Fire-Resistant Materials: Characteristics and Uses

Fire-resistant materials are materials that have difficulty igniting, flame retardant properties, fire resistance, and fire prevention functions, playing a crucial role in modern fire prevention, especially in engineering and construction.

Characteristics of Fire-Resistant Materials

Fire-resistant materials are mainly divided into non-flammable and flame-retardant materials. Their main function is to prevent the spread of fire and minimize losses caused by fire when a fire occurs. The oxygen index (OI) is a method to evaluate the relative combustibility of a material, referring to the minimum volume fraction of oxygen that just maintains combustion of the material under specified experimental conditions. Materials with an OI of 27 or higher are considered flame-retardant.

Common Types and Uses of Fire-Resistant Materials

1. Inorganic Fire-Resistant Materials: Examples include ceramics, glass, mica, and asbestos. These materials have excellent arc resistance and are often used in situations requiring high arc resistance. However, some inorganic materials, such as asbestos cement boards, have poor fire resistance and cannot be used as fire-resistant building components.
2. Organic Fire-Resistant Materials: After special treatment, wood can achieve a certain level of fire resistance. Carbonized wood, for instance, undergoes high-temperature homogenization carbonization without any chemical additives, forming a carbonized protective layer on the wood surface that improves its fire resistance and corrosion resistance.
3. Composite Fire-Resistant Materials: Fireproof boards are fire-resistant building materials used for surface decoration. They are made of base paper (titanium powder paper, kraft paper) impregnated with melamine and phenolic resin and processed under high temperature and high pressure. Foam glass is another example, made mainly from glass with an appropriate amount of foaming agent. It is an inorganic thermal insulation material with a uniform and independent closed-cell structure.

In summary, both insulating and fire-resistant materials play crucial roles in various industries, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical equipment and providing effective fire protection measures.