Nagpur-based academic-turned-entrepreneur, Dr L T Gangotri, has developed a special chemical component that can resist heat up to 1,000?C. This has led him to create a new brand of paint called 'Fire-1'. Huned Contractor gets the details.

It is paint that could probably save lives. In what is claimed to be the first-of-its-kind fire-resistant paint developed by a Nagpur-based painting technologist, this paint can sustain temperatures up to 1,000 degree Celsius and protects metal, wood, plastic, and cloth. In this interview, Dr L T Gangotri elaborates on what gives the paint its unique properties:

Could you tell us something about yourself?

I have B.Tech and M.Tech degrees along with a doctorate in paint technology and have taught surface coating technology for 35 years. I retired as Professor and Head of Department of Surface Coating at the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur. I am now an entrepreneur. My interest in paints stems from the fact that my family had a paint shop and was engaged in all types of painting business.

How did you develop the fire-resistant paint?

During my stint with the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology I had the opportunity to indulge in a lot of research work related to surface coating processes. Since silicon paint can resist temperatures up to 600?C, my curiosity to see if there was any other material that could resist higher temperatures led me to explore the subject. I was quite surprised to find there was hardly any reference material available since very little research has been carried out on this topic so far.

I replaced silicon with titanium and invented a new polymer in 2008-09. The invented material was found to be fire-proof up to 800?C. My research findings were published in 'Paint India' and I was felicitated by the Indian Paint Association in 2009. However, I wanted to take it further and this led to developing paint that could now resist temperatures of up to 1,000?C, virtually making it fire-proof.

I have named this paint 'Fire-1' which has a new organometallic polymer as one of its components. Fire-1 has been tested and surfaces coated with it do not catch fire or burn. It looks like any other ordinary paint and is sustainable for up to six years or so.

What would you recommend Fire-1 for?

• It can be recommended for several application areas, including:
• Petroleum storage tanks, plants, depots, vehicles, and petrol pumps
• Defence explosives' storage godowns
• Oil refineries and pipelines
• Oil drilling platforms and machineries
• Electric wires and high-voltage cables
• Firefighting equipment and clothes
• PVC pipes for electric wires
• Airplanes, helicopters, ships, trains, buses, and private vehicles
• Kitchens, hotels, homes, offices, public and private auditoriums, shopping malls, high-rise buildings, etc
• Plastic parts of cars, scooters, bike, and air-conditioners
• Building materials like plywood, particle boards, wood, pre-fabricated doors, and panels, and
• Server rooms, electric and electronic distribution rooms, etc.

How do you intend to put this invention to commercial use?

I have started my own company called Gangotri Hi-Tech Coatings which has started manufacturing and supplying Fire-1 paint and high temperature corrosion-resistant paint called G1000. We have received inquiries for bulk supply from the Indian Railways, DRDO, electric cable wire manufacturers, building contractors, fire consultants, and so on. Our installed capacity is of 1 lakh litre per month.

Aren't there other fire-resistant paints available in the market?

The product that I have developed has the unique property of withstanding very high temperatures. I doubt if there are other such paints with the same features.

(Dr Lokman T Gangotri, Gangotri Hi-Tech Coatings, B-1 Wasudeonagar, Hingna Road, Nagpur 440 036. Mobile: 098902-03453. E-mail: sachin@gangotrihtc.com)