Intumescent

Roasted-Marshmallow

Intumescent

Unitherm

Unitherm2

Intumescent door gasket

Intumescence refers to the process of swelling or expanding due to pressure from within. This term is often used in various contexts, including medicine, materials science, and fire safety. In each of these fields, intumescence describes a specific phenomenon where substances or tissues expand in response to certain conditions or stimuli.

Medicine

In the medical field, intumescence can describe the swelling of tissues due to inflammation, edema, or other pathological conditions. For example, an intumescent cataract is a condition where the lens of the eye swells, leading to increased intraocular pressure and potential vision loss.

Materials Science

In materials science, intumescence is a property of certain materials that cause them to expand when exposed to heat or fire. This expansion is a result of a chemical reaction that produces gases, leading to a foam-like, insulating layer. Intumescent materials are widely used in fire retardant coatings for buildings and structural steel, as they provide passive fire protection by swelling and forming a protective barrier that insulates the material from high temperatures.

Fire Safety

In the context of fire safety, intumescent products, such as seals and coatings, are critical in preventing the spread of fire and smoke within a building. Intumescent door seals, for example, expand in the presence of heat to seal off gaps around door frames, thereby slowing the spread of fire and smoke. Similarly, intumescent coatings on structural steelwork expand to form a charred layer that protects the steel from the heat of a fire, maintaining the structural integrity of the building for a longer period.

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