Ameron International Corporation

Mark H Fortune

Ralph S Friedrich

John F Kane

Fire resistant pipes and pipe fittings include a structural pipe wall formed from helically wound reinforcing fiber that is bonded together with a thermoset polymer resin selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, siloxane-modified phenolic resins, furan resins, and mixtures thereof. In a first embodiment, a resin rich fire resistant layer is applied to the surface of the structural pipe wall. The carrier is capable of accommodating a large amount of resin. The resin used to impregnate the carrier is selected from the same group of resins used to form the structural pipe wall. It is desired that both resins be compatible, and preferably be the same, to facilitate forming a bond between the structural pipe wall and the fire resistant layer during cure. In a second embodiment, a number of energy absorbing material layers are disposed around the structural pipe wall, and are formed from a material capable of absorbing heat energy from a surrounding outside layer to produce a thermally insulating gas therebetween. A number of fiber-reinforced resin layers are disposed around the absorbing material layers. The fire resistant layer and energy absorbing material layers are formed having sufficient wall thickness to protect the structural wall from heat induced failure produced by exposing the outermost pipe wall to a 1,000 .degree. C. flame for at least five minutes in a dry condition.

Fire resistant pipe

Fire resistant pipes and pipe fittings include a structural pipe wall formed from helically wound reinforcing fiber that is bonded together with a thermoset polymer resin selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, siloxane-modified phenolic resins, furan resins, and mixtures thereof. A jacket is disposed around the structural pipe wall and comprises alternating release layers and fiber-reinforced resin layers. The release layer is formed from a material that is incompatible with the resin of the structural pipe wall and fiber-reinforced resin layers, and is energy absorbing to improve impact resistance and reduce thermal stress. The jacket is formed having a sufficient number of alternating layers, having sufficient layer thicknesses, to protect the structural pipe wall from heat induced failure produced by exposing the outermost pipe wall to a 1,000.degree. C. flame for at least five minutes in a dry condition.

Growing community of inventors

Whittier, CA, United States of America

Mark H Fortune