Intumescent coating compositions

1. A method of applying a coating system, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition to a solid steel substrate, said intumescent coating composition comprising at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, at least one intumescent ingredient, and a chemical initiator for initiating a reaction to cure the coating composition to a solid state by free radical polymerization;

at least partially curing said first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition on said solid steel substrate;

applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer;

applying a second layer of liquid intumescent coating composition over the reinforcement structure; and

curing any liquid intumescent coating composition,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises at least one of mesh, fabric and tape.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structure comprises an inorganic fabric.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structure comprises at least one inorganic material.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the intumescent coating composition is applied to the solid steel substrate and the total thickness of the intumescent coating composition is in the range from 0.25 mm to 20 mm.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the said at least one polymeric component comprises solid thermoplastic resin.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric component comprises at least one homopolymer, copolymer and/or terpolymer of a methacrylate resin.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric component comprises a meth(acrylate) copolymer.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric component comprises the reaction product of at least one styrene or vinyl toluene together with at least one of any of the following: methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate 2-hydroxy propyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, 2 hydroxy ethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxy propyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric component comprises the reaction product of one or more diene together with at least one of any of the following: styrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acrylate, vinylidine chloride, and vinyl versatate esters.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component has at least one of a methacrylate or acrylate functionality.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component comprises any of the following either alone or in combination: methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate 2-hydroxy propyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, 2 hydroxy ethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxy propyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric component and the at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component together constitute from 20% to 60% of the coating composition.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one intumescent ingredient comprises an acid source, a carbon source and a gas source.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the chemical initiator is selected from AZO compounds or organic peroxides.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the chemical initiator is selected from diacyl peroxides, ketone peroxides, peroxyesters, dialkyl peroxides, hydroperoxides, and peroxyketals.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer comprises applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer with an adhesive binder.

17. A method of applying a coating system, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition to a solid steel substrate, said intumescent coating composition comprising at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, at least one intumescent ingredient, and a chemical initiator for initiating a reaction to cure the coating composition to a solid state by free radical polymerization;

at least partially curing said first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition on said solid steel substrate;

applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer;

applying a second layer of liquid intumescent coating composition over the reinforcement structure; and

curing any liquid intumescent coating composition,

wherein the reinforcement structure is woven or knitted.

18. A method of applying a coating system, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition to a solid steel substrate, said intumescent coating composition comprising at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, at least one intumescent ingredient, and a chemical initiator for initiating a reaction to cure the coating composition to a solid state by free radical polymerization;

at least partially curing said first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition on said solid steel substrate;

applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer;

applying a second layer of liquid intumescent coating composition over the reinforcement structure; and

curing any liquid intumescent coating composition,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises any of the following, either alone or in combination: galvanized steel wire mesh, glass and silica.

19. A method of applying a coating system, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition to a solid steel substrate, said intumescent coating composition comprising at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, at least one intumescent ingredient, and a chemical initiator for initiating a reaction to cure the coating composition to a solid state by free radical polymerization;

at least partially curing said first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition on said solid steel substrate;

applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer;

applying a second layer of liquid intumescent coating composition over the reinforcement structure; and

curing any liquid intumescent coating composition,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises organic material.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the reinforcement structure comprises any of the following either alone or in combination: carbon fibre and aramid fibre.

21. A method of applying a coating system, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition to a solid steel substrate, said intumescent coating composition comprising at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, at least one intumescent ingredient, and a chemical initiator for initiating a reaction to cure the coating composition to a solid state by free radical polymerization;

at least partially curing said first layer of liquid intumescent coating composition on said solid steel substrate;

applying a reinforcement structure to said first layer;

applying a second layer of liquid intumescent coating composition over the reinforcement structure; and

curing any liquid intumescent coating composition,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a series of rows of interlocking fibers oriented such that said rows of fibers intersect each other at approximately 90°.