Abstract
Metal filled organic and EMI coatings affect the fire performance properties of engineering plastics. Zinc arc spray, zinc/epoxy, and zinc borate/epoxy coatings on modified-polyphenylene oxide (m-PPO) are particu larly effective. The results from non-flaming NBS smoke chamber tests show a dramatic reduction in smoke for zinc and zinc borate coatings, whereas a ZnO coating did not show the same effect. Heat release data (Radiant Panel) for these samples show lower Q values for zinc, zinc borate coatings compared to m-PPO, epoxy coated m-PPO and ZnO epoxy coated m-PPO. The Fs values for zinc and zinc borate coatings are low compared to a m-PPO control and ZnO coated m-PPO.
Polycarbonate structural foam sheet was coated with epoxy coatings filled with zinc, zinc borate, or ZnO. NBS Smoke Chamber data in the non-flaming mode for zinc or ZnO coatings do not show an improvement in smoke produc tion, but a zinc borate epoxy coating does have a reductive effect on smoke. Ra diant Panel Q was low for all coated samples compared to a control. Fs values also were low for coated samples. From OSU heat release data the zinc borate/epoxy coating shows a low heat release rate and the zinc/epoxy coating a much delayed heat release rate. Data for smoke (2 min) was low for coated samples compared to a control, but for smoke (peak) only zinc borate demon strated the potential for significant smoke reduction.
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