A systematic approach was used to investigate the weathering-induced degradation of a common water–based intumescent coating. In this study, the coatings are intended for humid indoor applications on steel substrates. The coating contains ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, melamine, and polyvinyl acetate. By replacing each ingredient with a less water-soluble substance, the most vulnerable substances, polyvinyl acetate and pentaerythritol, were identified. Furthermore, the weathering resistance of the system was improved by exchanging the ingredients. The coatings were stressed by artificial weathering tests and evaluated by fire tests. Thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the thermal decomposition. This study lays the foundation for the development of a new generation of water-based intumescent coatings.
High-throughput fire tests and weathering-induced degradation behaviour of intumescent coatings
(2018)
In this work, the weathering-induced degradation of intumescent coatings was investigated by a systematic and comprehensive approach. A mechanism is revealed that is proposed to be responsible for the loss of function of intumescent coatings induced by weathering.
First, the thermal decomposition of artificially weathered intumescent coatings was examined. To get a better understanding of the weathering and ageing phenomena, the degradation behaviour of the single ingredients during the weathering process was investigated, as well as their chemical and physical interactions. For the systematic approach, the materials that are essential for intumescence (ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, titanium dioxide, melamine and the binder) are treated with moisture, elevated temperature and UV radiation.
Thermogravimetry (TG) and IR spectroscopy were used to compare the initial samples with their different grades of weathering. We demonstrate that ammonium polyphosphate, melamine and the binder are mainly responsible for the ageing process. Further, it was demonstrated that TG and IR spectroscopy are suitable measuring methods to detect the effects of weathering on intumescent coatings.
Finally, a small-scale fire test procedure is introduced. Based on the reduction of the sample size, up to 50 samples can be tested in a single fire test. The results of this fire test have the same quality as the results from standard intermediate fire tests corresponding to DIN 4102-8.
Fire stability of glass-fibre sandwich panels: The influence of core materials and flame retardants
(2017)
Fire resistance has become a key property for structural lightweight sandwich components in aviation, shipping, railway vehicles, and construction. The development of future composite materials and components demands adequate test procedures for simultaneous application of compression and fully developed fire. Therefore an intermediate-scale approach (specimen size = 500 mm x 500 mm) is applied with compressive loads (up to 1 MN) and direct application of a burner to one side of the specimens, as established in aviation for severe burn-through tests. The influence of different core structures (polyvinylchloride foam, polyisocyanorate foam reinforced by stitched glass bridges, and balsa wood) was investigated for glass-fibre-reinforced sandwich specimens with and without flame retardants applied on the fabrics, in the matrix, and on surface for each specimen at the same time. Times to failure were increased up to a factor of 4. The intumescent coating prolongs the time to failure significantly.
What is more, using the intrinsic potential of the front skin together with the core to protect a load bearing back skin in sandwich panels, the design of the core – here using the wood core – is the most promising approach.
The fire stability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) shell structures was investigated using an intermediate-scale test setup. The shell specimens are representative of typical load-bearing CFRPs in modern civil aviation. The CFRP shell specimens were exposed to a fully developed fire with direct flame impingement to one side at a heat flux of 182 kW/m2. Specimens were simultaneously loaded with constant compressive force equal to 40% of the ultimate failure load. CFRP shells and four different fire retarding configurations, using integrated protective layers, were investigated. Unprotected CFRP specimens failed after just 27 s. Specimens with integrated protective layers with low heat conductivity and high burn-through resistance showed the most promising results. An integrated titanium foil decelerated the decomposition of the epoxy matrix and increased the time to failure by 68% compared to the unprotected CFRP shell.
Intermediate-scale testing is indispensable when investigating the fire resistance under simultaneous compressive load of components made of glass- and carbon-fibre-reinforced composites (GFRP and CFRP). BAM is successfully operating an intermediate-scale test stand, developed for a specimen size of 500 mm x 500 mm (1000 mm). The fire resistance in terms of fire stability of CFRP and GFRP sandwiches are investigated, e.g. at 20 % of their compressive failure load at room temperature. Times to failure increase by up to a factor of 4 due to intumescent coatings. For GFRP sandwiches, different core structures with and without additional flame retardants show an astonishing impact on time to failure. CFRP shell structures are investigated on the intermediate scale with and without stringer reinforcements, resulting in completely different mechanical failure behaviour in the ultimate load test as opposed to the fire resistance test. The stringers become the only load-carrying part, while the shell acts as a protective layer. Thus the design exploiting this self-protection potential, i.e. the residue of the front skin protecting the load-bearing structure, is highlighted as a most promising route to enhance the fire resistance of lightweight materials.
The fire behaviour of light-weight material used in structural applications is regarded as the main challenge to be solved for mass transportation. The task is to perform realistic experiments, including a mechanical test scenario under fully developed fires, to improve the material's reliability in structural applications. Our approach utilises an intermediate-scale test set-up (specimen size 500 × 500 mm) to apply realistic compressive loads and fully developed fires directly to one side of a carbon-fibre-reinforced sandwich composite. Three different intumescent coatings were applied to sandwich structures and compared to a bench-scale study. The results emphasise intumescent coatings as a promising method to sustain fire resistance, multiplying the time to failure. Nevertheless, the realistic intermediate-scale test using severe direct flame application underlines the extremely short failure times when the actual composite components are tested without any additional insulation.
A test set-up in intermediate scale was conceived to investigate the structural integrity of materials under fire. The task was to develop a realistic test scenario targeting component-like behaviour. Carbon-fibre-reinforced sandwich specimens (500 X 500 X 20 mm) were used to examine failure mechanisms, times to failure and critical failure loads under compression. Fire tests were performed with fully developed fire applied to one side of the specimen by an oil burner. In a first test series, the applied load was varied, but the fully developed fire remained unchanged. In general, times to failure were short. Decreased load levels resulted in prolonged times to failure and led to a different failure mechanism. Results obtained in the test series were compared with a bench-scale study (150 X 150 X 20 mm) investigating identical material. The comparison clearly revealed the influence of size on the time to failure and the load-bearing capacity.
An intermediate-scale fire testing approach on the structural integrity of lightweight materials
(2013)
Carbon or glass über composites and Sandwich structures, the lightweight materials of choice for aviation, naval, offshore and construction show an enormous energy saving potential. Their combination of excellent specific mechanical properties, high corrosive resistance and thermal insulation properties in combination with various adoptable fabrication techniques leading to mass and fuel cost reduction. The most limiting single factor for a wider use of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) in particular as elements for structural application is believed to be their fire behaviour (Mouritz and Gibson, 2006). FRPs promote burning by themselves consuming the stabilizing polymeric matrix while embedded fibers (glass, carbon) persisting the flame (Mouritz et ah, 2006). Already at elevated temperatures (100 - 200 °C) the matrix softens with a loss in mechanical properties (Perret et al., 2011, Mouritz and Gibson, 2006). For this reason the stability of the structural component is decreased severely. Fire behavior becomes the major hazard to worry about, increasingly demanding targetoriented investigation, suitable testing and tailored development.
Experimental approaches in the bench-scale have been proposed to investigate the structural integrity in the past (La Delfa et al., 2009, Gibson et al., 2010, Seggewiß, 2011, Mouritz and Gardiner, 2002, Schartel et al.). Ascribed to the small-scale neither the mechanical properties nor the effects of fire may be represented satisfactorily. Flence, the task is to perform more realistic investigations under adequate compressive loads in fully developed fires, based on suitable specimen sizes. Also (La Delfa et al., 2009)) have announced that it is evident that larger scale test of composites are needed. The aim of this study is to present a developed intermediate-scale test setup to perform more realistic investigations (Hörold et al.). Mechanical loading is generated by a column furnace in terms of compression due to a more severe response of specimens in fire tests (Seggewiß, 2011, Gibson et al., 2012, Feih et al., 2008, Feih et al., 2007). An oil burner used to determine the burnthrough resistance of thermal/acoustic insulation materials provides fire directly onto one side of the specimen (Federal Aviation Administration, 2003). Generating a fully developed fire the NexGen burner offers a homogenous heat flux of ~ 180 kW/m2. The intermediate-scale is addressed by specimen sizes either 500 x 500 mm or 1000 x 500 mm with a maximum thickness of 50 mm. The specimen attachment is realized by a compression device that was designed to apply the compressive loads, figure 1. The test setup for specimens with component like dimensions allows realistic investigations up to structural failure in absence and presence of fire load. A first test series was carried out with different levels of loading while the fire remained unchanged. Failure mechanisms, temperature distributions, diversity of FRPs regarding fiber, matrix, lay-up and core as well as flame retardant Systems are in the scope of investigation.