Interactions between chlorinated paraffins and melamine in intumescent paint—investing a way to suppress chlorinated paraffins from the formulations

It is known that acid source, carbon source and blowing agent are the main ingredients of an intumescent paint. Melamine and halogenated additives, such as polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs) are used as blowing agents, however, the legislation tends to prohibit the use of halogenated coumpounds for environmental reasons. The aim of our study is to investigate the mode of action of melamine and PCAs in an intumescent formulation. Their interactions are also studied. It is found that the combination of PCAs and melamine leads to more efficient systems. Spectroscopic analyses (FTIR and solid state 13C NMR) led us to conclude that when the intumescent paint was heated melamine condensed to create melem via Diels-Alder-type reaction. Melem could then react with PCAs leading to the stabilisation of the PCA-melamine mixture. The proposed mechanism of action led us to propose a method for the substitution of PCAs.