Latest News / Press Releases

June 09, 2010

FRP Fire Protection Topcoat Developed by Scott Bader

The fire in the unprotected right side box raging after 4 minutes, clearly showing the effective fire protection barrier properties of Crystic® Fireguard 75PA Excel topcoat used in the left side box, when compared to a standard unsaturated polyester topcoat subjected to identical direct flame fire conditions in this simulated test.

The new Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel intumescent fire protection topcoat is a product upgrade of the long established Crystic Fireguard 75PA.  The new, improved ‘Excel’ version, reformulated by Scott Bader’s R & D team, offers better FR properties and handling, yet is still cured with a standard MEKP catalyst (2% addition by weight).  Laminators using the new version on the shop floor of Wright Composites, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, a leading passenger vehicle FRP parts manufacturer, claim that Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel has an improved consistency and cure, with much better handleability.  Overall, they found Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel easy to apply by brush or with a roller and that it was touch dry ‘tack free’ within 30 minutes;  a big help for shop floor productivity.  

The original Crystic 75PA has been specified for over 30 years in critical internal applications which need to meet BS 476 Part 6 Class 0 or BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 FR test standards.  It has been used for interior parts in buildings, rail and other public transport vehicles, as well as in the marine sector where it is used to protect the engine compartments of both working boats and pleasure craft, such as Princess Yachts International luxury motor yachts.   Mr. Julian Spooner, Composites Project Manager for Princess Yachts International commented: “Safety is taken seriously at Princess Yachts and all our vessels have to follow the strictest guidelines.  Where fire protection is required we use Scott Bader’s Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel.  It is easy to apply and gives a first class finish. More importantly it gives a very high fire performance that means the laminates will achieve a Class1/0 performance to BS 476 Parts 6 and 7. We take pride in not just the finished look of our yachts, but insist on the very best materials and workmanship for all the manufactured parts.”

An intumescent topcoat, such as Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel, when applied to a cured FRP laminate surface provides a passive fire protective barrier to block the path of a fire.  It works due to its unique chemistry and its reaction when it exposed to a direct flame.  In simple terms, when fire attacks the intumescent topcoat it causes a chemical reaction which makes the topcoat expand to form a non flammable protective layer that insulates the surface over which it has been applied.  While it will not protect indefinitely from an unchecked fire, Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel can withstand a direct flame at a temperature of 700 deg. C for over 60 minutes without the laminate behind catching fire.  This is a significant period of time to contain a fire and prevent it from rapidly spreading, which can help to avoid catastrophic fire damage and save lives.

 Scott Bader supplies Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excelin 25kg kegs and 225kg drums.  It is available as standard in black, white and grey, but other colours can be manufactured on request, subject to a 100kg minimum order quantity.   While it has been designed primarily for use as FR topcoat for FRP, Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excelcan also be used on interior wood sections or other parts made from slightly porous materials. 

 For more information about the full range of Crystic resins, gelcoats, and structural adhesives visit www.scottbader.com.