Construction materials & components
ZAPP-ZIMMERMANN GmbH specialises in the development of intumescent building materials. The term intumescence means expansion or swelling and is used in the fire protection industry for substances that increase their volume under the effect of heat.
If an intumescent building material is charged with heat, a physiochemical reaction starts, which in parallel with decomposition of the building material and formation of an insulating layer, results in an increase of the volume. For the most part, intumescent building materials are based on organic substances.
Depending on the application area and required purpose of the building material or component, it is possible to influence the intumescence with reference to many parameters:
- Level of intumescence
- Temperature-dependent start of intumescence
- Direction of intumescence
- Stability of the insulating layer
- Expansion pressure (i.e. the force with which the intumescence develops)
This is achieved by adding specific flame-retardants and additives to the building material. For this ZAPP-ZIMMERMANN does not use any flame retardants that contain halogens
Effect of intumescent building materials
- Softening/decomposition of the base polymer (e.g. PUR, rubber, acrylate, silicone)
- Release of the inorganic acid
- Carbonisation
- Gas formation through activation of the expanding agent
- Intumescence through foaming of the system
- Solidification of the intumescence through cross-linking reactions of the fire protection powder and its synergists
