Fireproof materials

Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, graphite has found widespread applications in the field of fireproof materials. Here is an introduction to its specific applications in different fireproof materials:

Fireproof Doors

  • Basic Characteristics: Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, exhibits excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, remains physically stable at high temperatures, and possesses high corrosion resistance and superior mechanical strength. These characteristics make it an ideal material for manufacturing fireproof doors.

  • Specific Application Methods:

      • As a Filler Material: Graphite can be mixed with other fireproof materials to form composite materials, enhancing the fire resistance of fireproof doors while improving sound insulation and user experience.

      • As a Coating Material: Graphite coatings not only provide additional fire protection but also enhance the durability of fireproof doors, resisting environmental erosion and extending service life.

Fireproof Sealing Strips

  • Application Advantages: Graphite boasts excellent high-temperature resistance, good chemical stability, and lubricating properties. In extreme fire environments, it can withstand temperatures as high as 3000°C without structural changes, maintaining stability, and preventing softening or loss of sealing effectiveness due to high temperatures. It also effectively dissipates heat, reducing the risk of local overheating.

  • Existing Issues: On one hand, the high thermal conductivity of graphite may lead to local overheating in high-temperature environments, affecting sealing effectiveness. On the other hand, its flake-like structure tends to agglomerate during the production process of sealing strips, making it difficult to uniformly disperse in the base material, which can impact the uniformity and performance stability of the sealing material, potentially resulting in suboptimal sealing or even material cracking or blistering.

Flame-Retardant Coatings

  • Action Principle: Flame-retardant coatings aim to delay or prevent material combustion, and graphite plays multiple roles in this process. When exposed to high temperatures or flames, graphite forms a dense char layer on the surface, which has high thermal resistance and mechanical strength, hindering oxygen penetration and reducing the material's combustion rate.

Firestops

  • Performance Advantages:

      • High-Temperature Tolerance: Firestops remain stable under extreme temperatures, resisting deformation or damage in fire or high-temperature environments, providing thermal insulation protection for equipment and personnel.

      • Good Corrosion Resistance: They are resistant to corrosion in many chemical media, unaffected by corrosive substances such as acids, alkalis, and salts, enabling use in complex environments and extending service life.

      • Special Thermal Conductivity: Although graphite has high thermal conductivity, its unique conduction method allows it to maintain thermal insulation while aiding heat dissipation, reducing the risk of fire caused by local overheating.

      • Easy Processing and Installation: Firestops are easy to process and can be manufactured into different specifications and shapes according to needs, providing greater flexibility for engineering design.

  • Application Scenarios: Firestops can be used to ensure the safe operation of electrical equipment and are suitable for high-temperature and highly corrosive environments such as chemical plants and smelters. They can also serve as thermal insulation layers or connectors in building thermal insulation systems to prevent fire spread to critical areas and enhance the overall fire resistance of buildings.

Other Applications

  • Expandable Graphite:

      • Fireproof Sealing Strips: Expandable graphite can be mixed with rubber materials and inorganic flame retardants to produce expanding sealing strips for fireproof doors and fireproof glass windows, blocking smoke flow during fires. It can also be adhered to glass fiber carriers using adhesives for fireproof door manufacturing.

      • Fireproof Packages, Fireproof Plugs, and Firestops: Due to its high expansion rate at high temperatures, expandable graphite can be used for fireproof sealing in buildings, such as sealing building pipes to prevent fire spread in case of cable or gas pipe fires.

      • Fireproof Boards: It can be used as a mixture in fireproof board materials to enhance fire resistance, reduce density, and improve thermal insulation performance. The resulting thin sheets can be used to manufacture flame-retardant panels for walls and other combustible substrates.

  • EPS Flame-Retardant Graphite: Combining flame-retardant and thermal conductivity properties, EPS flame-retardant graphite, after special processing, exhibits excellent flame retardancy, good thermal conductivity, high mechanical strength, and low water absorption, holding significant application potential in multiple fields.