Fire-retardant vs intumescent
Difference between fire-retardant and intumescent coating
The difference between fire-retardant and intumescent coatings lies in their chemical composition. The former contain fire-retardant or flame-retardant additives (from the Latin *ignis*, meaning ‘fire’, and *fugo*, meaning ‘that which causes to flee’); the latter are formulated with intumescent additives (from the Latin *intumescens*, the present participle of *intumescere*, meaning ‘to swell’). At temperatures between 200 and 300°C, fire-retardant additives release oxygen-inhibiting substances: they produce carbon dioxide or generate water vapour, thereby effectively lowering the combustion temperature. Between 300 and 400°C, fire-retardant coatings begin the crystallisation process. Essentially, a non-flammable vitrified layer creates a barrier for the wood.
Protective and insulating barrier
Intumescent additives react at 200°C by causing the coating film to swell. In this way, they create a protective and insulating barrier, delaying both combustion and the rise in temperature. Flame-retardant additives are normally used in coating systems applied to furniture, whilst the more reactive – but aesthetically less transparent – intumescent additives are incorporated into coatings used for load-bearing structures and coatings classified according to the European fire reaction standard. Therefore, a fire-retardant coating certified to Class 1 of the European Fire Reaction Classification will contain flame-retardant additives and will be more transparent and offer better performance, such as chemical and abrasion resistance, whilst a intumescent coating certified to a European Fire Resistance or Fire Reaction Class will be significantly less transparent and more sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress.
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