DEVELOPMENT OF A FIELD METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF BULGING FLAME-RETARDANT COATINGS

The article considers the problem of the lack of an affordable and easy-to-use field method for studying bulging flame-retardant coatings applied to metal structures. The urgency of the problem is substantiated and the purpose of the work is formulated, which is to develop a device that can be used to evaluate key swelling indicators to verify the quality of fire protection. The available methods of local heating of the surface to the temperature of the beginning of swelling (thermal expansion) of the flame retardant coating are considered. The impossibility of using devices whose thermal effects are based on the use of an open flame has been determined and justified. A method for studying bulging flame-retardant coatings is proposed, based on two-way heating of painted metal elements by electromagnetic induction, which makes it possible to study painted metal structures directly at the protection facility without using an open flame. The stages of development and the technical components of the developed prototype device are described. A series of tests was conducted to assess the viability of the proposed method and a prototype device for its implementation. The test results of the developed field method are presented, which have shown its effectiveness.