Water-Soluble, Film-Forming Inorganic Compounds, Fireproof and Fire

Europaisches Patentamt ® European Patent Office ® Publication number: 0 346 162 Office europeen des brevets A2

® EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(3) Application number: 89305928.7 ® int. ci .4; C 04 B 41/50 C 04 B 12/00, C 04 B 28/00, @ Date of filing: 12.06.89 C 09 J 1/00, B 32 B 7/12

@ Priority: 10.06.88 JP 144397/88 @ Inventor: Kokuta, Naota 10.06.88 JP 144398/88 364-1 Emisu Shikama-ku 10.06.88 JP 144399/88 Himeji Hyogo (JP) Kokuta, Kenji @ Date of publication of application : 13.12.89 Bulletin 89/50 20-6 Honson 5-chome Chigasaki Kanagawa (JP) @ Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB IT Kokuta, Katsuhiro 20-6 Honson 5-chome © Applicant: KOHMIX CO., LTD. Chigasaki Kanagawa (JP) Honson 5-chome 20-6, Chigasaki Kokuta, Hiroshi Kanagawa (JP) 20-6 Honson 5-chome Chigasaki Kanagawa (JP)

@ Representative: Lamb, John Baxter et al MARKS & CLERK 57/60 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A3LS (GB)

@ Water-soluble, film-forming inorganic compounds, fireproof and fire-resistance composites and fire-resistance, flexible, sheet composite covering materials formed by the use of the compounds, and fire-resistance-covering process. (g) This invention is concerned with water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds having a specific gravity of 1.1 or more and capable of being formed into a film at ordinary temperature or by heating, said compound being formed by a reaction of a metal, a mineral acid compound capable of hydrating accompanied by the dissociation of boric acid or hydrofluoric acid, and an alkali metal, wherein in water or a solution of said mineral acid compound, said metal in solid state reacts with a concentrated solution of said alkali metal, and then said mineral acid compound takes part in the reaction, while reaction temperature is controlled within a temperature range of 50° C to 100°C. The invention also relates to fireproof and heat-resistance layered composites made of metal, wood, and the like with the above-mentioned water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound as adhesive or coating, or in combination with other fastening means.

Bundesdruokerei Berlin EP 0 346162 A2

Description

Water-soluble, film-forming inorganic compounds, fireproof and fire-resistance composites and fire-resistance, flexible, sheet composite covering materials formed by the use of the compounds, and fire-resistance-covering process.

5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Inention Film-forming inorganic compounds capable of being formed to be flexible according to the prsent invention 10 have extensive industrial uses, for example, as coatings for papers, fibers, cloths, and the like; for the purpose of preventing firing, increasing heat resistance, raising melting point as applied to a glass cloths, and preventing ignition, flaming and fuming as in wood impregnated with the compounds; and as rust inhibiting coatings and refractory adhesives to ceramics; and so on. Besides the present invention relates to fireproof and fire-resistance composites and refractory flexible 15 sheet composite covering materials for use in the interior as of very tall buildings, and for the purposes as of heat-resistance and heat-insulation and sound-insulation in motor vehicles, ships, and the like, and also relates to fire-resistance-covering process using these composite materials.

Description of the Prior Art 20 Sodium silicate used so far as inorganic adhesive or coating material has disadvantages: for example, it is hygroscopic, gets carbonized with turning white, gets solidified with occurrence of cracks, and tends to peel. A fluoride can be added to improve water-proofness, and this is not always sufficiently effective. Silica sol and silica alkoxide are commercially available. They themselves have no film-forming property, and so modified by addition of an organic compound into film-forming substance but failed to become high 25 temperature resistant and refractory. Teflon, a synthesis product of freon and organic compound, has good heat resistance compared with general synthetic resins but is not qualified as refractory. There have been proposed in U. S. patents Nos. 4,117,088, 4,029,747 4,117,099 and Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 51-132196 methods of preparing water-soluble inorganic complexes by reaction of a metal with ammonia, or sulfuric or phosphoric acid or their salts with an alkaline metal, and the products have 30 not any film-forming property. "Hardening phenomenon" has been in the first place generally described as beginning upon reaching supersaturation of a solute, and thus occurring through gel bonding into a crystalline structure. In the above-mentioned U. S. patents, to a water-soluble inorganic complex was added such as silica sol, sodium silicate, pozzolan or fly ash for the realization of much supersaturation of a metallic component such as Si, 35 resulting in getting little film forming property, that is, in failure to form flexible coating film. Aqueous solutions as of sodium silcofluoride, sodium silicoborate can be dried to get merely powdered, with failure to form coating. Likewise glass, for example, as a compound of silicic acid, boric acid and alkali metal, may be adaptive for preparing water soluble coating. As described above, Teflon which is a fluorine-containing compound cannot be processed into high 40 molecular coating film by the use of inorganic compounds and nothing else. It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound having high molecular weight, without needing solvent, and being capable of being formed into flexible coating film. For providing such film-forming property as usual organic coatings have, it may be necessary to change into 45 high molecular compound. Fire-proof and flame-proof characteristics comes from becoming heat-resistant film- forming material capable of blocking supply of oxygen. Further the fire- and flame-proof coating film suitable for metal plates fibrous products is required in combination to be a flexible heat-resistant coating film. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of low expenditure involving wide-spread uses, without needing solvent, and polymerization associated with a high productivity are required. 50 The present invention has solved all the above-mentioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Water-soluble film-forming compounds according to the invention can be produced only by the reaction of a metal, a mineral or submineral acid compound (referred collectively to as mineral acid compounds hereinafter) 55 able to hydrate, then accompanied by dissociation of boric or hydrofluoric acid, and a alkali metal. For example, the reaction product of Si, F and Na, which probably is sodium silicofluoride, has so low solubility as incapable of be aqueous solution of 2.45% or more in solid content even at 100 °C. Another reaction product of Si, B and Na, probably sodium silicoboride, is similar. Contrast to these, the aqueous solutions according to the invention, if they has solid contents 45% or more, were analysed with detection only of Si, F and Na, or Si, B 60 and Na, and this have demonstrated that they were not known compounds. According to the above-mentioned U. S. Patent, for example, reaction among silicon, sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid can occur when sodium hydroxide flakes are dropped and placed in contact with metallic silicon, which is found at the bottom of a reaction vessel, and at this localized area. When metallic silicon lumps were

2 EP 0 346 162 A2

Bxcessively laid over the bottom of the reaction vessel, and the reaction vessel was filled to a half ot it with a diluted solution of boric acid, the feeding sodium hydroxide flakes at a time by spreading in so much amount as the silicon surface was covered, however, was observed to be not cause localized reaction because, if this was ocal reaction involving sodium hydroxide flakes, reaction would occur overall the botom of the vessel at a time, but actually partial consumption occurred intermittently, and so that the reaction or consumption of 5 rJissoved components at the bottom was allowed in accordance with the solubility. Likewise, with 1 m/m aluminum wire as a metal, irrespective of sodium hydroxide flakes were scattered, reaction accompanied by the appearance of white cloud not can be observed only in the vicinity of the flakes and as if it had crept but also along the aluminum wire. Besides, when metallic silicon was wrapped in a iron mesh and suspended 5 cm or longer above the bottom of the reaction vessel, sodium hydroxide flakes were w supplied to the bottom not to be placed into direct contact with silicon, and thus reaction commenced accompanied by production of bubbles in the same was as in the direct contact. From the above-described, the present invention is demonstrated to be distinguishable from the localized reaction of flakes described in the above-mentioned U. S. Patents, and this is explainable as follows: dissolution of flakes settled to the bottom of the reaction vessel achieves to equilibrium point at a certain 15 solubility, that is, consumption of them by the reaction or change in solubility of them owing to convection contributes to additional dissolution. Water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds according to the invention can be produced by reaction Detween a solid metal and a concentrated alkali metal solution, in which hydrated boric acid and hydrofluoric acid takes part, the reaction proceeding exothermic reaction or under heating. With borax and sodium fluoride, 20 Dwing to their lower solubilities than that of the acid, the reaction is not directly activated and can be controlled. In summer, frequently the reaction must be regulated so as not to cause boiling by cooling or by addition of at least one selected from the group of hafnium compounds or zircon, zirconias and zirconia-byproduct zirca, (these zirconium compounds are referred collectively to as zircons hereinafter) in 0.5 to 100% of the mineral acid compounds. In winter, heating to 50 °C or higher temperatures is carried out for 25 the acceleration of the reaction. The above-mentioned term "mineral acids" includes hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, sodium fluoride, ammonium fluoride, these being capable of hydrating accompanied by dissociation of hydrofluoric acid; and boric acid, borax, sodium borohydride or borofluorohydric acid and their ammonium and metallic salts, which being capable of hydrating accompanied by the dissociation of boric acid. 30 With the above-mentioned diluted mineral acid as a reaction medium, increased solubility of the alkali metal can be shown, resulting in strong alkaline (pH 11.5 to 12.6) product while concentrated mineral acids can be used with the result of decrease in solubility of the alkali metal and accordingly a weak alkaline (pH 7 to 9) product. If the above-mentioned reaction solution has a solid content of 10% or more when its specific gravity is 1 . 1 , 35 and is aqueous solution having pH up to 13, then it is a film-forming inorganic compound according to the invention which is distinguished from sodium silicofluoride or sodium silicoboride. Reaction of a metal and a concentrated solution of alkali metal flakes at the bottom of the reaction vessel could be carried out either under addition of gas of or a concentrated aqueous solution of mineral acid, or under mixed condition of a concentrated mineral acid and a metal and while supplying alkali metal flakes or 40 less than 10-time concentrated solution to the bottom of the reaction vessel. Thus the reaction product of specific gravity 1.2 or more and pH up to 9 was obtained. In any case, the reaction temperature should be regulated suitably by heating when it does not reach 50 °C and so as to prevent boiling when it may reach 90 °C to 100 °C by addition of said zircons or by cooling. Since the solubility of alkali metal in the concentrated mineral acid solution is small, it is necessary to heat or 45 to allow the reaction to progress slowly. In the present invention, the supernatant of the reaction solution has a nearly definite composition because any of the components can be soluble merely to the solubility product, even if added in excess amount. The above-mentioned film-forming inorganic compound was coated on an iron plate and dried at ordinary temperature, and thus a film of 7u. was obtained which was unaffected by heating test for cracking, peeling, 50 and the like. Supersaturation of the metal reactant results in increased strength of the above-mentioned film and acceleration of the hardening. For the realization of marked supersaturation, therefore, various materials are added to the above-mentioned film-forming inorganic compound. Suitable examples for this are, when zircon was used as the metal, Si02-containing substance such as silica sol, sodium silicate, pozzolan and silica fume, 55 or calcined products; and when aluminium was used as the metal. Al203-containing substances such as alumina sol, sodium aluminate, kaolin and bouxite. Thus film can be faster formed with higher surface hardness even at ordinary temperature. The addition of such a metal-containing substance is suitable for working to be about 200/o within 300/o in solid content defined in claim 1 of the present invention when expressed as SiC-2 or AI2O3. This modification in process contributed, for example, to improvement in pencil hardness from 5H to 60 9H. For the manufacture of higher molecular (therefore greater in specific gravity) film-forming inorganic compound, an usual technique of heating and concentration could be used as follows: To the aforesaid film-forming inorganic compound having a specific gravity of 1.2, alcohols having 1 to 18 C atoms (methyl to stearyl) could be added up to much the same amount as the solid content, for example, 20% of alcoholic 65

3 EP 0 346 162 A2

solution (alcohols: water = 20:80) is added to film-forming inorganic compound having a specific gravity of 1 .25, only the high specific gravity product is settled and the top layer contains low specific gravity (low molecular weight) and alcohols, and thus the sadiment could be removed from the bottom of the vessel to get the high specific gravity (about 1 .4) product. In this case, since considerable time was taken from the mixing to 5 the settling of the high specific gravity product, for example, an alcohol containing (2- to 10-fold) diluted mineral acid of pH 2 or more added in 5 to 30% of the before mentioned alcoholic solution thereto was added in about 20% to 40% of the film-forming inorganic compound having 1 .2 in specific gravity, thereby settling of the higher specific gravity product could be accelerated. With 99% methanol, even in 1%, faster gelation was carried out. It is unnecessary to add alcohol in amount exceeding the solid content. The mixing of alcohol 10 contributes to decrease in the azeotropic point to allow hardening with surplus water removed by heating. Heating, which accelerates hardening and film-forming on the surface, may be cause for swelling due to excessive water. Also heating after cold hardening has similar tendency. For adsorption of excessive water, fine powder having up to 100 mesh of metal such as Mg, Al or Fe hydrating to form hydroxyl group is added in 1 to 500% of solid content to the film-forming inorganic compound, whereby the swelling due to exothermic 15 reaction which may occur on heating after cold hardening can be prevented. Above 500 °C-calcined powder of non-crystalline mineral which changed into hydroxide of silicic acid or alumina is effective. Film-forming inorganic compound according to the invention is noncombustible or refractory. For increasing adhesiveness, stickiness and refractoriness may be added at least one from the group consisting of kaolin, pyrophyllite, clay, terra alba, amorphous silica (pozzolan, silica fume), mica, vermiculite, diatomaceous 20 earth, and during the high temperature period, refract mullite or other alumina forming material, thereby adhesive, refractory/fire-preventive (1000°C and higher temperatures) and high-strength coating can be obtained. This may be used as flexible, refractory adhesive for iron, stainless steels, aluminium, ceramic felts and boards. The viscosity increases from 100 to 200 centipoise without any additive to 800 to 1500 centipoise, and besides the flexural strength is increased by mixing mineral fiber. Amount of the additive equal to or 25 exceeding the film-forming inorganic compound however may reduce the shock resistance. Adhesives obtained as mentioned above had a friction pull strength of as much as 30 kg/ cm2 in respect to steel. The film-forming inorganic compound gets hardened under the action of hydrate capable of eluting active Ca ion. The hardening can be carried out more rapidly by addition of a hydration-exothermic agent containing quick lime or lightburnt dolomite, which causes removal of excess water and ion exchange. 30 Usual cements capable of eluting calcium hydroxide can be used for the hardening. Also cutoff cement is effective which fast hardens in virtue of the exothermic reaction. Hardening reaction occurs between magnesia cement and the film-forming inorganic compound. Likewise mixtures with metallic aluminium, magnesium, iron or oxides of them which can hydrate accompanied by exothermic reaction function effectively. Addition may be within the range between equal to and 3 times as much as the amount of excess 35 water in the film-forming inorganic compound. The film-forming inorganic compounds according to the invention are considered to be polymeric complexes, in each of which the boundary between hydroxyl radical and excess water is not clear, and thus has a disadvantage that the film-formation on the surface is faster than hydration by heating or cold drying. There is an effective measure for overcoming this which comprises adding at least one selected from the 40 group consisting of metal oxides, hydroxides, burnt products of amorphous metals, and the like, which are capable of converting into hydroxyl radicals working to absorb water. The film-forming inorganic compound can be formed into hydrated beads of 5 to 80u. by spraying it on a dryer having inlet temperature between 150 and 600 ° C. Hydration into 2 to 7% could be shown with a KETTO moisture counter. The product was added in different rates to 1 to 100% to the film-forming inorganic compound, and the mixtures can be applied as 45 coatings having good thickness. Threads of fibers such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, cotton, synthetic fibers, and wool are composed of hundreds of yarns, and hold air. A coating which can replaced with such air and react with the film-forming inorganic compound, preferably a synthetic resin having alcohol radical, for example, polyvinyl alcohol having alkali resistant property, is suitable for use as a primer. Even if soluble in water, it is subjected to condensation 50 with the film-forming inorganic compound to get insoluble. In the following, raw materials for use in the present invention will be described. At least one metal may be used which is selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups I - VIM of the Periodic Table. For wide uses, metallic silicon and aluminium are preferred. Reactivity becomes more with increasing surface area. Moderate or small size lump, grain, foil or wire can be used. These can be used repeatedly several times, if held 55 in a mesh and suspended, as mentioned above, somewhat above the bottom, without being covered with the reaction product. Any of mineral and submineral acids, which is capable of dissociating in water to produce boric acid or hydrofluoric acid, such as borax or sodium fluoride can be used. It can be also used if it is of gas, as above-mentioned. 60 In summer, from the viewpoint of safety, any of the above-mentioned zircons, whether powder, lump, or any other form, may be thrown in the reaction solution to prevent it from boiling due to exceeding exothermic reaction though substantial reaction occurs. A zircon-byproduct as well as zircon, silica fume, which contains a very small amount of hafnium, may be thrown in. Any alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Na, K and Li can be used whether power, flake 65 or any other form and in not more than 10-fold (not more than 5-fold for wide uses) diluted concentrations.

4 EP 0 346162 A2

Additives effective for providing super-saturation of the metal are silica, alumina sol, and alkali metal salts such as sodium silicate, sodium aluminate, the above-mentioned amorphous minerals, calcined products of them, the above-mentioned oxides capable of converting into hydroxides, and hydroxides alone or in composite. Alcohols may be added for getting high specific gravity product. Methyl alcohol causes too fast gelation, and ethyl alcohol itself is expensive. Thus denaturated alcohol is preferred. Also isopropyl alcohol (I. P. A.) can be 5 used with result of high yield and much economically. Appropriate alcohol depends on what mineral acid is used. It can not be said to be out of the present inventions by reason of the number of carbons and denaturated product if it has a settling effect. To a solution contains 20% of alcohol, a mineral acid solution such as pH 2 hydrochlo-ric acid is added in 20% of this solution, and can be used with higher sedimentation rate. Any w mineral acid may be used which is other than the same mineral acid as that is a reactant for producing the film-forming inorganic compound because both being compatible. Suitable fillers for use in getting refractory property and appropriate film thickness are kaolin, amorphous silica-containing mineral powder, silica fume, magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide, or those capable of hydrating toelute them. They are preferred to be of very small powder having up to 100 mesh in size. 15 The feature of the present invention resides in that a reactant is a solid or liquid having a higher specific gravity than that of water at the bottom of a reaction vessel. Each reactant therefore can not be dissolved over a certain limit of solutions according to the theory of solubility product. If excessively added, the surplus of it remains undissolved, and supernatant is formed owing to the convection caused by the exothermic reaction. The ratio between metal and mineral acid cannot be such ratio as dilution reaction equivalent because, they 20 can react into the product in accordance with the dissolved amount of alkali metal even if they excessively used. The water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds according to the invention are divided into two groups, one consisting of Si, F and Na and the other consisting of Si, B and Na, and has a solid content of 20% or more, as shown by the analysis results of the Kanagawa Prefecture Industrial Laboratories (Japan), and thus it was 25 demonstrated to be neither sodium silicofluoride nor sodium silicoborate. Either of them can be coated on a steel plate as film having thicknesses ranging from 5 to 100u. and neither cracking nor peeling occurs there. The film-forming inorganic compound according to the invention has a structure formula probably expressed as [AaBb]rCcDd or [AaBbCcDd]sCpDq 30 wherein A is Si or Al ; B is FH, F2H, BH3 or B2O3 C is Na, K or Li ; and D is H2O ; or OH ; and a, b, c, d, p, q, r and s are each a number of moles. (Si-F-Na) in claim 1 of the present invention was applied to an steel foil of 30u. and dried at 100 °C to get a film of 6 u.. At 2 mm 90° flex, neither cracking nor peeling occurred. The heated and dried product showed to have a pencil hardness of 3H to 5H. No rust on the steel foil was observed after standing at 50° C (90% RH) 35 for 7 days, this demonstrating the rust inhibiting property. The products defined in claim 4 according to the invention were applied to a polyester non-woven fabric. Of them, one (Si-B-Na) got soft compared with the other (Si-F-Na). Both were flexible, and neither cracking nor peeling was noted. They were refractory to being directly ignited with a lighter. A 50 u. iron foil was coated and dried at 80 °C. Thickness was 7u. and hardness was 9H or more. Uncoated 40 ones could be cut in 50 flexes while ones coated with the product according to the invention could not cut still by 120 times' flexes. Uncoated iron plate of 3.2 mm was heated with a burner, and perforation was made in 100 sec while it took 250 sec to perforate ones coated on both sides with a Si-F-Na product, according to the invention. To a Si-F-K product defined in claim 4 and having a specific gravity of 1.25 and a solid content of 27% as 45 determined with a KETTO moisture counter, a solution contains 20% of I.P.A. was added in by 30% volume and allowed to stand. One hour later, sediment was removed with a yield of 55% by weight (Specific gravity: 1 .45), which is referred to as P-Si-F-K. Similarly to Si-B-Na product having a specific gravity of 1 .23 and a solid content of 25% as determined by a KETTO moisture counter, a solution contains 20% of denaturated alcohol was added in by 40% volume, and one hour later obtained with a yield of 50% by weight (Specific gravity: 1 .43) , 50 which is referred to as P-Si-B-Ni. The P-Si-F-K was applied to a 20 mm bar steel to a 10 u. thick, and cut with a oxygen burner without burning like usual coating, and also any rise was not observed adjacent the cut edges. The rod steel was coated with the P-Si-F-K when the cutting site had a temperature of about 200 °C, and then allowed to stand in the open air for 6 months, with a consequence that no rust occurred. The products according to the invention defined in claims 1, 2 and 4 were subjected to D.T.G. analysis to 55 obtain the results showing marked removel of excess water at 140 to 180 °C, and besides small peaks of crystal water-removal at about 600 0 and 800 °C, and little change in weight. On the other hand, the products were applied to an iron plate and heated to 200 ° C where excess water was removed, with the results of faster film-formation, later removal of excess water and frequently the occurrence of swellings. Metallic compounds and burnt mineral powder capable of hydrating and thus converting into hydroxide or crystal water to absorb 60 excess water, for example, compounds of magnesium and aluminium and burnt diatomaceous earth in form of powder are effective. These were demonstrated to have remarkable effect when added to the P-Si-F-K or P-Si-B-Ha in about 5 to 10 parts by weight. Tht 10 u. coated iron plate was dried at 180 °C and heated to 1000 °C with a burner with the result of causing no swelling. The products according to the invention defined in claims 1 through 5 are aqueous solutions, and thus can 65

5 EP 0 346 162 A2

be coated to about 10 u. in thickness. For increasing the coating thickness to improve the refractory and fireproof properties, fillers should be added. Suitable fillers are such as kaolin, amorphous silica, pozzolan, Zeeklite, silica fume, and pyrophyllite sinter, which have storage-stability may be used, and refractory property can be provided by removal of pyrophyllite crystal water, and the change in mullite phase and cristobalite 5 phase. Adhesive property can be imparted with diatomaceous earth and flexural strength with mineral fibers. With these mixtures as adhesives, for example, laminated sheets consisting of SUS foils and alumina silica papers were manufactured. They were flexible and had been demonstrated by 1000 °C heating test to have refractory property and without occurrence of peeling. On the other hand, transparent and thick coatings can be formed with transparent fillers such as crystal, 10 magnesium hydroxide and aluminium. The products according to the invention defined in claim 1 to 5 were subjected to spray drying at 200 °C and higher temperatures, and consequently most of excess water was removed, and several percent of water was remained. Thus fine ceramic beads still having reactivity were obtained. They were observed with a microscope to be transparent and spherical (5 to 80u.). These products are inorganic and so cannot be burnt by high temperature heating, which allowing 600 °C at 15 the spray inlet and therefore more spray supply associated with the more higher yield. Thus low cost fine ceramics were obtained. The products according to the invention defined in claims 1 through 5 can work as hardening agent in 3 to 20% addition to magnesia cement. Mixing of magnesia cement with any of the products defined in claims of the present invention results in hardening. Cements characterized by exothermic hydration, whether at 20 ordinary temperature or by heating, and calcium compounds having similar property, such as quick lime and dolomite, are mixed as filler, and besides work as hardening agent. These can be adhered to the metal with decreased hardening and shrinkage and refractory at 1000 °C. As mentioned above, the products can be effectively film-formed by heating under reduced pressure to remove, excess water (for example, at 60 °C and 740 mHg corresponding to 180 to 200 °C and atmospheric 25 pressure) but there is difficulty in continuous process. Fiber and felt are composed of a large number of yarns and so hold air, and therefore the products according to the invention can be heated under an tightly enclosed condition, with the result of obtaining films becoming broken due to thermal expansion, and thus having neither refractory property nor pliability. With PVA, acryl resins and polysaccharide proteins, which having alcohol acid radical and alkali resistance, as primer and for the air replacement, and the products according to 30 the invention as finish, then condensation reaction and as a result chemical bonding occurred, and dried at low temperatures to produce refractory and fireproof properties while the flexibility remained kept. In the following will be described the water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds according to the invention for use in fireproof and refractory composite contain no organic compounds unlike the above-mentioned products, and hence noncombustible and will not generate decomposition gas at 35 temperature as high as 1000 °C. Fig. 1 showing schematic DTG analysis results and Fig. 2 giving differential thermograms revealed that change in weight at high temperatures after removal of excess water was very small, and this make the reason understand that neither cracking nor peeling was produced. Friction pull test with steel plates as substrates showed strength of 20 or more Kg/cm2 on heating to 300 °C, and coating with them over the steel plate 40 prevented rest from forming after 90 RH x 60 °C x 7 days. With them, the following test results were obtained: Over both surfaces of a steel plate of 3.2 mm thick, product No. 7 in Table 1 was applied at a rate of 150 g/m2, and dried. With a welding burner, it took 200 sec to perforate this while an uncoated steel plate could be done in 38 sec. by a welding burner. Over both surfaces of each 24 mm gypsum board (Product by Yoshino 45 Co., Ltd.) were coated with products Nos. 1 and 2 in Table 1, respectively, and heated to 880 °C by a propane burner for one hour. The surface temperature of the back was of as low as 60 to 80 °C. In contract with this, that of control reached 800 °C by the same heating. In this way, the fireproof and refractory materials according to the present invention can secure necessary performance at decreased thickness. Mineral powders (Kaolin and pozzolan) each were added to product No. 7 in Table 1 in 60%, and the 50 mixtures were applied over to a stainless steel foil of 30u. at a rate of 200 g per m2 Then an alumina silica paper of 2.5 mm thick and a blanket of 12.5 mm thick (Manufactured by ISOLITE Co., Ltd.) were laid over to obtain flexible sheets. These were heated at 1000 °C for one hour in an electric furnace without causing peeling. A 100 u. metallic aluminium and a 10 mm thick primary-calcined carbon felt were put on each other in the same way as mentioned above, and 1000 °C flame of a microburner was applied to the aluminium surface. After 3 55 minutes of application, the flame failed to perforate the aluminium though the primary-burnt carbon would be burnt with deterioration. In contrast with this, aluminium alone got easily fused.

3 Others Code Element Solid pH Specific CP Content gravity (600 °C) 100- 300 FSL Si F, Na 22-25 12-12.4 1.20-1.25 100- 300 HWL Si' B, Na 22-25 12-12.4 1.20-1.25 1000-1500 I.P.A. pFS _|P si F Na 42-45 12-12.4 1.4-1.45 1000-1500 I.P.A. pHW _|P Si' B Na 42-45 12-12.4 1.4-1.45 si' r' *D.a. -AF Na 42-45 12-12.4 1.4-1.45 1000-1500 Denaturated aiconoi

be said from tnis mat tne waier-suiuuie iniiriuuMiuy ii.^iM«,„v, ^ — -- It can burner flame withou m be used as surface coatings or adhesives an exposed to very high temperature ion the result of crystal eakaqe of the inorganic coating. They effect to inhibit thermal conduct as removing The inorganic compounds are ater and to as the refractory coating film, prevent radiant heat from flowing-in. and adhesive properties without peeling 20 jt only so good as never seen owing to additionally having refractory hiqh temperatures but also flexible in normal state. compounds can be In view of these properties and characteristics, the water-soluble film-forming inorganic variety of refractory and sed, with or without the addition of the above-mentioned f iller(s) , for manufacturing a enroot composite materials. the invention, typical four* are 25 Of the water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds according to natural mineral powder, jmmarized in Table 1 as mentioned above. These may be mixed with any or synthetic additional similar properties. Suitable examples Der or layer lattice compound, and the resulting mixtures get silica fume, bauxite, pyrophyllite, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, cements etc. Any -e kaolin pozzolan, of the main function the characteristic according to the invention cannot be said out scope lixture having as the like 30 invention if it is associated with the mixing with a high temperature foamed material, or f the present material. A metal foil, if "plate(s)" is used herein to referred to non-combustible or fire resistant The term Suitable metal foils exible be processed into a flexible sheet, and if not flexible, into a composite plate. may 100 of wide usable iron SUS, Al, Cu, etc., and varying thicknesses up to \i >r use are carbon, boron, silicon The term "inorganic fiber(s)" covers fibers of wide-usable alumina, alumina-silica, surface materials for use are of 35 itride etc which are formable into paper, wool and blanket. Suitable organic Natural wood, and non-woven reducing no poisonous gas, little fume, and containing slight calorie. paper suitable. abric having thicknesses of up to 500 ^preferably 50 to 200 u. are to flashover-proof and A combustible material is impregnated or coated with a fire-preventing agent get the back of ,t to be reinforced before used Those easy to be folded as slice wood paper are coated on nen fire-preventing agent to a 40 An example of suitable coating for this is a mixture obtained by adding a ise according to the invention, ubstance having alcoholic acid chemically bonding to the inorganic compound herein to noncombustible papers containing ;uch as PVA The term "non-combustible film(s)" is applied and silicon nitride, and fabrics and organic fiber as of alumina, silica, aluminasilica, carbon, glass, boron, ion-woven fabrics of inorganic fiber. and refractory-covering process 45 In the following, refractory, flexible sheet composite covering materials iccordinq to the invention will described... materials having cushion Concerning means for solving problem with prefabrication of refractory covering, should be selected rather than rigid materials easy to undergo damage lSsociated with high restoring property this and heat-insulating material is of low strength and thus must be reinforced. From jy impact. Lightweight used metal, particularly 50 that is, for improving impact resistance and antifrictional property may be riewpoint this into composite should iqht-weiqht flexible, anticorrosive stainless steel foil. Adhesives for processing be : procesed in to 3 hours' fire-resistance, and hence organic adhesives are not usable. Water glass

parts, aiatomaceous earth b parts to change of the viscosity from 400 to 1400 cps. Mixings according to the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above. One of the aforesaid adhesives was coated over a 30 u. stainless steel foil and a 12.5 mm alumina silica blanket (8p; ISOLITE Co., Lte.), respectively. Besides another similar foil and another similar blanket were put on each other with the 5 adhesive. These samples (1 0 cm x 1 0 cm) were incubated at 1 200 ° C for 3 hours in an electric furnace. On any sample, neither peeling nor cracking occurred. In the same way as in the adhesive according to the invention, the filler was added to water glass No. 3, and tested likewise, with the result of cracking and peeling in places. Of the heat-insulating inorganic fiber materials, it is those of alumina and alumina silica that is refractory to temperatures 1000 °C or above. Fig. 3 10 however shows "Temperature-thermal conductivity characteristic of a light-weight heat-insulating material that the thermal conductivity rises and heat insulating property falls with higher temperature. Fig. 2 additionally gives the water content against thermal conductivity characteristic that water found in the material contributes to increasing the thermal conductivity and decreasing the heat insulating property. The refractory adhesives according to the present invention, as demonstrated by the above-mentioned 15 differential thermal analysis, have 3 peaks where crystal water is removed. On the other hand, the refractory composite coatings according to the invention gave good results attributing to the heat insulating property of the blanket alone in moderate and high temperature ranges, as summarized in Table 2 located under.

20 Table 2

Temperature °C 25 Product 400 °C 600 °C 800 °C

8P X 25 m/m Blanket 0.063 0.093 0. 14 go

SUS50 p. Adhesive (Present invention) 35 8P X 25 m/m 0. 057 0. 072 0. 09

me results were yielded in accordance with Method for determining heat insulating constants". The features of the present invention will be in detail described hereinafter. 40 The refractory composite covering material (8P x 25 mm) according to the invention has good performance corresponding to the 45 to 50 mm blanket which is a component of the covering material. Heat insulating property depends in combination on thermal conduction through solid, thermal convection and heat radiation. The refractory covering materials according to the present invention have good heat insulating property, which is based on the metal foil as surface material and film-foming property of the adhesive according to the present 45 invention used therefor. If damaged by a superheating flame, metal foil on the surface gets nearly equal to the property of blanket alone. When the metal foil keeps refractory property, the thermal convection is controlled by the radiant-heat reflecting effect caused by the metal foil. This phenomenon can be demonstrated by Examples described later. The refractory covering materials according to the invention is of flexible sheet, and hence treatment of a 50 joint applied. According to the present invention, an alumina silica paper of 0.5 mm to 5 mm refractory to 1 000 0 C or above and 50 u. stainless steel were put together through the intermediation of an adhesive according to the invention, to form into flexible film (tape) sheet. A refractory tape enough wide to cover the joint was put on the joint with the adhesive according to the present invention to integrate refractory covering materials. Thus the 55 aforesaid problems have been solved. The refractory covering materials according to the invention were of 30 mm thick and within 6 kg/m2 ( < D = 0.2), even if formed into composite. The refractory adhesives according to the invention have a bond or adhesive strength of 28 g/cm2. When it is temporarily attached with a tape, excess water is absorbed into the blanket. One hour later, the adhesive strength increases to 3.2 kg/cm2. By making several 50 dumpling-shaped or spot bonds, satisfactorily-increased or safe adhesive strength (30 k/cm2 at 4 weeks) can be obtained. Four spot bonds (20 cm2) ensures safety adhesive strength. Further for meeting long term safety, firm fastening was made in combination with stud electrodeposition as paste and nail are used in combination. There are various known methods of stud electrodeposition. The product according to the invention is thin and so T-pin technique involving the temporary fastening with a tape, and then perforation from the surface to >5 steel frame, followed by electrodeposition, is advantageous for working. There is another technique involving

I EP 0 346162 A2 previously positioning a stud vertically and then skewering. Shape and length ot the stud and method ot adhesion are not limited. For safety, combination of adhesion and stud technique is preferred though each method can be used alone. In the following, materials for use in the present invention will be described. Any metal foil can be used, and stainless steel foils are preferred because they are virtually immune to 5 corrosion. From the viewpoint of refractory property, rolled products are recommended. Stearites are preferred rather than ferrite. Considering the aspects of flexibility and long term refractoriness, 20 to 100 u. is suitable. Suitable heat-insulating inorganic fiber materials may be, from practical viewpoint, of wool, felt and blanket. Joint covering materials are preferred of paper, alumina, alumina silica, boron, silicon nitride having refractory 10 range of 1000 ° to 1200 °C. In economical view, selection may be done between 10 to 40 mm taking long-term refractoriness into consideration, and needle-punched alumina silica blanket or felt is suitable. Suitable adhesives are either 4 water-soluble film-forming inorganic compounds given in Table 1 or intermediate substances. Suitable fillers is necessary to have effect of creating the above-mentioned initial bond strength, hardening without involving cracking nor peeling, and addition of them is preferred to be 10 to 15 100% of the water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound. As described above, a metal foil and heat-insulating inorganic fibrous material are bonded together with a -efractory adhesive to make a refractory, flexible sheet covering material, and when used in accordance with the above-mentioned refractory covering process, the following advantages are attained : (1) Refractory covering materials each made of a heat-insulating inorganic fibrous material and a 50 u. 20 thickness stainless steel of standard No. 304 as a metal foil bonded together with such a refractory inorganic adhesive have advantageous multifunctions as refractory covering materials for steel frames over the prior art. (2) The refractory covering materials can be cut easily with a simple cutting tool such as knife or a pair of scissors without needing a special cutting tool. 25 (3) The refractory covering materials are capable of being cut or put on without generating dust, and thus has no danger of making labor's health ill. (4) The refractory covering materials have pliability and flexibility and can be bent as desired. They therefore can be miter-jointed on any part (flat, end, corner, curved, pipe-arranged, etc.) integrally without leaving space. 30 Further they can be miter-jointed covering on corner part by bending using the surface metal foil. (5) The refractory covering materials are effective also as finish by utilizing the surface of the stainless steel component, this contributing to omitting dressing work. The stainless steel surface is useful to be clean without generating dust, or the like, after covering with them. 35 (6) The refractory covering materials are capable of being formed into film of an about half thickness, as advantageous performance over those of prior art. In virtue of this, less load may be applied to the structure. (7) The refractory covering materials can be used with easy cutting and putting on, and in smaller thickness of covering, involving lighter weight. These may contribute to much improvement in work of 40 applying refractory covering materials compared with prior art. Besides loss of materials to be carried can be saved by cutting in factory, which lessen waste. (8) The refractory covering materials can be manufactured in factory and hence controlled about quality and to be formed to a predetermined thickness, contributing to making those stable. The refractory covering materials are put on steel frames with effect to make the quality and performance 45 of the refractoy covering itself stable. (9) The refractory covering materials can be applied to the steel frame not only direct before the construction of the steel frame but also previously in factory for manufacturing steel frames and after the construction. They can be applied to pillar members of a steel frame as well as beam members. 50 They can be applied to pillar and beam members of steel frames of not only H-steel but also steel pipe, box-type, or other kind. (10) On fire, the metal foil surface effect of blocking the refractory covering material against heat stream from high temperature ambient atmosphere, thus which have good performance at high temperature compared with prior art covering materials. In virtue of this, smaller thickness is necessary for the 55 refractory covering materials than for prior art materials. Because of this, the efficiency of the application working can be much improved. (11) The surface metal foil (50u. thickness stainless steel) of the refractory covering materials has or keep enough strength to support the heat-insulating material, and hence the materials can be miter-jointed on steel frames at fewer spot fastening. SO (12) The covering materials can be firmly put on only through several stud (Pin) welding. In the part jointed on slab concrete, or the like, the metal foil itself can be welded by spot welding through the intermediation of a small steel plate used as a holder. In virtue of this, work efficiency for the fastening has been markedly improved compared with prior art process. 65

9 EP 0 346162 A2

Owing to simple work, special skilled ones are unnecessary. (13) The present invention has first enabled to putting refractory covering materials on the steel frame as prefabrication product, and to establish the process therefor. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 gives differential thermograms of P-Si-F-Na (No. 7 in Table 1 ) ; Fig. 2 gives patterns of loss weight and heat absorption outlined from Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 shows the relationship among thermal conductivity, bulk density and temperature, 10 Fig. 4 shows furnace temperature-heating time characteristic; Fig. 5 shows temperature-heating time characteristic of a steel plate ; and Of Figs. 6 through 9 illustrative of practicing the process according to the present invention, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the vertical part of the steel frame of Fig. 6 drawn to an 15 enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a part placed in contact with slab concrete drawn to an enlarged scale; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a ref ractroy covering material according to the invention.

20 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter by way of 37 examples of which Examples 1 through 20 are of water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound. Examples 21 through 29 are of fire-proof and refractory composite material and Examples 30 through 37 are of refractory flexible sheet composite covering material and refractory-covering process with them. 25 Example 1 Metal silicon (300 g) was densely laid to a thickness of 5 to 10 mm at the bottom of a plastic 1-liter vessel, and a 5-fold dilution (300 cc) of borax decahydrate was poured in it. Then several pieces of sodium hydroxide flakes were dropped on the silicon, and were diffused with failure to cause reaction on the surface of silicon. In 30 addition a 3-fold sodium hydroxide dilution (50 cc) was poured, which sank under the gravity, and reaction occurred with foaming from the surface of the metal. The solution near the bottom sampled with a dropping pipette had an increased concentration and pH 14 while pH of the surface solution was as low as 9.5. Ambient temperature was 21 °C and the temperature of the liquid was 18.4 °C.

35 Example 2 In a similar vessel to that used in the preceding Example, metallic aluminium (purity 99.9%) wire cuts (200 g) of 10 cm long and 0.5 mm in diameter were laid on the bottom, and a 10-fold boric acid dilution (300 cc) was placed, and a spoon of sodium hydroxide flakes was dropped in, and reaction occurred in the vicinity thereof and spread as if it crept along a line while accompanied by white cloud. This means that the reaction have 40 commenced owing to the production of alkari concentration in accordance with the solubility at the bottom of the reaction vessel, and is not localized reaction of solid alkali as pointed out in the aforesaid U. S. patents.

Example 3 In the same way as the pervious Examples, metallic silicon was closely laid at the bottom of a reaction 45 vessel, and 300 cc of a sodium fluoride aqueous solution (sodium fluoride 100 g + water 200 g), followed by 50 cc of a potassium hydroxide solution with pH 13. Alternatively in the opposite order to this procedure, firstly the potassium hydroxide solution, metallic silicon and the sodium fluoride solution (300 g) were placed in turn. Since reactants were the same salts, similarly reaction did not immediately begin but occurred gradually. The ambient temperature was 18 °C and the temperature of the liquid was 16 °C. 50 Example 4 Under conditions (ambient temperature 21 °C and the temperature of the liquid 18 °C, sodium hydroxide flakes (15 kg), followed by water (50 liters) were poured in a 250 litters stainless drum. Then it could be observed that a part of the flakes immediately diffused at the bottom to form concentrated solution. 55 Dissolution of them was incomplete, and a part left in the state of white solid at the bottom. Subsequently 25 kg of metallic silicon lumps of 5 to 10 in diameter was placed, and then at the bottom, reaction with the concentrated hydroxide solution occurred with continuous foaming from the surface of the silicon lumps. Subsequently 45 kg of a mixture of water (20 litters) and borax decahydrate (25 kg) was placed and water was added to make 1 liter. The temperature of the dram wall rose to 90 °C and boiling occurred, and thus additional 60 50 liters of water was added and allowed to stand. On the following day, the supernatant (pH 12.6, specific gravity 1.23 and solid content 24% ) was transferred to another drum, and obtained in a volume of 100 liters. At the bottom, metallic silicon and unreacted sodium hydroxide remained undissolved. Thus borax (15 kg) was added, followed by water to equal 150 liters. Then fresh steam was blown into. When the temperature rose to 50 °C, the reaction began again. On the following day, a white reaction solution (pH 12.6, specific gravity 65 1 . 21 and solid content 21%) was obtained. In this way, also when the reactants were excess, similar reaction

10 EP 0 346162 A2 product was obtained by addition of the supernatant having a specific gravity of 1 .1 or more and a pH reaching 12.6 or below.

Example5 Under conditions (ambient temperature 25 °C and the temperature of the liquid 21 °C. 22 kg of metallic 5 silicon lumps (30 mm in diameter), 10 kg of boric acid, and 3 kg of potassium hydroxide were mixed in solid state, and the mixture was placed in a similar SUS drum to that used in the preceding Example. Then 70 liters of water was poured. Immediately exothermic reaction at 50 °C commenced and on the following day, crystal solid was separated. To the resultant, 1 kg of potassium hydroxide was added, resulting in a transparent viscous solution, and filtered through a cotton cloth. Thus a transparent solution (pH 12.2 and specific gravity w 1.44) was obtained amounting to 12.5 liters (about 18 kg). The filtration residue was allowed to stand, and a transparent supernatant (pH 12.2 and specific gravity 1.45) was obtained. The last residue of which the majority was fine particles of metallic silicon amounted to 5.5 kg.

Example 6 15 In Example 4 described aboe, increasing amounts of borax (10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg, respectively) were added, and each reaction was terminated and subjected to analysis. In any case, a transparent solution (pH 12 to 12.6, specific gravity 1.2, and solid content 20%) was obtained. The reaction results in each case were in accordance with the theory of solubility at the bottom of the reaction vessel, and the respective reaction products were approximately the same. 20 In Examples 4 through 6, analysis was conducted with a spectrophotometer, and any element other than Si, B, Ha and K was detected.

Example 7 Instead of borax used in Examples 4 through 6, sodium fluoride. Upon becoming a state of pH 12 to 12.6 and 25 specific gravity 1.2 or more, the supernatant was transferred to another drum. In any case, a transparent solution (pH 12 to 12.6, specific gravity 1.2 to 2 to 1.35 and solid content 20 to 35%) was obtained. One example of these will be described under: In a SUS drum as used in the previous Examples, 40 kg of silicon lumps of 20 to 100 mm in diameter was closely laid, and then 15 kg of sodium hydroxide flakes was sprinkled over, and 50 liters of water (15 °C) was added. Immediate formation of a concentrated alkali solution, 30 which underwent a surface reaction with metallic silicon accompanied by continuous forming was produced, which and diffused at the bottom to form concentrated solution. Dissolution of them was incomplete, and a part left in the state of white solid at the bottom. Subsequently a mixture of 40 kg of sodium fluoride and 50 liters of water was added into the reaction vessel. Activated reaction occurred and became about to boil, and thus 60 liters of water was added to cool it. After that the temperature of the solution fell below 40 ° C, and then 35 fresh steam was blown into. When the temperature rose to 50 °C, the reaction again became active. The transparent supernatant, upon becoming to have pH 12.6 and specific gravity 1.24, was transferred to another drum and allowed to stand stationarily. It was of pH 12.4 and specific gravity 1 .25 at ordinary temperature. From the resultant, 100 cc was sampled and 20 cc of 20% hydrofluoric acid was added gradually to it. Both were dissolved in each other with failure to become gel. For comparison, the hydrofluoric acid solution was added to 40 a 350/o sodium silicate solution, with the result of gelation. The products according to the present invention were transparent in any case the element in them was Si, F or Na.

Example 8 As an alternative of Example 2 described previously, to metallic aluminium (300 g) were added zircon (10 g), 45 followed by 5-fold diluted lithium hydroxide (100 cc). Then exothermic reaction occurred between the solid - metal and the concentrated alkali solution, and 350/o horic acid (80 °C) was blown gradually to the bottom of the vessel through a 3 mm SUS pipe until the pH reached 9.5, thus resulting in a viscous liquid. Then the supernatant was transferred to another vessel, which was airtight sealed, and then allowed to stand. One day later, a transparent, viscous solution of pH 7.8 and specific gravity 1.6 was yielded. 50

Example 9 In an airtight pressure SUS 5-liter vessel, a mixture of 1 kg of metallic silicon of about 1 0 mm in diameter and potassium hydroxide flakes 150 g was placed. The gas in there was conveyed through a pipe into a water tank so as not to be discharged to the air. Water (2 liters) was fed through an inlet, and upon reaching 80 ° C by the 55 resulting exothermic reaction, anhydrous hydrofluoric acid gas was fed gradually toward the botttom of the vessel until reaching pH 9.5 (up to 10). During feeding the gas, sometimes heating was made so that the temperature of the reaction solution did not fall to below 50 °C. Then the reaction was terminated and the supernatant was removed and allowed to stand. The last product was transparent and viscous, and of specific gravity 1 .3 and pH 7.6. With borofluoric acid instead of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid and with sodium or lithium 60 hydroxide instead of potassium hydroxide, similar viscous transparent products were obtained. In different orders in the procedure, for examle, to a mixture of silicon and 38% hydrofluoric acid while heated, solid alkali metal was sprinkled over to make pH 10, and the same product of pH 8 and specific gravity 1.35 was yielded. Any element was not detected with a spectrophotometer (Shimazu, Tokyo) other than Si, F, Na, K and Li. Addition of a fluoride to sodium silicate caused hardening. For these reasons, the product according to the 65

11 EP 0 346 162 A2

present invention proved to be a hydride but in state of solution, and not any known substance.

Example 10 To the products according to the ivnention obtained in Examples 4 through 6 were added sodium silicate 5 (No. 3; Nihon Chemicals, Japan) as metallic reactant at increasing rates of 0, 3, 10, 30 and 40%, respectively, and each of them was applied to a SUS foil and heated to and cured at 100 °C. Then 5 mm bending (90 °C) test was done. At thicknesses of 20 jj, or below, any occurrence of cracking was not observed. The hardnesses were between 5 to 9H. Likewise, Cataloid-SA (Si02, 30%; Shokubai Kasei Co., Ltd.) was added in 1 to 35% and applied to a SUS foil to a coating thickness of 10jj, or below. After heating and drying, 2 mm bending test 10 was made, and no peeling was noted.

Example 11 To the products (pH: 7 to 10 and 11 to 12, respectively and specific gravity: 1.1 to 1.6, respectively) obtained with hydrofluoric acid and sodium fluoride, respectively, in the place of the mineral acid used in Example 8, 15 were added alumina sol in 0 to 100% (expressed as calculated solid content) of the solid content of the product, followed by sodium aluminate in 0 to 50%, and applied to a 50 (i-thickness steel foil to a 12u. thickness. After drying, 2 mm bending test was made and neither peeling nor cracking was observed. The hardnesses were 3 to 9H.

20 Examples 12 To each of the products (specific gravity 1.25 and pH 12.2) obtained in Examples 6 and 7 were added 20 parts of a mixture of 40 parts of water and 20 parts of I.P.A. and 20 parts of a hydrochloric acid solution (pH 2), and allowed to stand stationarily. The supernatant was discarded, and the precipitate had a specific gravity of 1 .43 and the yield was 550/o. Addition of 96% methanol in 10% in the place of before mentioned I.P.A. resulted 25 in a yield of 45% (specific gravity 1 .46) . Addition of ethanol in the place of before mentioned methanol resulted in a yield of 57% (specific gravity 1.42). Similar yield was obtained by addition of denaturated ethanol.

Example 13 A mixture of 100 parts of P-Si-F-Ha (viscosity 420 cps) obtained in previous Examples, 20 parts of kaolin, 40 30 parts of pozzolan, and 2.5 parts of diatomaceous earth had a viscosity of 1200 cps. The mixture was put in dumpling-shape on a 10 mm steel plate. On this, a 12.5 mm alumina silica blanket was pressed and heated to 1200 °C. Two hours later, neither peeling nor cracking occurred. Besides the above-mentioned fillers were added to make 100 parts or more, and the viscosity became 200 cps.

35 Example 14 Excess water of water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound, excluding solid content, was used. The excess water and cement were combined in a ratio of 0.35 to 1 and blended. The blend was applied to a calcium silicate plate to a thickness of 0.5 mm, and the obtained results are summarized in Table 3. In this table, Product No. @ to © show the kind of Water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound according to the 40 present invention which were used for, this Example.

12 EP 0 346162 A2

fable 3

Product Solid Excess Cement (g) Curing Crack- Hard- flaking (100 g) Content (%) ing ness off (0/0) No. Cold Hot

1. Si-F-Na 24 76 #1 x 100 O N0 > 9H N0 2. Si-B-Na 25 75 #2 x 200 O N0 > 9H N0 3. Si-F-Na 24 76 #3 x 150 O N0 > 9H N0 4. P-Si-B-K 44 56 #4 x 150 O N0 > 7H N0 5. P-AL-B-Li 46 54 #5 x 100 O N0 > 9H NO 6. P-AL-F-Na 43 57 #2 x 80 O NO > 9H N0 7. P-Si-F-Na 45 55 #3 x 60 O N0 > 9H N0 8. P-Si-B-Na 44 56 #6x70 Q N0 > 7H N0 ' 1. Heating was made until the surface reachig 60 °C or higher. 2. Measurement was made 30 days after. 3. Magnesia = magnesia cement #1: Normal #2: rapid/strong #3: Hot hardening #4: Very rapid/strong #5: Cut off #6: Magnesia

Example 15 The products in Examples 4 to 10 were dried by a spray dryer (Ohgawara Kohki Co., Ltd.) at varying inlet temperatures from 200 to 600 °C. Substantial spherical particles having sizes between 50 and 100 u. were obtained in a yield of 95% or more. Water content reduced to 2 to 50/o of the weights of those products.

Example 16 100/o PVA solution (20 g) and product No. 4 in Table 3 (20 g) were mixed, and gel was separated. Also after drying, the gel had rubber-like elasticity. It could be set on fire with lighter without flash.

Example 17 Glass cloth (100 g/m2) was impregnated with 50/o PVA solution and dried at 70 °C, additionally impregnated with product No. 7 in Table 3, squeezed and dried at 120 °C. A flexible product was obtained, which was heated with a burner (1000 °C), without being perforated by fusion.

Example 18 Kaolin (10 parts) was added to 100/o PVA liquid and applied as prime to a potassium silicate plate. This was finished with product No. 4 in Table 3 and dried at 100 0 C without the occurrence of swelling. Water-Proofness test by a cylinder resulted in 0.1 g/cm2.

Example 19 A plate (10 cm x 20 cm x 0. 1 cm) as of Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, spruce or lauan was subjected to impregnation with ethylene glycol. After 6 hours' impregnation, it was withdrawn, and gel on the surface was washed off. After drying, this was again subjected to impregnation with the blend which was used in No. @ in Table 3 for 12 hours, withdrawn and dried. The reimpregnated product was heated a burner (850 °C) resulting in getting carbonized without occurrence of flashover.

Example 20 Fig. 1 gives a DTG of the blend which was used in No. (7) in Table 3 which exhibits heat absorption peak or dehydration at 170 °, 470 °, 570 0 and 670 °, and little change in weight of it throughout the range exceeding 300 °C. Fig. 2 schematically shows the DTG. The before mentioned Table 1 shows No. 1, 2, 7 and 8 of Example 14.

Example 21 The blend which was used in No. ® in Table 3 was applied to a 10 mm thick steel plate and flame-cut without producing burr which would occur unless coated. The product of product No. 3 in Table 3 was applied to a 10-mm thick stainless steel plate and cut with a laser cutter (Mitsubishi Electric Corp.), with fireproof effect and without production no burr which would be done unless coated.

13 EP 0 346 162 A2

bxampie a; As control, a #28 galvanized steel plate was adhered to a 24 mm gypsum board through hot metal. (This is referred to as "A"). Likewise the blend which was used in No. © in Table 3 was applied to a galvanized sheet 5 plate and a gypsum board an adhered together. (This is referred to as "B"). These composites were heated with a propane burner (850 ° to 900 °C) while facing the surface of the steel plate to the flame, and the temperatures of their back were measured. The obtained results are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4.

Minutes 5 10 15 20 25 30 A °C 55 58 60 65 73 78 B "C 26 28 35 41 41 50 70

i ne gypsum-surface paper of A burnet up while that of "B" get carbonized but without being damaged and with smaller elevation of the temperature of the back, which demonstrating improved fireproof and refractory properties. 20 Example 23 The blend which was used in No. © in Table 3 was applied to both surfaces of a 3.2 mm thick steel plate to make a composite. This was flame (850 to 900 °C)- perforated with a burner in 200 sec. Another similar steel plate provided on one surface with the coatin was flame-perforated in 38 sec, this results being almost the 25 same as in an uncoated similar plate.

Example 24 A glass cloth (120 g/m2; Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd.) was impregnated with a mixture of a 10% poval aqueous solution (50 parts) and a 10% sulfamine guanidine solution (50 parts), and dried at 80 °C. This was 30 reimpregnated with the blend which was used in No. 0 in Table 3 and redried. The thus-obtained product according to the invention having an improved flameproof and refractory property was not allowed to be 1000 °C flame-perforated while untreated glass cloth was easily 650 °C flame-perforated. Furthermore the product was flexible in normal state.

35 Example 25 A 80 g/m2 paper and a 60 g/m2 polyester non-woven fabric were treated with the blends which were used in Nos. © and © in Table 3, respectively, as in the preceding Example 24. The thus-obtained product according to the ivnention had an improved flameproof property, and Meker burner flame-proofness test of it was made without occurrence of flashover. 40 Example 26 A 50 u. stainless steel (manufactured by THYSSEN) and a 25 mm alumina silica blanket (8P) were bonded together by the use of a mixture, as adhesive, of the blend which was used in No. 3 in Table 3, kaolin (20 parts), pozzolan (35 parts), diatomaceous earth (3 parts) and vermiculite (10 parts) and dried for one day. The 45 composite was spot-adhered with the adhesive to a 10 mm steel plate, of which test for refractory property in accordance with the standard heating curve (JIS-AI304) was made. The steel plate was heated to a temperature as low as 320 ° C. Similar result was obtained at a thickness as thin as about 36% of the rock wool product (70 mm). A thickness of 50 mm is necessary with blanket alone, and on the other hand, the product was demonstrated to have excellent refractory property. 50 Two sheets of 20 mm blanket (8P) were bonded together by the use of the adhesive, and additionally bonded to the above-mentioned 50 u. stainless. The resulting composite was demonstrated by the refractory property test to allow the temperature of the steel plate to rise to as low as 200 °C. Refractory and adhesive property was provided fillers in a range between 0 and 100% and in an addition between 1 and 200 parts. 55 Example 27 The Japanese cedar slicede paper of 130u. was, for the treatment for making it hard-to-burn, impregnated with a 10% solution of sulfamine or guanidine phosphate and dried. In the concentration range of 1 to 20%, hard-to-burn property was effected. The treated paper was bonded to an alumina silica paper with the blend which was used in No. 4 in Table 3. The composite (20 mm x 20 mm) which is called wood paper was tested in ?0 accordance with the provision in Notice No. 1828 of The Ministry of Construction. CA (fuming amount) was 11 to 13, and neither residual flame nor cracking was not observed. It has demonstrated that there was no increase in calorie and thus the product was suited to non-combustible material. to

4 P 0 346 162 A2 ixample 28 On a non-combustible material, gypsum board (10 mm thick) of which the surface paper burns with much uming, the wood paper of Example 7 was bonded with the blend which was used in No. 3 in Table 3. Of the ibtained composite were made surface test and basic material test prescribed in The Notice No. 1231 of The Ministry Of Construction, and the obtained results were as follows: 5 Surface test: Ca 23, Dd 0, and residual flame 0. 3asic material test: Temperature difference was only 50 °C, which met the requirement of non-combustible naterial. Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress can be used as processed materials according to the invention for he housing interior in very tall buildings. 10 ixample 29 With 70 g non-woven fabric (Toyobo Co., Ltd.) with print pattern instead of the Japanese cedar, the same jrocedure as in Example 27 was carried out. The non-combustible material test as in Examples 27 and 28 was nade with the result of meeting the requirements. 15 ixample 30 To the blend which was used in No. 0 in Table 3 were added kaolin (20 parts), pozzolan (30 parts), iiatomaceous earth (3 parts) and glycerin (1 part) to make a refractory adhesive. A 50 u. stainless steel plate ind various materials of 10 mm thick, respectively, were bonded to with the adhesive, and refractoriness test 20 1000 °C, 2 hours) was made in a electric furnace. Any of glass wool, primary-calcined carbon wool, and rock vool became deteriorated. On the other hand, alumina silica felt, blanket and paper remained as they were, kny paper with pulp added thereto got deteriorated. Taking these into consideration, as a matter of course, efractory materials to 1000 °C or above should be of composite. 25 Example 31 To water glass were added at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminium hydroxide, nagnesium hydroxide, kaolin, silica fume pozzolan, phrophyllite, diatomaceous earth, and others, and applied of them o a 30 p. stainless steel foil. Then test for flexibility was made. They were hardened and none got lexibility by addition of glycerin. Heating at 1150 °C for 3 hours caused partial adhesion and produced no 30 cracking. None adhered. Addition of filler was made in the range of 5 to 100%. In the above-mentioned examle, none of the refractory adhesives acording to the present invention was affected with peeling and cracking. Summed amount of added fillers exceeding 3000/o of the solid content of sach product in Table 3 results in loss of flexibility. 35 Example 32 A 8P-25 mm thick alumina silica blanket was bonded to a ferrite stainless steel (A) and an austenite stainless steel (B), respectively, with the refractory adhesive of Example 31 according to the present invention in a rate Df 250 g'/mm2. In accordance with the previous JIS A 1302 method, a piece (300 mm x 300 mm) of each composite was further bonded to a 3.2 mm steel plate and heated for 3 hours. Sample (A) was observed to 40 □ecome deteriorated and damaged, and reach 450 °C or above on the back in 2 hours, then heating being stopped. On the other hand, at the 3rd hour, it was noted in sample (B) that the temperature of steel plate on the back was 320 °C, and the metal foil on the surface remained undamaged. The performance depended on refractorinesses of the metal foil on the surface and the refractory adhesive. With the a blanket of 40 mm, a temperature of the back of 200 °C was noted. 45

Example 33 A composite material was obtained by 8P-25 mm thick alumina silica blanket was bonded to an austenite stainless steel with the refractory adhesive of Example 31 according to the present invention in a rate of 250 g/mm2. Divided this composite material into two equal parts. In accordance with the previous JIS A 1302 50 method, these two parts of composite material were bonded to a 10 m/m steel plate while the sections of cutting were joind oppositely. And then refractory covering tape was obtained by 2.5 mm paper blanket was bonded to an austenite stainless steel with the refractory adhesive of Example 31 according to the present invention in a rate of 250 g/mm2. In accordance with the previous JIS A 1302 method, the 5 cm width of this refractory covering tape was 55 bonded to the before mentioned composite materials and to the cutting slit. The cutting slit of the composite material was covered and coated by the refractory covering tape. Thus overall the steel plate was coated by two parts of composite material and by refractory covering tape on the cutting slit of composite material. This was tested for refractoriness by 3 hours' heating as in the preceding Example. The steel plate of the back was noted to have 310 °C and remained undamaged. In the spot adhesive and the metal foil, Peeling and 60 cracking was not at all noted. Fig. 3 shows a standard heating curve and Fig. 4 does the temperature of the steel plate of the back.

It) EP 0 346162 A2

Example 34 T-shaped pin was inserted into the refractory covering material of the preceding Example according to the present invention and electrodeposited with a stud welder (Nihon Driveit Co., Ltd.) which was accomplished momentarily. 5 In this method, a refractory covering material according to the invention is as thin as up to 30 m/m and it is easily electrodeposited. If the same ablity as obtained by this method should be obtained by the method using a blanket, 50-60 m/m thin of blanket would be required. In the method using a blanket the stud is required longer than that used in this method and many stud is required than that used in this method. Much adhesive and many processing stages are required if it is intended that the stainless steel is bonded 10 as the surface in post-process.

Example 35 To a H-350 x 250 x 9 x 14 on the ground, an adhesive according to the present invention was spot-adhered, the above-mentioned 25 mm refractory covering material was wound in H-pattern. in places, 15 temporary fastening was made with a adhesive tape, and T-shaped pins were inserted and very electrodeposited with much easiness. Besides at joints, the 2.5 mm refractory covering tape was applied and T-shaped pins were electrodeposited. The appearance was beautiful. On the spot, no dust was evolved.

Example 36 20 The H steel in the preceding Example was wound with stainless steel strip as primer and fastened (Futonmaki technique in Japanese). Besides mesh was welded and studs were electrodeposited. These works with the exception of fine mesh wires could be made with easiness. In addition, the 2.5 mm refractory covering tape was coiled on as primer, and easily electrodeposited. Any primer was coated with the refractory adhesive according to the invention, to which the 2.5 mm 25 refractory covering material according to the invention could be adhered with easiness.

Example 37 Figs. 6 through 9 illustrates the covering process according to the present invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrative of how a refractory covering material 1 is bonded to a 30 steel frame 2 through the intermediation of an inorganic refractory adhesive3. The covering material is fastened with stud pins 5. The fastening is applied at the end of a steel frame beam additionally to prevent initial peeling of the adhered part. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrative of how the covering material is engaged with slab 35 concrete of Fig. 6 at the upper end portion of steel frame beam. The covering material was fastened by spot welding of the metallic foil (stainless steel. 50 u. thick) through a metal plate (1 mm thick) as holder. A reference numeraW designates a slab concrete. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrative of the structure of the refractory covering material according to the invention. Reference characters designate as 9 adhesive, 7 heat insulating ceramic fiber material, and 40 8 50p.-thick stainless foil.

Claims

45 1. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound having a specific gravity of 1.1 or more and capable of being formed into a film at ordinary temperature or by heating, said compound being formed by a reaction of a metal, a mineral acid compound capable of hydrating accompanied by the dissociation of boric acid or hydrofluoric acid, and an alkali metal, wherein in water or a solution of said mineral acid compound, said metal in solid state reacts with a concentrated solution of said alkali metal, and then said 50 mineral acid compound takes part in the reaction, while reaction temperature is controlled within a temperature range of 50 ° C to 1 00° C. 2. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in claim 1 wherein a salt of submineral acid or mineral acid is used instead of said mineral acid compound, a hafnium-containing compound is added in 0.5 to 100% by weight to said mineral acid compound, and the exothermic reaction or heating is 55 controlled so as to keep 50 °C or above and not to allow boiling. 3. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in claim 1 having its structure represented probably as [AaBbjrCcDd or [AaBbCcDd]sCpDq wherein A is Si or Al; B is FH, F2H, BH3 or B2O3, C is Na, Kor Li; and D is H2O or OH; and a, b, c, d, p, q, r 60 and s are each a number of moles, 4. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound containing metal to an excess degree by adding said metal to the water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claim 1 through 3. 5. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound obtained as a sediment having a specific gravity of 1.3 or more by mixing an alcohol containing or not containing a mineral acid with a water-soluble 65 film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 4.

16 EP 0 346162 A2

6. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound having an increased viscosity by adding natural or synthetic mineral powder or mineral fibers or layer lattice mineral to a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 5. 7. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound obtained by adding a hydration-hardening composition consisting of a metallic compound capable of converting into the corresponding hydroxide 5 to a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 6. 8. A water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound comprising a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 7 as a finish and a material containing a synthetic resin having alcoholic radical as a primer. 9. A solidified material produced from a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound by spray-drying 10 a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 5 at 150 to 600 °C of the drier inlet temperature. 10. A fireproof and refractory composite material composed structurally of a coating to be applied to the surface, impregnating agent, and adhesive, at least one of said structural components containing as main constituent thereof a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound, said water-soluble film-forming 15 inorganic compound being composed of a metal, a mineral acid or submineral acid capable of hydrating to convert into boric acid or hydrofluoric acid, and alkali metal, having a structure represented probably as [AaBb]rCcDd or [AaBbCcDd]sCpDq wherein A is Si or Al; B is FH, F2H, BH3 or B2O3, C is Na, Kor Li; and D is H2O or OH; and a, b, c, d, p, q, r and s are each a number of moles, and being used alone or as a composition in combination with various 20 natural or synthetic mineral material. 1 1 . A fireproof or refractory composite material claimed in claim 10 composed of a plate coated on both surfaces thereof with a material comprising mainly said water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound whereby the fireproof and refractory properties thereof is improved. 12. A fireproof or refractory composite material claimed in claim 10 which comprises a metal foil as the 25 surface component thereof and a paper, wool or balnket of inorganic fiber material as the back component thereof a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 9, whereby said composite is provided with heat-resistance and flexibility. 13. A fireproof or refractory composite material claimed in claim 10 which comprises as the surface component thereof a natural or synthetic sheet treated to be hard-to-burn, and a noncombustible sheet, 30 both being put on each other with an adhesive consisting mainly of a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound, whereby said composite is thin and flexible. 14. A fireproof or refractory composite material claimed in claim 13 which comprises a natural or synthetic sheet treated to be hard-to-burn or a flexible noncombustible sheet composite and a noncombustible material, both being put on each other with an adhesive consisiting mainly of a 35 water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound. 15. A process for refractory-covering the steel fram characterized by putting firmly on the overall outside surface of said steel frame thin and thick flexible composites each comprising a metal foil as the surface material thereof, heat-insulating inorganic fiber material, or refractory adhesive using as adhesive said water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in any of claims 1 through 9. 40 16. A refractory, flexible sheet composite covering material claimed in claim 1 having a 3 hours or longer heat-resistant property prescribed in JIS-AI304 and flexibility in normal state and a refractory-covering process with said covering material. 17. A refractory, flexible sheet composite covering material comprising mainly a water-soluble film-forming inorganic compound claimed in claim 15 or 16, said water-soluble film-forming inorganic 45 compound (a) being composed of a metal, a mineral acid or submineral acid capable of hydrating to convert into boric acid or hydrofluoric acid, and alkali metal, and (b) having a structure represented probably as [AaBb]rCcDd or [AaBbCcDd]sCpDq wherein A is Si or Al; B is FH, F2H, BH3 or B203, C is Na, K or Li; and D is H20 or OH; and a, b, c, d, p, q, r 50 and s are each a number of moles, or being an adhesive containing at least one natural or synthetic mineral powders, mineral fibers and layered compounds material added thereto, and a refractory-covering process with said covering material. 18. A refractory-covering process comprisign putting a refractory, flexible sheet composite covering material firmly on the steel frame or a thin refractory covering material by bonding with refractory 55 adhesive, or by electrodeposition through studs, alone or in combination, in the way of prefabrication or on the spot.

17 EP 0 346 162 A2

FIG.1

1 1

" 1

F IG.2

Pattern of loss in quantity

Pattern of endothermic 1 I 1 1 L 1 1 1 0 200 400 600 800 EP 0 346162 A2

FIG. 3

Thermal conductivity

— T emperature

d i u m ~ H i g h temperature

Specific gravity

Temperature in / U. *T furnace (°c )

Heat time-Temperature in furnace 1200 HOO 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100

180 150 120 90 60 30 o

Heat time (minute) EP 0 346162 A2

FIG. 5 of steel Heating t i m e -T e m p e r a t u r e materials (Three hours)

finished i — H eating is

3h 2h lh 0 — Time elapsed (hour) FIG.7 FIG.6