Fire Protection Composite for Directional Sealing Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection elements for passage openings in components, such as building parts, suffer from inefficient expansion of physically acting blowing agents, leading to lateral material displacement and reduced closure effectiveness during fires, which compromises sealing and increases the risk of fire penetration.

Innovation Solution

A composite material is developed by aligning layered, physically acting blowing agents in parallel within a carrier material through mechanical shaping, allowing controlled expansion perpendicular to the agent's layers, thereby directing expansion towards the passage opening and minimizing lateral displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If physically acting blowing agents are randomly distributed in fire protection elements, then the material expands uniformly in all three spatial directions, but most of the expanded material is pushed laterally out of the passage opening, reducing closure effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniform expansionVSAvoidclosure effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blowing agents are oriented asymmetrically with their expansion direction aligned perpendicular to the passage opening surface, creating directional expansion that prioritizes closure effectiveness over uniform expansion in all directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from isotropic (uniform in all directions) expansion to anisotropic (directional) expansion by orienting the blowing agents, effectively adding directional control to the expansion process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If physically acting blowing agents expand in all three spatial directions, then the expansion is uniform, but material is pushed laterally out of the passage opening exposing it to mechanical stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisotropic expansionVSAvoidexposure to mechanical stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blowing agents are oriented asymmetrically to create directional expansion, with the expansion vector primarily directed toward the passage opening rather than uniformly in all directions, protecting the material from lateral mechanical stresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of manufacture

If fire protection elements use conventional shaping methods, then the blowing agents are randomly oriented, but the compression rate of conduits is reduced and closure speed is not guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconventional productionVSAvoidclosure speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blowing agents are pre-oriented in the desired direction during manufacturing, so that when expansion occurs during fire, the material immediately expands in the correct direction toward the passage opening, ensuring rapid closure without requiring lateral material displacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the blowing agents from random to aligned, fundamentally altering the expansion behavior from isotropic to anisotropic, which directly improves closure speed and effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances the closure ability of fire protection elements by ensuring that the expanding material is primarily directed towards sealing the passage opening, reducing material loss and maintaining insulation effectiveness while minimizing the amount of blowing agent used.

Implementation Method 1

the material expands under the effect of heat, as occurs in the event of a fire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

fire protection elements are usually provided with intumescent materials or formed from these, so that the material expands under the effect of heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIntumescent expansion: Intumescent Materials

Implementation Method 3

the precursor, during or after step iii), is subjected to a mechanical shaping method in which adjacent particles of the layered, physically acting blowing agent are arranged substantially in parallel with one another

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical alignment: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 4

These additives expand or intumesce at elevated temperatures, such as in the event of a fire, and form an insulating layer in combination with the carrier material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12194325B2Composite material and fire protection element for sealing passage openings and joints in components

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 HILTI AG

AI summary

A composite material, a method for the production thereof, and a fire protection element containing the composite material can be utilized for the protection of passage openings in components in the event of fire, such as building parts, through which conduits are guided. The composite material can be also used as a fire protection element for sealing passage openings and/or for joints in components.