Wildfire flame-retardant fire extinguishing agent composition and methods of making, applying same

Abstract

The application discloses a wild fire flame-retardant fire extinguishing agent composition and a preparation method and application method thereof, which comprises: a flame-retardant active system; and a fadeable coloring system; the fadeable coloring system comprises one or more organic coloring components which are prone to fade under the action of sunlight, moisture, oxygen or a combination thereof; wherein the fadeable coloring system is present in an amount sufficient to enable the wild fire flame-retardant fire extinguishing agent composition to exhibit a visible color at the initial stage of application and gradually fade under environmental exposure conditions; wherein the flame-retardant active system is an aqueous flame retardant. The composition can exhibit a significantly visible color at the initial stage of application, facilitating quick identification of a treatment area during aerial and ground operations; after application, the color can gradually fade after exposure to the natural environment, thereby reducing the long-term residual visual impact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of flame retardants and forest fire prevention technology, and particularly relates to a wildfire flame retardant composition with fading coloring function, its preparation method and its application method in wildfire prevention and fighting. Background Technology

[0002] Wildfire retardants are commonly used for fire prevention and suppression operations in forests, grasslands, shrublands, and other outdoor environments. Existing long-lasting fire retardants typically contain persistent red or orange dyes or pigments to help pilots and ground personnel identify the application area and coverage.

[0003] However, such persistent coloring systems may remain on vegetation, soil, rocks, buildings and other surfaces for a long time after application, causing significant long-term coloring and visual impact, especially in landscape-sensitive areas, residential areas, cultural resource areas and ecologically sensitive areas.

[0004] Existing technologies struggle to simultaneously address both of these aspects: on the one hand, fire suppression and pretreatment operations require the composition to have sufficiently high visibility during application to identify coverage areas and respray zones; on the other hand, it is desirable for the color to gradually fade over time after the operation to reduce long-term environmental and landscape impacts.

[0005] Therefore, it remains necessary to provide a wildfire retardant composition that combines high visibility during operation with gradual fading after application to meet the practical application needs of wildfire prevention and control. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a wildfire retardant composition with a fadeable coloring function. This composition exhibits a clearly visible color in the initial stage of application, facilitating rapid identification of the treatment area during aerial and ground operations; after application, its color gradually fades upon exposure to the natural environment, thereby reducing long-term residual visual impact.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition comprising:

[0009] Flame retardant active system; and

[0010] A fadeable coloring system; the fadeable coloring system includes one or more organic coloring components that are prone to fading under the action of sunlight, moisture, oxygen or a combination thereof;

[0011] The fadeable coloring system is present in an amount sufficient to make the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition have a visible color at the initial stage of application and gradually fade under environmental exposure conditions.

[0012] The wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition is suitable for aerial or ground application in the prevention and control of wildfires or forest fires.

[0013] Preferably, the flame-retardant active system includes one or more flame-retardant salts; the flame-retardant salts are selected from one or more of ammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, and ammonium sulfate.

[0014] Preferably, the water-based flame retardant is Komodo K500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate.

[0015] In some embodiments, the organic coloring component may be selected from one or more of the following commercial dyes or pigments as the main coloring component: Chromatint Red 1887 Liquid (Chromatech, model D93287X), Chromatint Red 3463 Dispersion (Chromatech, model P93001), Chromatint Red 1064 Liquid (Chromatech, model M93055), Rojo Escarlata (Pyosa, model RE216), Naranja Pyrazolona (Pyosa, model NP-130 SDM), Rocket Red (Day-Glo Pigment, model ECO13), Blaze Orange (Day-Glo Pigment, model ECO15), Fire Orange (Day-Glo Pigment, model ECO14), Fluorescent Pigment Blue (Arrow Point Corp, model 6P-19C or 6N-19), Covarine Red (Sensient, model WN-3798), Bright Pink (Pylakor, model LX-10055), Alphazurine Blue (Pylam, model LX-6262), Bright Orange (Pylam, model 1208212), curcumin, and beet juice powder, etc., can also be used in combination of two or more to obtain the desired initial color and fading behavior.

[0016] Preferably, the total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.1% to 5% of the total weight of the wildfire flame retardant composition, more preferably 0.1% to 1.5%.

[0017] Preferably, the total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.1% to 2% of the total weight of the wildfire flame retardant composition.

[0018] More preferably, the total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.5% to 1% of the total weight of the wildfire retardant composition. When the total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.5% to 1%, the wildfire retardant composition exhibits a bright color in the initial stage of application, making it easy for firefighters to quickly identify treated and untreated areas. As the exposure time to the natural environment increases, the dye gradually fades under the influence of environmental factors such as sunlight and humidity, and fades to a state that is basically close to the appearance of the untreated substrate within about 3 months, without causing long-term obvious staining to vegetation, buildings, and landscapes. At the same time, the effective components of the flame-retardant base composition remain on the surface of the treated substrate after the color fades, continuing to exert a flame-retardant protective effect. Preferably, the fadeable coloring system includes one or more organic coloring components that are prone to fading under the influence of sunlight, humidity, oxygen, or a combination thereof.

[0019] Preferably, the wildfire retardant composition initially exhibits a red, pink, orange, magenta, or other color that contrasts sharply with the outdoor background after application.

[0020] Preferably, after the wildfire retardant composition is sprayed onto vegetation, soil, rock, wood or building surfaces, the color gradually weakens with prolonged exposure to the natural environment and fades to a state that is substantially similar to the appearance of the corresponding uncolored substrate within about 3 months.

[0021] Furthermore, as the color of the fadeable coloring system gradually fades, the flame-retardant active system still maintains its flame-retardant function.

[0022] As another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method for preparing the wildfire flame retardant composition, comprising the following steps:

[0023] A. Add the flame-retardant active system to the mixing container;

[0024] B. Start the circulating mixing and shear stirring device;

[0025] C. Under stirring conditions, the colorfast coloring system is slowly added to the flame-retardant active system to form a premix;

[0026] D. Add the remaining water to the premixed liquid in step C, and continue stirring and mixing until the resulting mixture has a uniform color distribution, to obtain the wildfire retardant composition with fadeable coloring function.

[0027] In step D, samples are taken at predetermined intervals during the later stage of mixing to compare color consistency. When multiple consecutive samples have the same color, the mixing is considered complete.

[0028] Furthermore, in steps C and D, the total mixing time is not less than 30 minutes.

[0029] As another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method for suppressing the ignition of wildfires or the spread of flames, comprising applying the wildfire retardant composition to the surface of vegetation or other combustibles to form a flame-retardant covering layer, wherein the fadeable coloring system is used to indicate the coverage area and gradually fades in a later stage; and, as the color of the fadeable coloring system gradually fades, the flame-retardant active system still maintains its flame-retardant function.

[0030] The application method is one or more of the following: fixed-wing aircraft application, helicopter application, ground spraying, hose spraying, and backpack spraying.

[0031] As another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method for identifying treated and untreated areas during wildfire fighting, comprising applying the wildfire retardant composition to the target area and identifying the coverage boundary and operation range based on its visible color at the initial stage of application, wherein the color gradually fades under subsequent exposure to the natural environment.

[0032] As another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method for applying a wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition, comprising:

[0033] Step (a) provides the individual components of the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition;

[0034] Step (b): Prepare the weight ratio of the color-fading system in the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition to the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition according to the predetermined application method; wherein: when ground spraying is required, a first preset ratio is selected; when aerial spraying is required, a second preset ratio different from the first preset ratio is selected;

[0035] Step (c) involves applying the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition, formulated according to the application method, to the surface of target vegetation or other combustibles via corresponding air or ground equipment.

[0036] Furthermore, when the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition is sprayed on the ground, the mass percentage of the fading coloring system is controlled at 0.5% to 0.6%; in the scenario of spraying the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition in the air, the mass percentage of the fading coloring system is set at 1.5%.

[0037] The Komodo K500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate of this invention is commercially available. Komodo FireSystems' K500C is a plant-based, water-based flame retardant concentrate formulation for vegetation and surface pretreatment, primarily used for wildfire protection and mitigation. It is designed to be low in toxicity to humans and the environment, and can be applied on a large scale using ground equipment; its main flame retardant component is ammonium phosphate; and it does not contain traditional halogenated flame retardants or other hazardous compounds.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0039] (1) The composition of the present invention has a clearly visible color in the early stage of application, which helps pilots and ground workers to accurately identify the applied and unapplied areas, thereby improving the accuracy and continuity of operations.

[0040] (2) When the composition of the present invention is sprayed on the surface of various substrates such as vegetation, wood, and walls, the color can gradually weaken with exposure to the natural environment and fade to a state close to the appearance of the uncolored substrate within about 3 months, thereby reducing long-term visual residue.

[0041] (3) The present invention does not affect the on-site application function of the flame retardant active system while the color gradually fades, taking into account both the visibility of the operation and the environmental friendliness of the later landscape.

[0042] (4) The composition of the present invention is compatible with existing flame retardant mixing, storage and dispensing equipment, and is easy to promote and apply to wildfire prevention, fire line construction, key area protection and fire fighting operations.

[0043] (5) The composition of the present invention has been verified by multi-substrate natural exposure test and laboratory light exposure test. After application, under the conditions of about 3 months of natural exposure and about 50,000 Langleys of cumulative light exposure, the color appearance of its coating is basically close to that of the uncolored control substrate. Therefore, when applied in environments such as landscape-sensitive areas, wildlife habitats, recreational areas, cultural resources and private property, it can meet the visibility requirements during the operation period while minimizing long-term coloring and surface contamination, thereby improving the environmental and social acceptability of flame retardants in the above-mentioned areas.

[0044] (6) To evaluate the performance of the fadeable coloring system and determine a suitable formulation, several different types and amounts of colored formulations were sprayed onto the surfaces of various substrates, including leaves, tree trunks, plastered exterior walls, and wood, and observed continuously under natural environmental conditions for up to approximately 3 months. The results showed that the preferred formulation had high visibility in the initial stage of application, and the color gradually weakened thereafter, fading to a state that was essentially close to the appearance of the uncolored substrate within approximately 3 months, without affecting the field use function of the base flame-retardant composition.

[0045] (7) The composition of the present invention can be used for aerial application, ground application, and fire prevention pretreatment in woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, mountains, and other outdoor environments. The composition has both operational visibility and low residual visual impact after the operation, and is suitable for wildfire prevention, fire line construction, protection of key areas, and firefighting operations. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a photograph taken immediately after the flame-retardant extinguishing agent in Example 2 was sprayed.

[0047] Figure 2 This photo was taken approximately 24 hours after the flame-retardant extinguishing agent in Example 2 was applied.

[0048] Figure 3 This photo was taken approximately 72 hours after the flame-retardant extinguishing agent in Example 2 was applied.

[0049] Figure 4 This is a graph showing the relationship between the colorant ratio and fading time in Example 8.

[0050] Figure 5 This is a graph showing the relationship between the colorant ratio and visible distance in Example 8. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To better understand the content of this invention, further description is provided below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these embodiments are only for further illustration of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the description of this invention, those skilled in the art may make some non-essential modifications or adjustments to the invention, which still fall within the protection scope of this invention.

[0052] I. Examples of Formulation and Preparation of Wildfire Retardant Extinguishing Agent

[0053] Example 1: Preparation of a blue, fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent

[0054] This embodiment provides a blue, color-fading wildfire retardant extinguishing agent, suitable for firefighting operations that require blue marking of sprayed areas.

[0055] (a) Composition

[0056] The composition of this embodiment comprises the following components by weight percentage:

[0057]

[0058] (II) Preparation method

[0059] A. Based on the required total amount of finished product, prepare the corresponding amount of Komodo K500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate (100% concentration).

[0060] B. Add the corresponding amount of fluorescent pigment blue (Arrow Point Corp, model 6P-19C or 6N-19) to the above concentrate and stir thoroughly for 10 minutes at a stirring speed of 2000 RPM until the dye and concentrate are evenly mixed to form a premix. For example, when preparing 100 gallons of finished product, 20 gallons of concentrate should be premixed with the corresponding proportion of dye.

[0061] C. Add the remaining water (approximately 79 gallons) to the premix and continue stirring at 2000 RPM for 10 minutes until the mixture is a uniform blue color, thus obtaining the finished blue fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent.

[0062] (III) Performance Description

[0063] The wildfire retardant extinguishing agent obtained in this embodiment exhibits a bright fluorescent blue color in the initial stage of application, facilitating rapid identification of treated and untreated areas by firefighters. As the exposure time to the natural environment increases, the fluorescent blue pigment gradually fades under the influence of environmental factors such as sunlight and humidity, and within approximately three months, it fades to a color that is essentially close to the appearance of the untreated substrate, without causing long-term noticeable staining to vegetation, buildings, or landscapes. Simultaneously, the active ingredients of the flame-retardant base composition remain on the surface of the treated substrate after the color fades, continuously providing flame-retardant protection.

[0064] Example 2 Preparation of pink fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent (0.5% dye)

[0065] This embodiment provides a pink, color-fading wildfire retardant extinguishing agent, suitable for firefighting operations that require pink marking of sprayed areas.

[0066] (a) Composition

[0067] The composition of this embodiment comprises the following components by weight percentage:

[0068]

[0069] (II) Preparation method

[0070] A. Based on the required total amount of finished product, prepare the corresponding amount of Komodo K500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate (100% concentration).

[0071] B. Add the corresponding amount of Bright Pink dye (Pylakor, model LX-10055) to the above concentrate and stir thoroughly for 10 minutes at a stirring speed of 2000 RPM until the dye and concentrate are evenly mixed to form a premix. For example, when preparing 100 gallons of finished product, 20 gallons of concentrate should be premixed with the corresponding proportion of dye.

[0072] C. Add the remaining water to the premixed solution and continue stirring at 2000 RPM for 10 minutes until the mixture turns a uniform pink color, thus obtaining the finished pink fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent.

[0073] (III) Performance Description

[0074] The wildfire retardant extinguishing agent obtained in this embodiment initially presents a bright pink color, facilitating rapid identification of treated and untreated areas by firefighters. As exposure to the natural environment increases, the Bright Pink dye gradually fades under the influence of sunlight, humidity, and other environmental factors, reducing its color to approximately the same level as the untreated substrate within about three months, without causing long-term noticeable staining to vegetation, buildings, or landscapes. Simultaneously, the active ingredients of the flame-retardant base composition remain on the treated substrate surface after the color fades, continuing to provide flame-retardant protection.

[0075] Example 3: Preparation of pink, fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent (1% dye)

[0076] This embodiment provides a pink fadeable wildfire extinguishing agent with a high coloring concentration. The amount of dye used is doubled compared to Example 2, making it suitable for firefighting operations where initial visibility is critical.

[0077] (a) Composition

[0078] The composition of this embodiment comprises the following components by weight percentage:

[0079]

[0080] (II) Preparation method

[0081] A. Based on the required total amount of finished product, prepare the corresponding amount of Komodo K500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate (100% concentration).

[0082] B. Add the corresponding amount of Bright Pink dye (Pylakor, model LX-10055) to the above concentrate and stir thoroughly for 10 minutes at a stirring speed of 2000 RPM until the dye and concentrate are evenly mixed to form a premix. For example, when preparing 100 gallons of finished product, 20 gallons of concentrate should be premixed with the corresponding proportion of dye.

[0083] C. Add the remaining water to the premixed solution and continue stirring at 2000 RPM for 10 minutes until the mixture turns a uniform pink color, thus obtaining the finished pink fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent.

[0084] (III) Performance Description

[0085] Compared to Example 2, this example increases the amount of Bright Pink dye to 1%, resulting in a higher contrast pink color in the initial application stage, further enhancing visibility. This makes it particularly suitable for aviation applications with low visibility or large coverage areas. The fading characteristics and flame retardant properties are essentially the same as in Example 2.

[0086] II. Application Method Examples

[0087] Example 4

[0088] The composition obtained in Example 1 was applied to woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, perimeters of wooden structures, perimeters of building facades, or other areas requiring fire protection via fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, ground spraying equipment, hose spraying equipment, or backpack spraying equipment. After application, the composition initially exhibits a high-contrast color, facilitating identification of the coverage area and areas requiring reapplication.

[0089] III. Example of Effect Testing

[0090] Example 5 Natural fading performance test

[0091] To evaluate the performance of the fadeable coloring system in this invention and determine a suitable formulation, several different types and amounts of coloring formulations were prepared. Each formulation was sprayed onto the surfaces of various typical outdoor substrates, including leaves, tree trunks, plastered exterior walls, and wood, and exposed to natural environmental conditions.

[0092] Subsequently, over a period of approximately three months, the changes in color appearance on various substrates were regularly observed and recorded to monitor color fading over time. Based on the color retention and fading degree of each formulation on different substrates, the formulation with good visibility in the initial application stage and superior fading effect in the later stage was selected as the preferred formulation.

[0093] Test results show that when the total addition of the fading coloring system is 0.5% to 1% of the preferred formulation, it has obvious high-contrast color in the early stage of application, which makes it easy for operators to identify the treated area. As the exposure time in the natural environment increases, the color gradually weakens and fades to a state that is basically close to the appearance of the corresponding uncolored substrate within about 3 months, without causing long-term obvious staining to vegetation, buildings and landscapes.

[0094] Example 6: Light Visibility and Fading Test

[0095] To further evaluate the performance of the fadeable coloring system of the present invention and determine a suitable formulation, the preferred formulation obtained in Example 5 was evaluated for its opacity and fading characteristics using a standardized laboratory light irradiation test.

[0096] (1) Preparation of test plates

[0097] Several clean flat glass plates were selected as test substrates. One portion was treated with a flame retardant formulation containing a fadeable colorant, while the other portion was treated with a control flame retardant formulation without colorant. Using a Gardner scraper or equivalent device, a uniform coating with a nominal wet film thickness of approximately 0.064 inches was prepared on the surface of each glass plate and dried under specified conditions to obtain the non-fading control plate and the fadeable test plate used for evaluation.

[0098] (2) Light exposure of the mixed flame retardant

[0099] Place the test panels outdoors or in a similar natural light testing area and expose them to natural sunlight until the cumulative light exposure reaches approximately 50,000 Langleys. The cumulative light exposure can be determined according to the recommended method for natural light exposure, and an intermediate check should be performed every approximately 10,000 Langleys. Record the color and appearance changes of the fadeable test panels and control panels, and take photos for record-keeping.

[0100] (3) Determination of the opacity of the mixed flame retardant

[0101] Before and after exposure to light, the opacity (opacity) of the film containing fading colorant and flame retardant was measured on a black and white contrast substrate to evaluate the ability of the coloring system to provide visibility in the initial stage and the changes after exposure.

[0102] (4) Fading assessment

[0103] After light exposure, the test panels were evaluated for fading. The outer edge of the film (approximately 1 inch) was disregarded during evaluation; this area could be removed or masked. The appearance of the flame retardant coating containing the fading colorant was compared to that of the control coating without colorant, including color depth, hue, and overall visual characteristics. The coloring system was considered to exhibit acceptable fading characteristics under the stated light conditions when the colored coating on the test panel, after completing the specified light exposure, showed essentially neutral color and opacity compared to the control panel, with no significant difference.

[0104] In this invention, a flame retardant composition that meets the above-mentioned light irradiation test criteria can be defined as a "composition with fadeable coloring properties", that is, a flame retardant composition whose appearance is substantially similar to that of an uncolored control panel after a specified cumulative light irradiation (e.g., about 50,000 Langleys).

[0105] To visually demonstrate the fading behavior of the composition of the present invention on a solid substrate, the flame retardant containing a fading coloring system obtained in Example 1 was sprayed onto the surface of an uncoated wooden board to form a continuous coating layer, and then placed under natural environmental conditions.

[0106] Example 7: Observation of fading on wood-based substrate

[0107] The fading performance of the pink fadeable wildfire retardant extinguishing agent (0.5% dye) prepared in Example 2 was tested. Photographs were taken of the same wooden board at different time points after spraying. Figure 1 The photo was taken immediately after spraying, showing that the flame retardant on the wood surface has a bright, high-contrast color and clear coverage boundaries, making it easy to identify the treated areas.

[0108] Figure 2 The photo was taken approximately 24 hours after the product of Example 2 was sprayed. The color is significantly weaker than the initial state, and the color saturation is reduced, but it can still provide on-site workers with information on the coverage area.

[0109] Figure 3 The photo was taken approximately 72 hours after the product of Example 2 was sprayed. The residual color on the surface of the wood board has become even lighter, and the overall appearance is close to that of the untreated wood board. Only a very slight tint remains, which will not have a significant long-term impact on the appearance of the substrate.

[0110] The above results demonstrate that the color of the composition of the present invention on a solid substrate can be significantly reduced over a period of tens of hours, which is beneficial to reducing long-term staining of targets such as buildings and wooden structures.

[0111] The above results show that the color of the composition of the present invention can fade significantly on vegetation in a short period of time. Combined with the test data of Examples 5 and 6, it can be further proved that the fadeable coloring system is beneficial to reducing the risk of long-term coloring and pollution in landscape-sensitive areas, wildlife habitats and recreational areas.

[0112] Example 8

[0113] This embodiment is to verify the correlation between the colorant addition ratio of the present invention and the visibility and fading time of the dyed wildfire retardant extinguishing agent in the field environment.

[0114] In the flame retardant composition of the present invention, the proportion of colorant added is significantly correlated with the visibility of the dyed flame retardant in the field environment and the fading time. For example... Figure 5As shown in the figure, experiments revealed that the visible distances varied depending on the colorant mass percentage: when the colorant content was between 0.1% and 0.6%, the visible distance of the flame retardant coloring layer was approximately 30 to 300 feet; when the colorant content was between 0.7% and 1.4%, the visible distance was approximately 400 to 900 feet; and when the colorant content was between 1.5% and 2.0%, the visible distance was approximately 1000 to 1200 feet. Further increasing the colorant content resulted in a near-saturation point in the visible distance increase, making further significant increases difficult. These results indicate that the composition of this invention can meet long-distance identification requirements with a colorant ratio of approximately 1.5% to 2.0%.

[0115] like Figure 4 As shown, in terms of fading characteristics, the fading time of the flame retardant of the present invention is extended with the increase of the colorant content. Under normal sunlight and natural conditions, the time required for the colored layer to fade to an environmentally acceptable neutral color is approximately 1 week when the colorant mass percentage is 0.1%–0.5%; approximately 2 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 0.6%–0.9%; approximately 3 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.0%–1.1%; approximately 4 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.2%–1.3%; approximately 5 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.4%; approximately 6 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.5%–1.6%; approximately 7 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.7%; approximately 8 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.8%; approximately 9 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 1.9%; and approximately 10 weeks when the colorant mass percentage is 2.0%. As the colorant content increases further, the fading time increases in an almost exponential manner. When the fading time exceeds about 12 weeks, it is no longer considered a "fading" dyeing system, but rather tends to be a long-term residual non-escape color.

[0116] The aforementioned relationship between visibility and fading time allows the proportion of colorant added to be adjusted appropriately according to specific application scenarios. For example, when spraying flame retardants on the ground, workers have a relatively short observation distance, lower requirements for visibility, and want the coloring marks to fade automatically in a short period to minimize long-term environmental and landscape impacts. In this case, the percentage of colorant by mass can be controlled at approximately 0.5% to 0.6%. Within this range, the visibility distance is typically around 200 to 300 feet, and the fading time is approximately 1 to 2 weeks, satisfying both the visual marking requirements of ground operations and facilitating natural recovery later.

[0117] In aerial spraying applications, pilots need sufficient long-range visibility at a safe altitude to accurately determine the spray range and overlap areas. The safe flight altitude for aerial spraying operations is typically around 250 feet. To ensure sufficient advance reaction distance for pilots, this invention preferably ensures the visibility of the colored strip is at least approximately 1000 feet. Considering the fading time requirement (ensuring the flame-retardant strip remains identifiable for fire scene review and respray assessment for several weeks, while avoiding long-term residue), this invention preferably sets the colorant mass percentage to approximately 1.5%. Under this condition, the visibility distance reaches or exceeds approximately 1000 feet, while the fading time is controlled to approximately 6 weeks, achieving a good balance between aerial operational safety, fire scene management visualization needs, and long-term environmental impact.

[0118] The foregoing description is not intended to limit the invention, nor is the invention limited to the examples given. Any changes, modifications, additions, or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention should also be considered within the protection scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition, characterized in that, include: Flame-retardant active system; as well as A fadeable coloring system; the fadeable coloring system includes one or more organic coloring components that are prone to fading under the action of sunlight, moisture, oxygen or a combination thereof; The fadeable coloring system is present in an amount sufficient to make the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition have a visible color at the initial stage of application and gradually fade under environmental exposure conditions.

2. The wildfire retardant composition according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flame-retardant active system includes one or more flame-retardant salts; the flame-retardant salts are selected from one or more of ammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, and ammonium sulfate.

3. The wildfire retardant composition according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flame retardant active system is KomodoK500C long-lasting flame retardant concentrate; The organic coloring component is selected from one or more of the following commercial dyes: Chromatint Red 1887 liquid pigment (Chromatech, model D93287X), Chromatint Red 3463 dispersion (Chromatech, model P93001), Chromatint Red 1064 liquid pigment (Chromatech, model M93055), Rojo Escarlata pigment (Pyosa, model RE216), Naranja Pyrazolona pigment (Pyosa, model NP-130 SDM), Rocket Red fluorescent pigment (Day-Glo, model ECO13), Blaze Orange fluorescent pigment (Day-Glo, model ECO15), Fire Orange fluorescent pigment (Day-Glo, model ECO14), Fluorescent Pigment Blue fluorescent pigment (ArrowPoint Corp, model 6P-19C or 6N-19), Covarine Red The dyes (Sensient, model WN-3798), Bright Pink dye (Pylakor, model LX-10055), Alphazurine Blue dye (Pylam, model LX-6262), Bright Orange dye (Pylam, model 1208212), curcumin, and beetroot powder, and any combination thereof.

4. The wildfire retardant composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.1% to 5% of the total weight of the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition.

5. The wildfire retardant composition according to claim 4, characterized in that, The total amount of the fadeable coloring system added accounts for 0.5%-1% of the total weight of the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition.

6. A method for preparing the wildfire retardant composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A. Add the flame-retardant active system to the mixing container; B. Start the circulating mixing and shear stirring device; C. Under stirring conditions, slowly add the colorfast coloring system to the flame-retardant active system; A premixed solution is formed; D. Add the remaining water to the premixed liquid in step C, and continue stirring and mixing until the resulting mixture has a uniform color distribution, to obtain the wildfire retardant composition with fadeable coloring function. In step D, samples are taken at predetermined intervals during the later stage of mixing to compare color consistency. When multiple consecutive samples have the same color, the mixing is considered complete.

7. A method for preparing the wildfire retardant composition according to claim 6, characterized in that, In steps C and D, the total mixing time shall not be less than 30 minutes.

8. A method for suppressing the ignition of combustibles or the spread of flames in the wild, characterized in that, The invention includes applying the wildfire retardant composition of any one of claims 1-6 to the surface of vegetation or other combustibles to form a flame-retardant coating, wherein the fadeable coloring system is used to indicate the coverage area and fades gradually over time; and the flame-retardant active system retains its flame-retardant function as the color of the fadeable coloring system gradually fades.

9. A method for applying a wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition, characterized in that, include: Step (a) provides each component of the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition of claim 3; Step (b): Prepare the weight ratio of the color-fading system in the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition to the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition according to the predetermined application method; wherein: when ground spraying is required, a first preset ratio is selected; when aerial spraying is required, a second preset ratio different from the first preset ratio is selected; Step (c) involves applying the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition, formulated according to the application method, to the surface of target vegetation or other combustibles via corresponding air or ground equipment.

10. The method of applying the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition is sprayed on the ground, the mass percentage of the fading coloring system is controlled at 0.5% to 0.6%; in the scenario of spraying the wildfire retardant extinguishing agent composition in the air, the mass percentage of the fading coloring system is set at 1.5%.

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