Pulsed modes of the formation of multilayer char structures on the surface of fire-retardant intumescent paints

A mathematical model of the propagation of the front of decomposition of active fire-retardant intumescent paints in pulsed mode is developed. A hypothesis explaining the mechanism of the experimen-tally observed pulsed modes of decomposition front propagation by the existence of an exothermic step in the decomposition reaction, leading to the self-acceleration of the reaction and rapid burnout of the reacting substance layer, is suggested. A theory of the propagation of the decomposition front in the pulsed mode based on a minimum number of empirical parameters obtainable from experiment is developed. Based on numerical simulation results, formulas are derived for predicting the time history of the thickness of the char structure and the time during which the fire-retardant composition can protect the object from fire. These formulas can be used to calculate the desired thickness of the fire-retardant coating that would withstand a fire or a thermal agent of given intensity for a desired time.