zinc borate in poly(methyl methacrylate), Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 96, pp.1780-1787, 10/ (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2011.07.019

[21] Z. Wang, E. Han, and W. Ke, An investigation into fire protection and water resistance of intumescent nano-coatings, Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 201, pp.1528-1535, 10/5/ (2006).

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2006.02.021

[22] G. Wang and J. Yang, Influences of binder on fire protection and anticorrosion properties of intumescent fire resistive coating for steel structure, Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 204, pp.1186-1192, 1/15/ (2010).

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2009.10.040