Mesquita, L.M.R.Piloto, P.A.G.Vaz, M.A.P.Pinto, T.2010-02-042010-02-0420092009Mesquita, L.M.R.; Piloto, P.A.G.; Vaz, M.A.P.; Pinto, T. (2009). Decomposition of intumescent coatings: comparison between numerical method and experimental results. Acta Polytechnica. ISSN 1210–2709. 49:1, p.60-651210–2709http://hdl.handle.net/10198/1711An investigation of two different intumescent coatings used in steel fire protection has been performed to evaluate their efficiency. A set of experimental tests is presented. They were conducted in a cone calorimeter, considering different thicknesses and heat fluxes. Among other quantities, the steel temperature and the intumescence thickness variation were measured. A numerical model for the paint decomposition is also presented. Based on the intumescence experimental value, the model is able to provide a reasonably good prediction of the steel temperature evolution.engFire protectionIntumescent coatingsCone calorimeterChar formationHeat transferEnergy equationThermal decompositionPorosityArrhenius equationActivation energyjournal article2010-02-011805–2363