Application of Intumescent Coating for Increasing Fire-Resistance Values of Cable Products

Abstract

The results of experimental studies on the effectiveness of insulation of electrical cables with fire-resistant coating are presented. Analysis of methods of cables products using shows a steady trend of increasing their using during the arrangement of premises. Fires and rapid spread of flame are possible during the exploitation of such structures. Statistics of cable products show a low level of safety due to using of combustible insulation, which is highly sensitive to high temperatures and fire. After the test, it is seen that the specimen of the cable without a fire-resistant coating supports self-combustion for more than 30 s, and the damage to the specimen is more than 100 mm. After testing the specimen with a fire-resistant coating, it is seen that the cable specimen doesn’t support self-combustion, and the damage to the specimen isn’t more than 40 mm. Inhibition of the process of ignition and propagation of flame for such specimen is associated with the decomposition of flame retardants under the action of temperature, which occurs with heat absorption and release of non-combustible gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide), as well as changing the direction of decomposition towards non-combustible gases and flame retardant coke residue. This leads to an increase of the thickness of the coke layer and inhibition of heat transfer of high-temperature flame to the insulation material, which indicates the possibility of transition of combustible insulation of the cable with a fire-resistant coating to non-flammable materials, which aren’t spread a flame.