Date of Award

6-2026

Degree Name

MS in Polymers and Coatings

Department/Program

Chemistry & Biochemistry

College

College of Science and Mathematics

Advisor

Leslie Hamachi

Advisor Department

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Advisor College

College of Science and Mathematics

Abstract

The 2025 Palisades Fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of Los Angeles, destroying thousands of structures and severely impacting the communities after. This widespread destruction demonstrated an urgent need for more effective wildfire prevention strategies. Architectural coatings do not only provide aesthetics and protection against environmental conditions but can also function as a thermal indicator when a fire breaks out. This study examines the thermally induced color transformation of iron oxide pigments, commonly used in earthtone paint, to provide information relevant to CAL FIRE for improved analysis of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire behavior and mitigation efforts. This entails the study of the relevant pigment by itself, as well as within a resin used in paint. Temperature and exposure time were systematically varied, with color changes quantified using CIELAB, thermal behaviors via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), chemical composition from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, phase transformation through X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphological information using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental composition from energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results from this study confirmed color changes in iron oxide pigments when exposed to elevated temperatures, with the color converting from yellow to red. This is consistent with CAL FIRE reports of reddening in architectural coatings after a fire.

Download

Share

COinS