The Fireproofing Abilities of Sodium Polyacrylate In the Form of a Gel, Water Based Paint, and Spray
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Chemistry
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
In light of recent events, finding more methods of making homes and buildings more fire resistant is important. A method of making homes and buildings more fire resistant is using fire and heat resistant coating and applying them to the surfaces of these structures. While other types of coatings have been widely researched and are currently used, there is little research on how superabsorbent polymers can be used to protect against heat and flame. Sodium polyacrylate is a super absorbent polymer that turns into a gel. Sodium polyacrylate has been observed to have heat resistant properties due to how the chemical orients with water. The sodium polyacrylate was tested in 3 different forms along with a control with no form of the chemical. It was tested in the form of a gel, a sprayable liquid, and mixed in with a water based paint. It was hypothesized that the material tested with the sodium polyacrylate in the form of the gel would prevent more of the testing material from being burned than the material tested with sodium polyacrylate in the form of a liquid, mixed in with a water based paint, or the control. The samples had their own respective coatings placed on them and were burned for 2 minutes. The mass in grams of each sample was measured before testing and then the remaining material was measured after testing to record the amount lost. 15 of each variable, including the control, was burned for a total of 60 samples. An ANOVA was conducted after experimentation to test the significance of the data. The ANOVA showed that the data were significant and rejected the null hypothesis with a p- value <0.001. A post hoc Tukey tukey test showed that there were significant differences between the gel and every variable except for the sodium polyacrylate combined with the water- based paint. Further analysis showed that the gel and the paint did not yield statistically different results. The test also revealed that the spray was only statistically different from the control in terms that it kept most of the surface from burning.
Recommended Citation
Moore, Sydni, "The Fireproofing Abilities of Sodium Polyacrylate In the Form of a Gel, Water Based Paint, and Spray" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 93.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/93
Location
Furman Hall 108
Start Date
3-28-2020 9:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Fireproofing Abilities of Sodium Polyacrylate In the Form of a Gel, Water Based Paint, and Spray
Furman Hall 108
In light of recent events, finding more methods of making homes and buildings more fire resistant is important. A method of making homes and buildings more fire resistant is using fire and heat resistant coating and applying them to the surfaces of these structures. While other types of coatings have been widely researched and are currently used, there is little research on how superabsorbent polymers can be used to protect against heat and flame. Sodium polyacrylate is a super absorbent polymer that turns into a gel. Sodium polyacrylate has been observed to have heat resistant properties due to how the chemical orients with water. The sodium polyacrylate was tested in 3 different forms along with a control with no form of the chemical. It was tested in the form of a gel, a sprayable liquid, and mixed in with a water based paint. It was hypothesized that the material tested with the sodium polyacrylate in the form of the gel would prevent more of the testing material from being burned than the material tested with sodium polyacrylate in the form of a liquid, mixed in with a water based paint, or the control. The samples had their own respective coatings placed on them and were burned for 2 minutes. The mass in grams of each sample was measured before testing and then the remaining material was measured after testing to record the amount lost. 15 of each variable, including the control, was burned for a total of 60 samples. An ANOVA was conducted after experimentation to test the significance of the data. The ANOVA showed that the data were significant and rejected the null hypothesis with a p- value <0.001. A post hoc Tukey tukey test showed that there were significant differences between the gel and every variable except for the sodium polyacrylate combined with the water- based paint. Further analysis showed that the gel and the paint did not yield statistically different results. The test also revealed that the spray was only statistically different from the control in terms that it kept most of the surface from burning.
