Composite material and fire protection element for sealing passage openings and joints in components

1 . A composite material, comprising:

i) a carrier material, and

ii) a plurality of particles of at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent,

wherein adjacent particles of the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent are arranged substantially in parallel with one another over the entire composite material, and

at least 75% of adjacent particles of said at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent show a parallel arrangement,

wherein the carrier material comprises a polymer dispersion based on water or solvent and has a softening or decomposition point in a range of from 80° C. to 500° C.; and

wherein the carrier material has a solids content of 40-65 wt. % and/or a water or solvent content of 35-60 wt. %.

2 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent is embedded into the carrier material.

3 . The composite material according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent is evenly distributed within the carrier material.

4 . The composite material according to claim 2 , wherein a concentration of the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent within the carrier material may be varied in a manner of spots, patterns, areas, and/or sandwiches.

5 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent is applied to one or more areas of a surface of the carrier material.

6 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent is contained in the composite material in an amount of from 10 wt. % to 90 wt. %, based on a total weight of a solids content of the composite material.

7 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent has an average particle size of 50 μm to 4 mm.

8 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent is selected from a group consisting of graphite intercalation compounds, phyllosilicate intercalation compounds, and mixtures thereof.

9 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier material comprises at least one organic and/or inorganic fiber.

10 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the composite material has a maximum layer thickness of ≤10 mm.

11 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the composite material is formed as a moldable mass or as a molded part.

12 . A fire protection element, comprising at least one composite material according to claim 1 .

13 . A method for sealing passage openings and/or joints in structural elements with a fire protection element, the method comprising:

expanding the fire protection element in the passage openings and/or joints in structural elements, wherein the fire protection element comprises the composite material according to claim 1 .

14 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein at least 80% of adjacent particles of said at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent show a parallel arrangement.

15 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein at least 95% of adjacent particles of said at least one layered, physically acting blowing agent show a parallel arrangement.

16 . The composite material according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of particles are arranged substantially in parallel, influencing a direction of expansion in a fire.