The invention relates to mixtures containing, as component (A) ammonium polyphosphate and, as component (B) a soluble ionic compound which contains sulfate and/or is capable of releasing sulfate ions. The invention also relates to a method for producing such mixtures and to the use thereof.

A flexible foam composition includes a flexible foam body having a surface, which flexible foam is polyurethane and/or latex flexible foam, and an expandable graphite layer on the surface or within the foam surface adjacent to the surface. The flexible foam composition with the expandable graphite layer imparts improved flame retardant properties to the composition.

A fire-protection composition is described that contains a polyurea-based binder. By virtue of the inventive composition, coatings having the layer thickness necessary for the respective fire-resistance duration can be applied simply and quickly, wherein the layer thickness can be reduced to a minimum and nevertheless a good fire-protection effect can be achieved. The inventive composition is suitable in particular for fire protection, especially as a coating of cables and cable runs, in order to increase the fire resistance duration.

Solventborne binder compositions which include a copolymer obtained by reacting a mixture of monomers in the presence of an organic solvent, wherein the monomer mixture includes an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a vinyl ester monomer having a formula CH.sub.2CH—X—C(═O)—R, where R is a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, an aromatic group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or R is bonded to X to form a 5- to 7-member ring, and X is O. Intumescent coatings containing the solventborne binder compositions, and substrates coated with the intumescent coatings are also disclosed.

Self-crosslinkable binder compositions which include a copolymer obtained by reacting a mixture of monomers in the presence of an organic solvent, wherein the monomer mixture includes a carboxylic acid monomer, a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and a crosslinkable acrylamide monomer. Intumescent coatings containing the self-crosslinkable binder, and substrates coated with the intumescent coatings are also disclosed.

Intumescent coating compositions comprising TiO.sub.2 in an amount of 5-20 wt %, a phosphate source in an amount of 20-55 wt %, based on total solid weight and a borate source, aluminum source and/or silica source, are disclosed, as are methods for using such compositions and substrates coated with same.

A novel reaction system can be used for intumescent coating. Intumescent coatings are used in particular for the protection of metallic building components, such as girders in building construction. In the event of a fire, such coatings undergo reactive foaming that results in the formation on the metal girder of a fireproof insulating layer having low thermal conductivity and, through the insulation that this creates, retards any early, thermal-induced failure of the building component. Resin systems having improved low-temperature flexibility can be used to ensure good metal adhesion and impact resistance even at low temperatures, while avoiding the polymer components that are otherwise customary in resin systems.

An intumescent composition capable of withstanding temperature cycling as low as -60° C. without cracking is contemplated. The composition also exhibits enhanced durability due to its resistance to water absorption, its acceptable cure times, and (when exposed to fire conditions) its well-adhered, foamed char layer.

The invention relates to a composition which forms an insulating layer and which contains a binder based on polyurea. The inventive composition, which has a relatively high expansion rate, allows application, in a simple and rapid manner, of coatings having the layer thickness required for the particular fire resistance time, it being possible to reduce the layer thickness to a minimum and nevertheless to achieve high insulating action. The inventive composition is particularly suitable for fire protection, especially as a coating for metallic and nonmetallic substrates, for instance steel components such as pillars, beams and bars, for increasing the fire resistance time.

An elastomeric body for vibration damping and/or suspension, has a base body and a flame-retarding coating which covers at least one section of the base body, wherein the flame-retarding coating has at least two intumescent fire protection systems and the first fire protection system contains expandable graphite which comprises at least a first fraction with an average grain size of more than 180 μm and at least a second fraction with an average grain size of less than 180 μm, and the second fire protection system forms a support structure in the expanded state, which structure at least partially fixes the expanded graphite in the expanded state.