THE MECHANISM BY WHICH HALOGENATED AGENTS ACT AS FLAME SUPPRESSANTS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXTENSIVE RESEARCH FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS.

THE MECHANISM BY WHICH HALOGENATED AGENTS ACT AS FLAME SUPPRESSANTS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXTENSIVE RESEARCH FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS. THE UNDERGROUND MINING INDUSTRY LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BLAST IN UNDERGROUND MINE SHAFTS OFTEN RICH IN METHANE GAS HAVE USED THIS CONCEPT IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF "PERMISSIBLE EXPLOSIVES." BY ADDING SALTS TO STANDARD EXPLOSIVES FORMULATIONS, THE FIREBALL CAUSED BY A DETONATION CAN BE SNUFFED OUT BEFORE THE METHANE GAS IS IGNITED (ADEQUATE STEMMING IS ALSO REQUIRED). THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS OCCURING IN THE ACCIDENTAL DETONATION OF AN EXPLOSIVE CAUSED BY LOW ENERGY STIMULI, IS THAT INITIALLY A DEFLAGRATION OCCURS WHICH OFTEN PROGRESSES ALMOST INSTANTLY INTO A DETONATION. IT IS THE HYPOTHESIS OF THERMEX ENERGY CORPORATION THAT IF HALOGENATED AGENTS WERE INTRODUCED INTO STANDARD MILITARY MUNITION FILLS, THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT SENSITIVITY TO LOW ENERGY STIMULI AND FIRE COULD BE REDUCTED. THE ACCIDENTIAL LOW ENERGY STIMULI WOULD TRIGGER THE RELEASE OF HALOGEN IONS (RADICALS) AT THE SAME INSTANT IT INITIATED THE DEFLAGRATION. THE HALOGEN IONS BEING MORE ACTIVE AND HAVING THE OPPOSITE POLARITY WOULD TEND TO TAKE THE IONS OF COMBUSTION OUT OF THE REACTION COMBINING WITH THEM TO FORM AN INERT COMPOUND, SNUFFING OUT THE FLAME.