CHM……Intumescent Materials

C H Materials Limited stock and distribute intumescent materials which are manufactured for us in Germany. Intumescent materials are used in a wide range of passive fire protection

devices. Each application will require different intumescent performance characteristics.

No single intumescent material is suitable for every application. CHM supply intumescent materials with a range of performance characteristics as follows:

Kerafix Flexpan - A graphite based intumescent with 30:1 expansion ratio and 0.4N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 170°C.

Kerafix Flexpress - A graphite based intumescent with 30:1 expansion ratio and 0.7N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 140°C.

Kerafix Flextrem - A graphite based intumescent with 50:1 expansion ratio and 0.8N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 180°C.

Kerafix Flexting - A graphite based intumescent with 15:1 expansion ratio and 0.5N/mm2 expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 180°C

Kerafix Flexlit - A vermiculite / mineral fibre based intumescent with 4:1 expansion ratio and low expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 325°C

Kerafix FXL – An ammonium polyphosphate based intumescent with 25:1 expansion ratio and zero expansion pressure. Initiation temperature 180°C

The products are available in a range of thicknesses from 0.8mm upward. Products can be supplied in sheets, narrow strips, rolls or narrow coils with or without adhesive backing. Products can be laminated with PVC foil or glass fabrics.

PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU NEED DATA SHEETS ON ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS

Fire Testing

We can offer customers the use of a test furnace in order to establish the most effective product for their application. A series of indicative tests can greatly reduce the risk of failure in expensive accredited laboratory tests.

Applications

Door Seals

The function of a door seal is not only to close off the gap around the perimeter of the door leaf in fire conditions, but to control the tendency for the door leaf to distort in fire conditions. Control of distortion is essential where large door leaves are used. High expansion pressure is advantageous. Kerafix Flexpan and Kerafix Flextrem have both been used successfully in door seal applications.

Intumescents are also used to provide protection to ironmongery in fire doors. In these applications, high expansion pressure can be a disadvantage and Kerafix FXL is an ideal product

Letterboxes

To be effective, the intumescent used to line a fire rated letterbox must react quickly. Kerafix Flexpress works particularly well in this application.

Penetration seals

Intumescents used for the manufacture of pipe collars and wraps need to have high expansion pressure in order to crush the plastic pipe as it softens. Kerafix Flextrem and Kerafix Flexpress have both been used successfully in pipe closer applications.

Pipe sleeves are used where metal pipes penetrate walls – these are similar to pipe collars but incorporate a foam to allow for expansion of the metal. High expansion pressure is advantageous and Kerafix Flextrem has been used successfully in pipe sleeve applications.

Linear Gap Seals

The most common linear gap seal is produced from layers of fire rated foam sandwiched between strips of intumescent. The foam is compressed into the linear gap and in a fire the intumescent will expand and fill the gap. Low initiation temperature is advantageous and Kerafix Flexpress is an excellent product for this application.

Dampers and Air Transfer Grilles

Dampers and grilles are very similar devices. Dampers are designed to prevent the passage of flame and smoke through or into ventilation ductwork. Air transfer grilles are used in doors and walls of buildings to improve ventilation. In both applications a fast closing action is required and an intumescent with a low initiation temperature is essential. Kerafix Flexpress is ideal for this type of application.

Surface protection

The advent of mineral fibre based intumescents has led to the development of several new applications. Most of these applications are related to the fire protection of surfaces. A thin, relatively lightweight layer of intumescent can impart the same degree of fire protection as thick layers of conventional non-intumescent fire protection products. Kerafix Flexlit can be used in this type of application.