Thermal and Fire Resistance of Luminescent Coating on a Base of Silicon Elastomer with Diatomaceous Biosilica Filler

Abstract

It has been shown that Diatomaceous Biosilica is a promising filler for increasing the thermal and fire resistance of luminescence coating. The introduction of such additive into the Sylgard-184 polymer slows down the process of polymer thermal decomposition, so the T30% (temperature which corresponds to 30% of the mass loss) increases by more than 140°C. In addition, the additive has intensive green luminescence. The undoubted advantage of the filler is also that it significantly improves the elastic properties of the polymer base, primarily the tensile strength of the resulting protective film. Based on the transparent in UV-range silicon SKTN-med elastomer with a noted filler (2 and 5 w.% of Diatomaceous Biosilica), heat- and fire-retardant protective coatings were obtained. Samples exhibit strong green fluorescence at λem = 530 nm, which is excited by UV-light at λex = 265 nm. Standard fire tests showed ignition time of ~200s vs. 120s for unfilled samples. It should be noted that weight of composition with filler decrease compare to pure SKTN-med due to small density of Diatomaceous Biosilica powder. This circumstance favorably distinguishes a promising filler from traditional ones