IP Library Granted Patent US 12,410,610
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,610 · App. 17/665,813 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Flame retardant clear coatings for building panels

Inventors: John E. Hughes (Lincoln University, PA); Michelle X. Wang (Lititz, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
E04B1/942B32B21/00E04B9/045E04B9/16E04B9/366E04C2/08E04C2/26E04C2/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,610
App. No.
17/665,813
Filed
Feb 7, 2022
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1784
USPC
428/492
Abstract

The present invention is directed to a flame retardant coating, the flame retardant coating comprising aluminum carbonate, triethanolamine, and a blend of a borate compound and a phosphate compound. The coating is optically transparent.

Claims (29)

1. A flame-retardant coating composition comprising:

a coating comprising a first sub-layer, a second sub-layer atop the first sub-layer, and a third sub-layer atop the second sub-layer;

wherein the first sub-layer is an organic coating and comprises polymer produced from unsaturated monomers and the second sub-layer is an inorganic coating comprising aluminum carbonate, triethanolamine, and a blend of a first borate compound and a first phosphate compound;

wherein the aluminum carbonate is present in an amount of about 2.8 to about 4.8 wt. %;

wherein a weight ratio of first phosphate compound to the first borate compound within the second sub-layer is from about 5:1 to about 80:1;

wherein the third sub-layer is an inorganic coating composition comprising triethanolamine, a second borate compound, and a second phosphate compound; and

wherein the second borate compound is zinc borate and the first borate compound is boron trioxide.

2. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant coating composition is optically transparent.

3. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic coating has a maximum pH of about 5.

4. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic coating comprises up to about 5 wt. % of organic components based on the total weight of the inorganic coating.

5. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the first borate compound is present in an amount of about 0.5 wt. % to about 15.0 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the second sub-layer.

6. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-layer comprises an organic component selected from the group consisting of a wax emulsion, latex polymer, and combinations thereof.

7. The flame-retardant coating of claim 1 , wherein the second sub-layer and the third sub-layer comprise calcium carbonate.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first phosphate compound is present in an amount from about 55.0 wt. % to about 75.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the second sub-layer in the dry-state, and wherein the first borate compound is present in an amount of about 1 wt. % to about 10.5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the second sub-layer in the dry-state.

9. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising silicon dioxide.

10. A flame-retardant coating composition comprising:

a coating comprising a first sub-layer, a second sub-layer atop the first sub-layer, and a third sub-layer atop the second sub-layer;

wherein the second sub-layer comprises an inorganic component comprising aluminum carbonate, triethanolamine, a filler comprising magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, and a blend of a first borate compound and a first phosphate compound comprising phosphoric acid;

wherein the third sub-layer comprises a second inorganic component comprising triethanolamine, magnesium carbonate, and a blend of a second borate compound that is different from the first borate compound and a second phosphate compound;

wherein the aluminum carbonate is present in an amount from about 2.8 to about 4.8 wt. %;

wherein the coating composition has a maximum pH of 5 and comprises up to about 5.0 wt. % of organic components based on the total weight of the coating composition;

wherein the composition is free of carrier;

wherein the first borate compound is boron trioxide and the second borate compound is zinc borate;

wherein a weight ratio of phosphate to the borate compound within the inorganic component of the second sub-layer is from about 5:1 to about 80:1;

wherein the flame-retardant coating composition is optically transparent.

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the triethanolamine is present in an amount ranging from a non-zero amount to less than 5.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

12. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises up to about 1.0 wt. % of organic components, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

13. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the first phosphate compound is present in an amount from about 55.0 wt. % to about 75.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the coating composition, and wherein the first borate compound is present in an amount of about 1 wt. % to about 10.5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

14. The composition of claim 10 , further comprising silicon dioxide.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS TO REMOVE APPL. NO. 17894024 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 062081 FRAME 0523. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064655/0563 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062081/0523 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: HUGHES, JOHN E.; WANG, MICHELLE X.
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058909/0249 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15994160 · May 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62513115 · May 31, 2017
Related Publication 20220154454A1 · May 19, 2022
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