Fire test: Intumescent coatings encase steel girders and, in case of a fire, form an insulating foam barrier, thus protecting the steel structure from the heat – and dispersions from WACKER play a key role here as a binder (photo: Clariant Produkte Deutschland GmbH - 2013)

Modern buildings often feature steel skeletons – but when the temperature reaches 500°C, steel frames soften rapidly. To prevent them from buckling within minutes during a fire (left), they are provided with special fire protection coatings, allowing them to resist a fire for much longer (right). The polymer binders VINNAPAS^® EZ 3112 and VINNAPAS^® EZ 3066 ensure significant foam development in these coatings, coupled with improved adhesion and strength.

In case of a fire, intumescent coatings foam to tens to hundreds of times its original thickness and act as a heat barrier. The new VINNAPAS^® LL 3112 binder ensures significant foam development in these coatings, coupled with improved adhesion and strength (photo: Clariant Produkte Deutschland GmbH - 2013).

Lab test of a dispersion: Depending on the formulation, VINNAPAS^® LL 3112 allows highly fire-resistant coatings with fire resistance class F120 to be achieved, which means heat protection for up to two hours.