Water Glass Fire Protection Compositions with Expanded Insulating Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection compositions have inadequate fire protection performance due to low water content, mechanical instability, and lack of adhesive properties, leading to powdery residues and the need for additional adhesives, which can promote fires.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising two different soda water glasses with specific viscosities, microcapsules with propellant gas, a ceramization component, and organic fibers, which expands to form a dimensionally stable, adhesive, and insulating layer without the use of expandable graphite or triazine derivatives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If expandable graphite is used as a blowing agent, then the composition can achieve expansion in fire, but the inflated layer becomes mechanically unstable and forms powdery residues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection performanceVSAvoidmechanical stability of inflated layer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the blowing agent system by replacing expandable graphite with organic fiber suspensions and chemical blowing agents. This substitution fundamentally alters the expansion mechanism to produce a cohesive foam structure rather than discrete graphite platelets, thereby achieving both fire protection and mechanical stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite fire protection system combining organic fibers, water glass binders, and chemical blowing agents. This composite approach allows the inflated layer to achieve both expansion capability and mechanical coherence, eliminating the powdery residue problem while maintaining fire protection performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If additional adhesive materials are used to improve adhesion, then the composition gains adhesive properties, but the fire risk increases due to flammable adhesives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidfire risk
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The water glass binder system provides self-adhesion to the substrate through its inherent binding properties, eliminating the need for separate adhesive materials. The composition adheres to the substrate using only its own components, specifically the water glass which forms a strong bond without requiring additional flammable adhesives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the need for additional adhesive materials by incorporating adhesion functionality directly into the fire protection composition itself. The water glass binder system extracts the adhesive function from the system, allowing the composition to adhere to substrates using only its own components without requiring external adhesive additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the water content is increased to improve cooling effect, then the fire protection performance is enhanced, but the composition becomes less stable and more prone to evaporation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcompositional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range (40-70% by weight) and combines it with water glass binders and hygroscopic additives. This parameter optimization maintains high water content for cooling while the water glass and hygroscopic substances prevent excessive evaporation and maintain compositional stability during storage and application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Volume of moving object

If expandable graphite is used as a blowing agent, then the composition achieves expansion, but the adhesion to substrate is insufficient and the layer chips off easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexpansion volumeVSAvoidadhesion strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite system where organic fibers, water glass binders, and chemical blowing agents work together. The organic fibers provide structural reinforcement and adhesion to the substrate, while the water glass binder ensures strong bonding. This composite approach achieves both expansion and adhesion simultaneously, preventing chipping and delamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition achieves improved fire protection with higher water content, stable adhesion, and enhanced insulating properties, eliminating the need for additional adhesives and preventing powdery residues, while maintaining a high water content to prevent evaporation.

Implementation Method 1

When exposed to heat and fire, they expand to form a thick, relatively flame-retardant, insulating material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

microcapsules with propellant gas, which expands to form a dimensionally stable, adhesive, and insulating layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

in the event of a fire there is only a small release of cooling moisture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

higher water content, which in the event of a fire removes heat from the fire source by evaporating this water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEndothermic reaction: Endothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 5

at least one component that supports the ceramization of the composition at elevated temperatures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCeramization:

Implementation Method 6

the composition achieves improved fire protection with higher water content, stable adhesion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2571829B1Compositions based on different water glasses
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 CUYLITS HLDG GMBH
  • EP2571829B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2571829B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2571829B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to water glass-based compositions and to the use thereof.