In situ thermal-conductivity measurements and morphological characterization of intumescent coatings for fire protection

Thermal insulating performance and char-layer properties have been studied for water-based intumescent coatings for structural steel fire protection using a new laboratory-scale mass-loss cone apparatus. A specimen (100 × 100 mm mild steel plate; the initial coating thickness: 0.3–2.0 mm) is placed horizontally and exposed to a constant incident radiant heat flux (25, 50, or 75 kW/m 2 ). The apparent thermal conductivity of the expanding char...