Intumescent Spring Expansion Joint Seal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional expansion joint sealants fail to provide both effective water and fire resistance while maintaining compressibility over time, often requiring high compression ratios and solid fillers that lead to increased costs and reduced movement capabilities, and existing solutions like laminated foam systems are prone to fatigue and separation under thermal and seismic stress.
Innovation Solution
A fire-resistant and water-resistant expansion joint seal system comprising foam members with interspersed intumescent members that provide a wave-like cross-section, offering additional support and load transfer without the need for extensive impregnation or high compression ratios, allowing for greater movement and cycling capabilities while maintaining fire and water resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional expansion joint sealants use high compression ratios and solid fillers to achieve fire resistance, then fire resistance is improved, but movement capabilities and compressibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal system is divided into distinct functional layers: a compressible foam body for movement accommodation, and separate intumescent members (springs or plates) for fire resistance. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines foam material with intumescent materials to create a composite seal system. The foam provides compressibility and movement capability, while the intumescent members provide fire resistance through endothermic decomposition and char formation, achieving both requirements simultaneously.
2Reliability
If laminated foam systems are used to provide fire resistance, then fire protection is improved, but fatigue and separation occur under thermal and seismic stress
Solution Approach 1:
The intumescent members are designed with specific geometric parameters (spring configurations or plate thicknesses) that allow them to deform elastically under thermal and seismic stress rather than brittlely like laminated foams. This parameter optimization maintains structural integrity while providing fire protection.
3Reliability
If extensive impregnation is used in foam sealants, then fire resistance is improved, but cost increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire resistance function is extracted from the foam material itself and placed into separate, dedicated intumescent members. This eliminates the need for complex impregnation processes within the foam, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining fire protection effectiveness.
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 system effectively seals against water and fire, allowing vapor pressure to escape, supports high loads, and maintains integrity over time with enhanced movement capabilities, including seismic and rapid cycling requirements, without the need for extensive impregnation or high compression ratios, thus addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
each intumescent member is configured to provide fire resistance when exposed to fire
Implementation Method 2
allowing vapor pressure to escape
Implementation Method 3
present a wave-like cross-section... providing a spring force
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to systems for providing a durable water-resistant and fire-resistant foam-based seal in the joint between adjacent panels. A fire-resistant and water-resistant expansion joint seal is provided which includes one more foam members and a plurality of intumescent members interspersed within the foam member or members to provide a spring recovery force and fire resistance.