Composite Firestop Material With Directed Expansion for Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection elements suffer from lateral displacement of expanded material, leading to reduced sealing effectiveness and increased thermal conductivity, especially in larger openings, and require excessive amounts of physically active blowing agents, which are economically and ecologically unfavorable.
Innovation Solution
A composite material is produced by aligning layered, physically active blowing agents parallel to each other within a carrier material through mechanical forming, ensuring expansion occurs predominantly in one direction to enhance sealing and reduce material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physically acting blowing agents are randomly distributed in fire protection elements, then the material expands uniformly in all three spatial directions, but this results in lateral expulsion of expanded material from the opening and reduced sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by orienting layered blowing agents in a specific directional arrangement rather than random distribution. The blowing agents are aligned with their layer normals pointing toward the opening to be sealed, creating an asymmetric configuration that directs expansion preferentially in the desired direction (toward the opening) while minimizing lateral expansion. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable sealing effectiveness through controlled directional expansion.
2Reliability
If excessive amounts of physically active blowing agents are used to ensure adequate sealing, then sealing capacity is improved, but economic and ecological disadvantages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the blowing agents in regions where they are most needed for effective sealing. The oriented arrangement ensures that blowing agents are positioned and directed toward the opening to be sealed, creating a localized high-density region of expansion force exactly where required. This maximizes sealing capacity with reduced overall material quantity, eliminating the need for excessive blowing agent usage.
3Strength
If blowing agents are compressed at walls or fabric surfaces of fire protection elements, then structural integrity is maintained, but expansion potential is reduced and thermal conductivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from random three-dimensional distribution of blowing agents to a two-dimensional oriented arrangement. The layered blowing agents are aligned with their layer normals pointing toward the opening, creating a planar orientation that directs expansion force preferentially in one direction. This oriented configuration reduces compression at walls and surfaces while maintaining structural integrity, and prevents the formation of compressed regions with high thermal conductivity.
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
The solution achieves directed expansion towards the opening, minimizing lateral extrusion and improving sealing capacity while reducing the amount of blowing agent required, thus enhancing fire protection performance and reducing material waste.
Implementation Method 1
These additives expand or intumescent at elevated temperatures, such as in the event of a fire, and, in combination with the carrier material and any other additives, form an insulating layer, thus sealing any opening that may occur.
Implementation Method 2
the material expands when exposed to heat, such as that generated in a fire, thereby compressing the cable and sealing the opening in the building component
Implementation Method 3
Fire protection elements typically have a carrier material to which additives are added for fire protection purposes. These additives expand or intumescent at elevated temperatures
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a composite material, a process for manufacturing same, and a fire proofing element containing the disclosed composite material for protecting passages in construction elements, e.g. building parts, through which lines are guided, in the event of a fire. The invention further relates to the use of the composite material as a fire proofing element for sealing passages and/or joints in construction elements.