Investigating the Synergistic Effect of Bauxsol™ in an Epoxy Intumescent Coating System

Bauxsol™ (BX) is a refined alumino-silicate waste derived from the brine neutralization of bauxite residue (BR). Due to this brine treatment, Bauxsol™ contains hydrotalcite-like minerals in addition to the zeolitic minerals, metal oxides and hydroxides found in bauxite residue. In this work, investigations are carried out to determine the effect of Bauxsol™ addition on the fire performance of an Ammonium Polyphosphate-based epoxy intumescent coating system. Surface imaging, thermal analysis, elemental and phase analyses of the material were carried out using Field Emission Scanning Microscope, Thermogravimetric Analysis, X-ray Florescence Spectroscope and X-ray Diffraction respectively. Fire performance of the system was evaluated with Bunsen burner test for heat shielding capacity. The fire behavior was subsequently analyzed using the generated heat curves and thermogravimetric curves of the systems.