GB2126891A

GB2126891A - Intumescent article

Info

Publication number: GB2126891A
Application number: GB08224853A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tessa Malcolm-Brown
Original assignee: Dixon International Ltd
Current assignee: Dixon International Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-31
Filing date: 1982-08-31
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: GB2126891B

Abstract

An intumescent article or product comprising a flexible tubular casing or skinfilled along at least part of its length with an intumescent mastic. The article is in a convenient form to handle and may be pushed into cracks or gaps in structures as desired and readily follows the course of the structure along which it is desired to provide a fire-resistant seal.

Description

SPECIFICATION Intumescent article The present invention relates to an intumescent article or product.

It is known to provide intumescent material in elongate gaps, recesses or cracks in structures.

When the structure is subjected to elevated temperature, as under fire conditions, the intumescent material intumesces, i.e. expands to form a voluminous coherent fire-resistant mass.

The intumescent material may be provided either with the intention that the intumesced material (i.e. the fire-resistant mass) protects the structure against the fire or with the intention that the intumesced material forms a fire-resistant seal between the structure and an adjacent structure.

The intumescent material may be provided by introducing a material or pasty or putty-like consistency or in the form of a slurry into the gap, the material hardening or setting to form the intumescent material. Alternatively, an intumescent mastic (i.e. a material of putty-like consistency which does not harden or set) may be introduced into the gap. Difficulties, however, are commonly experienced in introducing the material into the gap. E.g. the material may tend to flow out of the gap, it may be difficult to provide an even distribution of material along the length of the gap and, if the gap is deep, the material may penetrate too deeply into the gap.Additionally, the intumescent material has to be protected against atmospheric water vapour and damp and, if exposed to the weather, rain, which have a detrimental effect on the material, by painting, varnishing or otherwise covering with a protective coating.

The present invention aims to overcome or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an intumescent article or product comprising a tubular casing or skin filled along at least part of its length with intumescent material.

The tubular casing enables the product to be readily handled and to be pushed into cracks or gaps in structures as desired. The tubular casing keeps the intumescent material in its desired shape, prevents portions of the intumescent material falling out of or otherwise coming out of the gap and protects the intumescent material against exposure to the atmosphere.

The tubular casing should be at least damp resistant and is preferably waterproof.

The casing may, for example, be of plastic material, e.g. polyester or polyvinylidene chloride.

It is envisaged that the casing may be of reconstituted collagen, which may be, after filling, toughened by immersion of formaldehyde solution, e.g. of a concentration of about 3%.

The casing is preferably thin and flexible and is conveniently one such as manufactured for use as a sausage skin.

The intumescent material within the casing may be an intumescent mastic or a hard rigid intumescent material. In the latter instance, the material actually introduced into the skin may be a paste or slurry which hardens or sets within the casing to form the intumescent material.

A suitable non-hardening intumescent mastic may comprise particulate intumescent material (e.g. either hammer-milled or preferably ballmilled) mixed with a flame-resistant plasticized vinyl resin. The particulate intumescent material may be based on melamine formaldehyde resin, a cross-linking agent such as dicyaniamide or guanidine, monoammoniu m phosphate, plaster of Paris and water. Such an intumescent material, but also containing wood flour, is described in our patent no. 1601131.

Alternatively, the casing may be filled with a slurry, paste or putty which sets or hardens to form the intumescent material. The slurry may be as described in our patent no. 1601 131, optionally without wood flour, or may be sodium silicate-based.

The material may be introduced into the casing through a nozzle, which may be a shaped land to shape the intumescent article. Thus the article may be shaped to have an elliptical or generally elongated cross-section to facilitate its insertion into gaps or cracks.

In use of a nozzle to fill the casing, the casing may be shirred so as to fit on the nozzle and be gradually pulled off the nozzle as filling proceeds.

The term "shirred" is well understood in the sausage manufacturing art and relates to concertina-like contraction of the casing so that a long length of the casing can be fitted into a relatively short nozzle.

Alternatively, lay-flat tubing may be used as the casing.

The intumescent material or the material which sets or hardens to form the intumescent material, when of a pasty or putty-iike consistency, may be introduced into the casing by the use of a conventional ram-operated sausage-making machine or a plastics extruder.

Clips may be fitted onto the casing at intervals during filling or after filling to divide the intumescent material contained therein into discrete lengths.

Also the artcle may be cut into lengths after manufacture and the cut ends of the casing closed with clips to seal the intumescent material from the atmosphere.

We envisage particularly using the intumescent article according to the invention for insertion into gaps in concrete and masonry structures and around structural bearings.

The casing may contain carbon black to protect the intumescent material from ultraviolet light.

Also the casing may be coloured e.g. to match masonry with which it is to be used or may have a metallic finish both to provide an attractive appearance and to reflect sunlight which might heat the intumescent material and cause it to intumesce prematurely.

Claims (Filed on 28 Sept 82) 1. An intumescent article or product

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Intumescent article The present invention relates to an intumescent article or product. It is known to provide intumescent material in elongate gaps, recesses or cracks in structures. When the structure is subjected to elevated temperature, as under fire conditions, the intumescent material intumesces, i.e. expands to form a voluminous coherent fire-resistant mass. The intumescent material may be provided either with the intention that the intumesced material (i.e. the fire-resistant mass) protects the structure against the fire or with the intention that the intumesced material forms a fire-resistant seal between the structure and an adjacent structure. The intumescent material may be provided by introducing a material or pasty or putty-like consistency or in the form of a slurry into the gap, the material hardening or setting to form the intumescent material. Alternatively, an intumescent mastic (i.e. a material of putty-like consistency which does not harden or set) may be introduced into the gap. Difficulties, however, are commonly experienced in introducing the material into the gap. E.g. the material may tend to flow out of the gap, it may be difficult to provide an even distribution of material along the length of the gap and, if the gap is deep, the material may penetrate too deeply into the gap.Additionally, the intumescent material has to be protected against atmospheric water vapour and damp and, if exposed to the weather, rain, which have a detrimental effect on the material, by painting, varnishing or otherwise covering with a protective coating. The present invention aims to overcome or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an intumescent article or product comprising a tubular casing or skin filled along at least part of its length with intumescent material. The tubular casing enables the product to be readily handled and to be pushed into cracks or gaps in structures as desired. The tubular casing keeps the intumescent material in its desired shape, prevents portions of the intumescent material falling out of or otherwise coming out of the gap and protects the intumescent material against exposure to the atmosphere. The tubular casing should be at least damp resistant and is preferably waterproof. The casing may, for example, be of plastic material, e.g. polyester or polyvinylidene chloride. It is envisaged that the casing may be of reconstituted collagen, which may be, after filling, toughened by immersion of formaldehyde solution, e.g. of a concentration of about 3%. The casing is preferably thin and flexible and is conveniently one such as manufactured for use as a sausage skin. The intumescent material within the casing may be an intumescent mastic or a hard rigid intumescent material. In the latter instance, the material actually introduced into the skin may be a paste or slurry which hardens or sets within the casing to form the intumescent material. A suitable non-hardening intumescent mastic may comprise particulate intumescent material (e.g. either hammer-milled or preferably ballmilled) mixed with a flame-resistant plasticized vinyl resin. The particulate intumescent material may be based on melamine formaldehyde resin, a cross-linking agent such as dicyaniamide or guanidine, monoammoniu m phosphate, plaster of Paris and water. Such an intumescent material, but also containing wood flour, is described in our patent no. 1601131. Alternatively, the casing may be filled with a slurry, paste or putty which sets or hardens to form the intumescent material. The slurry may be as described in our patent no. 1601 131, optionally without wood flour, or may be sodium silicate-based. The material may be introduced into the casing through a nozzle, which may be a shaped land to shape the intumescent article. Thus the article may be shaped to have an elliptical or generally elongated cross-section to facilitate its insertion into gaps or cracks. In use of a nozzle to fill the casing, the casing may be shirred so as to fit on the nozzle and be gradually pulled off the nozzle as filling proceeds. The term "shirred" is well understood in the sausage manufacturing art and relates to concertina-like contraction of the casing so that a long length of the casing can be fitted into a relatively short nozzle. Alternatively, lay-flat tubing may be used as the casing. The intumescent material or the material which sets or hardens to form the intumescent material, when of a pasty or putty-iike consistency, may be introduced into the casing by the use of a conventional ram-operated sausage-making machine or a plastics extruder. Clips may be fitted onto the casing at intervals during filling or after filling to divide the intumescent material contained therein into discrete lengths. Also the artcle may be cut into lengths after manufacture and the cut ends of the casing closed with clips to seal the intumescent material from the atmosphere. We envisage particularly using the intumescent article according to the invention for insertion into gaps in concrete and masonry structures and around structural bearings. The casing may contain carbon black to protect the intumescent material from ultraviolet light. Also the casing may be coloured e.g. to match masonry with which it is to be used or may have a metallic finish both to provide an attractive appearance and to reflect sunlight which might heat the intumescent material and cause it to intumesce prematurely. Claims (Filed on 28 Sept 82)

1. An intumescent article or product comprising a flexible tubular casing or skin filled along at least part of its length with an intumescent mastic.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the casing is a sausage skin.

3. An article according to claim 1 or 2 in which the casing is closed at both ends so that the encased intumescent mastic is sealed from the atmosphere.