An intumescent coating for improved fuel fire protection of heat sensitive articles.

Intumescent coating compositions have been prepared using the ammonium salt of 4-nitroaniline-2-sulfonic acid and a copolymer of polysulfide-epoxy resin as the binder, into which have been dispersed various fillers. The fillers used in the study were low density microballoons for density control and fibers for controlled intumescence on contoured substrates. The filler effect on the thermal-physical efficiency of coatings has been measured. The coating utilizing short length silica fibers has been shown to have superior mechanical, environmental, and thermal properties. The coating applied to the exterior of loaded weapons has increased the time-to-detonation from three minutes for the unprotected weapon to 10-13 minutes.