Polyisocyanate Intumescent Coating Fast Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intumescent coatings for steel structures in fire situations have long drying times, making it impractical to apply and transport them on the same day, leading to construction delays and increased costs, and they require multiple coats with intermediate curing, which extends the overall process.

Innovation Solution

A fast-curing intumescent polyurethane coating composition containing a polyisocyanate, a polyfunctional isocyanate-reactive compound, and intumescent ingredients with phosphorus, nitrogen, and boron atoms, which allows for quick drying and thick film application without sagging or intermediate curing, providing enhanced fire resistance and weather resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional intumescent coatings are applied to steel structures, then fire resistance protection is achieved, but drying time becomes excessively long (making same-day application and transport impractical)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistanceVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the coating by incorporating specific catalysts (metal salts like zinc, calcium, or strontium halides at 0.1-5 wt%), adjusting polyol to polyisocyanate ratios, and selecting particular intumescent ingredient combinations to accelerate the curing reaction while preserving fire resistance properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system combining polyisocyanate, polyol, catalyst, and intumescent ingredients (ammonium polyphosphate, melamine, pentaerythritol) into an integrated formulation that simultaneously provides fast curing and fire protection functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional intumescent coatings are applied to achieve sufficient thickness, then fire resistance is improved, but multiple coats with intermediate curing are required, extending the overall process time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidapplication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates catalysts and reactive components in the initial coating formulation that enable the coating to begin curing immediately upon application, allowing thick films to start forming a protective skin before sagging occurs, eliminating the need for intermediate curing between coats

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts viscosity parameters through selective solvent selection and polyol molecular weight control to enable thick film application in a single coat while maintaining sag resistance, combined with accelerated catalyst systems that cure the coating quickly enough to prevent running

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If fast-curing ingredients are added to reduce drying time, then productivity is improved, but the coating may sag or run when applied in thick films

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying timeVSAvoidcoating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates different functional zones within the coating formulation: thixotropic agents (colloidal silica, bentonite clay at 1-10 wt%) provide local structural support to prevent sagging, while catalysts (metal halides at 0.1-5 wt%) localized in the formulation accelerate curing in the bulk, allowing thick application without running

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes time-dependent rheological changes where the coating transitions from a flowable state during application to a rigidifying state as curing progresses, with thixotropic properties enabling the coating to remain stable in thick applications while gradually developing structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 coating achieves touch-dry in less than 5 minutes, offers 60-120 minutes of fire resistance, and allows for thick film application without sagging, reducing drying times significantly, while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and weather resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a binder containing polyol and polyisocyanate components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the reaction of the acidic species with the carbonization agent takes place with formation of ester mixtures, followed by the carbonization process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCarbonization: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

the spumific agent decomposes to yield gaseous products which cause the char to swell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

produce an insulating foam or 'char'... which has a volume many times that of the original coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 5

forms a heat resistant barrier which keeps the steel cool... An insulating foam or 'char' having low thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS10640657B2Polyisocyanate-based intumescent coating
Publication Date: 2020.05.05 HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

Intumescent coating composition comprising a polyisocyanate, a polyfunctional isocyanate-reactive compound and an intumescent ingredient, wherein the intumescent ingredient contains at least one or more compounds containing phosphorus, nitrogen and boron atoms and the weight ratio phosphorus to nitrogen in said intumescent ingredient is between 0.5/1 to 1.5/1 and the amount of boron is from 1 to 5 wt % based on the coating composition.