MOSCOW, 17 Oct. A new formulation of rubber fire-heat-protective materials (FRM) was developed by Volga State Technical University scientists. According to them, this makes it possible to improve the technical characteristics of occupational safety equipment and, with their help, increase safety in enterprises. The university believes that the modification allows products to withstand critical temperatures longer and prevent the spread of fire in industrial accidents. The results of the study were published in Molecules.
Fire and heat retardant materials are used to insulate elements of industrial equipment and machinery from the effects of ultra-high temperatures. This is especially significant in the aerospace, marine, oil and gas industries, where part of the production process occurs in extreme conditions, explained Volgograd State Technical University (Volgograd State Technical University).
Since OTZM most often interact with fire, their value is determined by the rate of heating to critical temperatures, thermal conductivity and strength. These indicators form the service life of the containment shell. According to university researchers, the rubber-based composition of flame-retardant materials they developed made it possible to improve all the key characteristics of the product and can withstand temperatures of about 2500 degrees.
“
“The results indicate an increase in the heating time of the inner surface of the sample by 8–17% and a decrease in its linear burning rate by 6–17% compared to known analogues. It is also worth noting that the time to warm up to critical temperatures has increased by a quarter,” said Vladimir Kochetkov, associate professor of the Department of Chemical Technology of Polymers and Industrial Ecology (HTPE).
The expert noted that a special combination of aluminosilicate microspheres, carbon microfiber and an organoelement modifier made it possible to achieve a balanced increase in performance. The obtained characteristics suggest the effective use of materials as coatings for fire and thermal protection of combustion chambers, rocket engine nozzles, gas generator covers and other similar structures, the university added.
1 of 3
2 of 3
3 of 3
1 of 3< span class="share" data-nosnippet="true" data-id="1903094714" data-url="https://ria.ru/20231017/nauka-1903094714.html?share-img=1903093161" data->
2 of 3
3 of 3
“Often, a significant improvement in any one parameter leads to an equally significant deterioration in the remaining properties of the material. Therefore, the solution to this problem lies in the search for an optimum between the main properties of the OTZM,” explained Kochetkov.
Also, the proposed composition ensures low thermal diffusivity of the material. Due to this, its use in enterprises with a high level of accidents or fires reduces the risk of emergency situations.
As a result of carbonization processes, the protected surface is covered with a low-thermal conductivity coke layer, which prevents further destruction of both the HTP itself and the protected surface.
«When such equipment is exposed to fire, rapid carbonization of the OTP helps localize the fire and prevents its further distribution. Such properties are most in demand for the protection of gas generators or oil production equipment,» explained Kochetkov.
The scientific team of Volgograd State Technical University continues to work on the synthesis of new modifiers that enhance coke formation processes. Researchers are also searching for new components that ensure uniform distribution of fillers throughout the volume of material, the university added.
VolgSTU is a participant in the state support program for universities of the Russian Federation «Priority-2030» of the national project «Science and Universities» .