INVESTIGATION OF FIRE RESISTANT PROPERTIES OF GLASSWOOL AND ROCKWOOL HYBRID FIBRE REINFORCED INTUMESCENT COATING

Intumescent fire coating is widely used in world industry for protecting steel from high temperature. However due to its strength deficiency its performance is poor. Due to that, a study of fibre reinforced intumescent fire coating has been conducted recently. The project purpose of this study is to examine the effects of fiber reinforcement on the intumescent fire retarding coating to explore the mechanical and chemical properties in order to increase the fire performance of the intumescent fire retardant coating. The study will focus on the glasswool and rock wool fibre as fibre reinforced for intumescent fire coating. Previously, various research regarding intumescent fire coating using single fibre to enhance the fire performance. The study will investigate the fire resistance of the coating using hybrid fibre as well as various composition of fibre and fibre length. In this project, a few samples of different formulations were be created and tested. The properties and performance of coatings were based on the char develop by the coatings in the furnace test and Bunsen burner test. The chars’ residual weight were analyzed using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). It was found that intumescent coating with single and short fibre glass wool has the expansion of 3.48 mm, the highest among others in furnace test. Besides that, intumescent coating with single fibre Rockwool recorded the lowest temperature in Bunsen burner test which is 79°C. In Thermo Gravimetric Analysis, intumescent coating with single fibre Rockwool has the highest residual weight at maximum temperature which is 78 weight percent at 790°C. It is found that the fire performance of intumescent fire can be improved with fibre that has high insulation. For intumescent coating with hybrid fibre content, the sample that higher composition of Rockwool has better performance than other samples. Finally, single fibre Rockwool shows a better fire performance than hybrid fibre which consist of glass wool and Rockwool.