Intumescent Coatings for Fire Protection of Building Structures and Materials

The book provides practical recommendations for creation of fire retardant materials with an increased service life. The enhanced fire resistance seen in these materials is based on the regularities of the chemical and physicochemical interaction of the components of intumescent composition in the process of thermolytic synthesis of heat-insulating char-foamed layers. The aim of fire protection of various objects with intumescent materials is to create a heat-insulating charred layer on the surface of structural elements; this layer can withstand high temperatures and mechanical damage which are typical during fires. The authors describe the contribution of basic components (melamine, pentaerythritol, ammonium polyphosphate), additional components (chlorinated paraffin, urea, cellulose, carbon nano additives, etc.) and polymer binders of intumescent compositions on the process of charring. The technological aspects of manufacturing, application and operation of fire retardant intumescent compositions, which can be useful for organizations that produce and use fire retardant materials, are also described.

Prof. Marina Gravit has a PhD in Fire Safety, currently working as Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Industrial, Civil and Road Construction, Department of Civil Engineering, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Prof. Gravit represents Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in the Committee for Standardization TK274 ‘Fire safety’ (Russia), and works as a corresponding member of the National Academy of Fire Safety Sciences. Prof. Gravit is also an expert of the INTERGAZCERT certification system.