SiCoat

SiCoat is a fireproof coating designed to protect metal, wood, or plastic surfaces. It is a silica-based, water-soluble compound containing no organic additives. After application, it forms a smooth, durable surface. SiCoats designed specifically for metal, wood, and plastic are called SiCoat-M, SiCoat-W, and SiCoat-P, respectively.

SiCoat characteristics: Remarkable fireproof properties Non-toxic (emits no volatile or toxic substances) Excellent adhesion to protected surfaces

SiCoat possesses unusual fire-protective properties that are due to two mechanical effects: intumescence and evaporation.

In the heat of a fire, SiCoat will swell with water vapor, forming a heat-insulating layer. This process is known as intumescence. SiCoat can expand to 300% of its initial thickness. In addition, heat energy is absorbed by the water in the coating (about 30% by weight) both when vaporizing during intumescence and when leaving (evaporating from) the expanded coating.  This serves to cool the surface.

Together, these effects form an excellent fire-protective performance by the coating: during a typical fire, the surface temperature of the protected material should stay below 100°C.

SiCoat remains chemically stable at extreme temperatures, and is capable of meeting the highest fire safety and environmental standards.

Advantages of using SiCoat:

• SiCoat is anti-corrosive.
• SiCoat can be applied safely and simply, with almost non-existent environmental impact.
• SiCoat can be safely applied at high temperatures. This means that production facilities with high requirements for fire and explosive safety can continue to operate while SiCoat is being applied.

SiCoat may also be used in composite fireproof systems:

• It may be used to coat vermiculite, perlite, or other fireproof panels to increase their fireproofing efficiency tremendously.
• Popular fireproof doors in Europe have at their core two layers of fiberglass glued together with an intermediate layer of gypsum. These doors protect against fire for 45 minutes. If the gypsum layer is substituted with a layer of SiCoat, these doors can protect for 150 minutes!