Patent ID: 8048486

Claim:
A method for coating an article with a flame-retardant coating layer comprising: (a) combining a metal hydroxide with a cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, wherein the varnish polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, alkyd polyesters, and cross-linked polyacrylates, to form a mixture; (b) combining water and an alcohol to form a solution; (c) combining the mixture of step (a) with the solution of step (b) to form a coating composition consisting of the cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, the metal hydroxide present in an amount from about 25% to about 35% by weight of the composition, the alcohol, and water; and (d) applying the composition of step (c) to at least a portion of the article surface to form a coating layer, so that said coating layer develops cracks after drying.