Modeling the rheology of commercial reactive fire-retardant coating materials for steel

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2706-5448.2025.334121

Keywords:

fire protection of steel, fire-retardant coating, dynamic viscosity of paint, rheological profile, coating thickness

Abstract

Fire protection of steel load-bearing building structures by surface-treating them with reactive fire-retardant coating materials is a crucial factor in ensuring fire safety on national scale. Both, the quality and operational characteristics of such materials, which are the subject of this study, require continuous improvement to reduce the cost of fire protection, as it can constitute a large portion of the overall construction expenditure. The aim of this study was to determine optimal rheological parameters for commercial reactive fire-retardant coating materials that ensure that the material can be applied with the maximum wet coating thickness.

To achieve this aim, the dynamic viscosity (η) was measured using Brookfield viscometer for a set of commercial reactive fire-retardant coating materials that provide fire resistance of at least R120 for steel load-bearing structures. The dependence of viscosity on shear rate (γ) in the range of (2.09–52.25) s–1 was modeled using the Casson equation. This allowed for the determination of the main rheological parameters of the studied materials – shear stress (τ, Pa), yield stress (τ0, Pa), and viscosity at high shear rates (η∞, Pa · s), which contribute to material’s applicability.

With the use of the empirical and calculational data, the approximate viscosity of water-based intumescent coating materials necessary to produce defect-free layer of wet coating on studied surfaces was determined. It was measured by Brookfield viscometer with No. 7 spindle at rotational speeds (30–50) rpm at 20°С, and should preferably be: (30–15) Pa · s, (at 1 mm wet coating thickness); (50–25) Pa · s, (at 1.5 mm wet coating thickness), (80–50) Pa · s, (at 2.0 mm wet coating thickness). These levels of viscosity prevent sedimentation and sagging of the coating during material’s application and can serve as reference markers for optimization of industrially manufactured intumescent fire-retardant products.

The obtained results can serve as practical recommendations for manufacturers seeking to improve the rheology of reactive fire-retardant materials in order to increase the wet coating thickness per layer.

Supporting Agency

  • Budget financing of the NAS of Ukraine.

Author Biographies

Liubov Vakhitova, L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical-Organic Chemistry and Coal Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD

Department of Nucleophilic Reactions Research

Varvara Drizhd, L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical-Organic Chemistry and Coal Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD

Department of Nucleophilic Reactions Research

Kostyantyn Kalafat, L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical-Organic Chemistry and Coal Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD

Department of Nucleophilic Reactions Research

Ramil Vakhitov, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design

PhD Student

Department of Chemical Technologies and Resource Saving

Nadiia Taran, L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical-Organic Chemistry and Coal Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD

Department of Nucleophilic Reactions Research

Volodymyr Bessarabov, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design

Doctor of Technical Sciences

Department of Industrial Pharmacy

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Modeling the rheology of commercial reactive fire-retardant coating materials for steel

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Published

2025-08-29

How to Cite

Vakhitova, L., Drizhd, V., Kalafat, K., Vakhitov, R., Taran, N., & Bessarabov, V. (2025). Modeling the rheology of commercial reactive fire-retardant coating materials for steel. Technology Audit and Production Reserves, 4(3(84), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.15587/2706-5448.2025.334121

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3(84) (2025): Chemical engineering

Section

Chemical and Technological Systems

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Copyright (c) 2025 Liubov Vakhitova, Varvara Drizhd, Kostyantyn Kalafat, Ramil Vakhitov, Nadiia Taran, Volodymyr Bessarabov

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