Influences of glass flakes on fire protection and water resistance of waterborne intumescent fire resistive coating for steel structure

Glass flake (GF) was used as a modifier to improve the fire protection and water resistance of waterborne intumescent fire resistive coating. The influences of GF on the properties of the coatings were investigated in detail by using TGA, XRD, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), SEM and fire protection test. The TGA results proved that addition of GF could enhance the anti-oxidation of the char layers and increase the residue weights of the coatings. The XRF results indicated that anti-oxidation of the coatings modified by GF was improved. The SEM images demonstrated that addition of GF could improve the foam structure of the coatings. After immersed in water over 600 h, the results showed that the thermal stability and fire protection of the coating without GF were significant decreased, but the coatings modified by GF could still maintain the excellent intumescent effect and fire protection.