What is Intumescent?

The standard definition of intumescent is to swell or enlarge. The K-MASS® coating provides protection in a fire by swelling 4 to 5 times its original thickness, to form a lava like char, which insulates and reflects heat back into the fire.

After the initial formation of char, the coating remains passive until the heat penetration through the char reaches a temperature at which the passive material is again activated. The process is repeated until either the passive material is depleted or the fire is extinguished.

The K-MASS® coating is effective in protecting against fire through basic thermodynamic principals. The initial layer of the char that forms has the following characteristics:

1. A very low Thermal Conductivity Coefficient.
2. The surface temperature of the char rises to within 100°F of the fire.

The process to change K-MASS® from passive to active requires a substantial amount of heat energy. As this process begins to take place, cooling vapours are released and heat is absorbed away from the passive layer below. Heat rejection back to the fire is through the following:

1. Re-radiation - Heat rejection by an object through radiation depends on the surface temperature of the object. Since the surface temperature of the object is close to the fire temperature, re-radiation will be high. The resulting heat absorption through radiation is low.
   
   
2. Convective Heat Transfer - The driving potential for convective heat transfer to an object in a fire is the difference between the temperature of the fire and the object. Again, since the surface temperature of the char is close the fire temperature, the convective heat flux to the actuator will be lower.

Combining all of the heat transfer characteristics outlined above, results in a very effective thermal barrier. Without protection, a typical metal surface will reflect approximately 20% of the heat of the fire. With K-MASS®, approximately 80% to 90% of the heat of the fire is reflected.