Thermal Barrier Enhancement of Fire Suppression Agents through Intumescent Nanocomposite Additions

ABSTRACT:Injuries from fires are a persistent threat to the safety of our soldiers and a can prove to be a massive source of devastation during both war and non-war times. Current man portable fire suppression aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) systems spray a high pressure blast of foam that initially extinguishes the fire and then secondarily creates a film over the surface to prevent vapors from combusting while preventing alternate re-ignition sources from coming in contact with the any flammable materials. While current AFFF fire containment and extinguishing techniques can be used to put out fires, there are materials still smoldering or materials that are still too hot to touch for quick removal risking the lives of people potentially trapped by hot or burning objects. Lynntechs solution is to incorporate low cost intumescent nanocomposites of exfoliated clay nanoparticles with low thermal conductivities into existing AFFF systems. The foaming nature of the AFFF extinguisher will effectively transport the clay nanocomposites onto objects enabling them to coat the surface. When the clay nanocomposites flash dry, an expanded insulating char coating of clay nanoparticles will be left behind shielding the surface from heat enabling it to be touched.BENEFIT:Fluorosurfactant-containing foams, in particular aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), are the most effective agents currently available to fight Class B flammable liquid fires at airports and in military, industrial, and municipal settings. Currently, the US military possesses the largest stockpile of AFFF in the United States. This work has the potential to greatly enhance and advance the capabilities of rescuers and first responders to save the lives of personnel trapped in fires and flaming wreckage by enabling them to quickly traverse flame damaged areas more quickly than current fire suppression systems allow.