Enhancement of an intumescent fire shield paint from the nanotube rutile mineral for the fire performance of steel structures

Building and construction fire safety is an important issue for the protection of people and property. This research investigates nano-TiO2 from rutile minerals' synergistic role in intumescent fire shield paint (IFSP). A synergistic ingredient was introduced to intumescent fire shield paint to evaluate its impact on char morphology, fire protection test, fire propagation test, and compare it with current market products. A hydrothermal process was used to create a rutile mineral, with various techniques used to describe its structure, size, and composition. Intumescent char was found in a furnace using FESEM and X-ray fluorescence. The results showed that rutile minerals contain a rutile phase and a nanotube structure. The surface of the sample IFSP A's char showed layer and foam structures with homogenous voids during a fire test, indicating a high porosity structure. Large holes and recurring gaps were observed in the char of the IFSP B, C, and D. Sample IFSP A took more time at the structural critical temperature (about 550 degrees C) than other intumescent fire shield paint samples, making it a barrier layer that effectively shields the metal substrate from heat. The intumescent char residue had the highest C/O ratio of 0.57, indicating the best char yield degree and anti-oxidation abilities. The IFSP A had a phosphorous content of 36.2 %, which could combine with phosphorus and TiO2 to form a ceramic barrier. The increased TiO2 in IFSP A suggests that char layers with TiO2 may still contain strong ceramic structures and function as effective thermal protection layers.