DEVELOPMENT OF INTUMESCENT FIRE RETARDANT COATING FOR PROTECTION OF WOODS

Intumescent coatings make the most efficient way of fire retarding of flammable materials. The coatings swell under the influence of heat and form a thick porous charred layer which acts as thermal barrier that effectively protects the wood substrate against rapid increase of temperature and thereby maintaining the integrity of the structure. The aim of this study was to develop the intumescent coating formulation for wood and to determine the performance of the coating. Bunsen burner test, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) were conducted on samples to study the heat shielding effect, morphology and the residual weight of the coatings.In the end, this project was able to present the composition of the coating formulation for wood and the results of the analysis done on the coating.