acid source + carbon + spumific (typical APP/PER/MEL)
ChemistryIntumescent coating is specified as acid source + carbon + spumific (typical APP/PER/MEL). Density band wet film as specified.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength8
Heat resistance60
Fire performance88
Insulation70
Workability80
Circularity42
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Quick answers
Is Intumescent coating non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: coating on A1 steel; system tested. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Intumescent coating insulate?
Thermal mark 70/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: char foam becomes the insulator.
What is the density band?
wet film as specified
How is it made?
Origin story: 1960s–70s commercial IFR; cellulosic vs hydrocarbon curves (US / UK / DE).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 42/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
designed to foam ~200–300 °C
heat 60 · fire 88
What holds Intumescent coating together is not the nickname. Formula acid source + carbon + spumific (typical APP/PER/MEL), density wet film as specified.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Intumescent coating can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsIntumescent coating is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength8
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope60
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour88
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation70
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability80
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity42
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
Water-based cellulosic
Offices, ISO 834.Offices, ISO 834.
Solvent cellulosic
Shop application.Shop application.
Epoxy hydrocarbon
UL 1709, jets.UL 1709, jets.
Wood IFR
Interior timber.Interior timber.
Cable coatings
Circuit integrity.Circuit integrity.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Intumescent coating holds together by ionic/covalent networks.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
Keep exploring
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