A Model of Heat Transfer Across an Epoxy Based Fire Retardant Layer Undergoing Sublimation, Intumescence and Degradation

A model has been developed to predict the rate of heat flux through fire retardant coatings subjected to a surface flame at 1080°C. The model includes the effect of the material subliming, intumescing and degrading, and of temperature effects on the material properties. Temperature profiles were compared with experimental data obtained on commercial fire retardants using a small-scale fire testing apparatus developed for the study of passive fire protection materials. Temperature predictions of the model agreed within 10% of experimental results except when erosion and cracking of the retardant was observed.