Foam fire extinguishing agent

Abstract

Provided is a foam fire extinguishing agent that does not contain a fluorine compound and that exhibits sufficient fire extinguishing capacity against a water-soluble fuel fire. This non-fluorine-based foam fire extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels is characterized by not containing an organic fluorine compound, but containing water, a hydrocarbon-based surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a divalent metal salt, and an anionic surfactant.

Description

Foam fire extinguishing agent

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire-extinguishing foam for water-soluble fuels, and more particularly to a non-fluorine-based fire-extinguishing foam for water-soluble fuels that does not contain a fluorine-based compound and has excellent fire-extinguishing performance.

[0002] Foam fire extinguishing agents are primarily used for fires involving flammable liquids classified as Class 4 hazardous materials, and are supplied in a foamed state. The foam then spreads quickly over the flammable liquid, extinguishing the fire.

[0003] Here, in the case of a fire involving a water-soluble fuel such as alcohol, ketone, ester, ether or amine, even if a conventional fire extinguishing agent for petroleum fires is used to extinguish the fire, the foam of the extinguishing agent immediately disappears when it comes into contact with the surface of the burning liquid, and the fire cannot be sufficiently extinguished.

[0004] As foam extinguishing agents for use in such water-soluble fuel fires, foam extinguishing agents (fluorinated protein) in which a fluorine-based surfactant is added to a protein hydrolysate, and foam extinguishing agents in which a water-soluble polymer is added to a fluorine-based surfactant, etc. have been proposed and used so far (for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2007-252731 A, Patent Document 2: JP 2001-269421 A).

[0005] JP 2007-252731 A JP 2001-269421 A

[0006] However, in recent years, the use of organic fluorine compounds has been avoided due to environmental concerns, and fire extinguishing agents that do not use organic fluorine compounds have the problem of reduced alcohol resistance. To address this issue, it has been considered to use water-soluble polymers and hydrocarbon surfactants, but these have not been sufficiently effective against fires involving water-soluble fuels, and there is still room for improvement.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foam fire-extinguishing agent that does not contain an organic fluorine compound and that exhibits sufficient fire-extinguishing ability even against fires involving water-soluble fuels.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conducted extensive testing and research, and have discovered a foam fire extinguishing agent containing a water-soluble polymer, polysaccharide, and a hydrocarbon surfactant, alkylamine oxide, which further contains a divalent metal salt (CaCl ２ When the inventors tried adding a fluorine compound to a foam fire extinguishing agent (a foam extinguishing agent) and an anionic surfactant (sodium alkyl sulfate), they found that it was possible to realize a foam fire extinguishing agent that exhibited sufficient fire extinguishing ability against isopropyl alcohol (IPA) fires without using a fluorine compound, and thus completed the present invention.

[0009] That is, the foam fire extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized in that it does not contain an organic fluorine compound, but contains water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a divalent metal salt, and an anionic surfactant.

[0010] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the anionic surfactant is sodium alkyl sulfate.

[0011] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the concentration of the anionic surfactant in the foam fire-extinguishing agent is 0.2% by mass to 3.5% by mass.

[0012] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the salt of the divalent metal is a Ca salt or an Mg salt.

[0013] In the foam fire extinguishing agent of the present invention, the Ca salt or the Mg salt is CaCl ２ or MgCl ２ It is preferred that:

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a foam fire-extinguishing agent that does not contain a fluorine compound and that exhibits sufficient fire-extinguishing ability even against fires caused by water-soluble fuels (i.e., a non-fluorine-based foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels).

[0015] Hereinafter, foam fire extinguishing agents according to typical embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples shown in the table, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0016] 1. Components The foam fire-extinguishing agent according to this embodiment is a non-fluorine-based foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels, characterized in that it contains at least water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a divalent metal salt, and an anionic surfactant as a mother liquid (i.e., it has a composition excluding cases where a fluorine compound is contained). These essential components and optional components are described below.

[0017] (1) Hydrocarbon-Based Surfactant The hydrocarbon-based surfactant may be any surfactant that generates foam when the foam extinguishing agent is mixed with air, and examples thereof include alkylsulfonic acid-based, alkylamino-based, alkyl-polyoxyethylene and / or polyoxypropylene-based, alkylbetaine-based, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenol-based hydrocarbon surfactants. Of these, alkylamino-based hydrocarbon surfactants are preferred, and among these, alkylamine oxides are preferred, with coconut alkyldimethylamine oxide being more preferred. As the alkylamine oxide, commercially available products available from, for example, Lion Corporation, NOF Corporation, Takemoto Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., Kao Corporation, etc. can be used.

[0018] (2) Water-Soluble Polymers The water-soluble polymer may be any polymer that is soluble in water and functions to precipitate insoluble matter in the water-soluble fuel, and examples thereof include cellulose derivatives (methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, etc.), polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyvinyl ether, polyethylene glycol, tamarind seed gum, alginate esters, xanthan gum, pullulan, and other polysaccharides. Among these, tamarind seed gum, alginate esters, xanthan gum, pullulan, and other polysaccharides are preferred, with xanthan gum being more preferred. For example, commercially available products available from Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences, Kimica Co., Ltd., Higuchi Shokai Co., Ltd., Tsuruya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., FC Chemical Co., Ltd., CPKelco, and the like can be used.

[0019] (3) Water There are no particular limitations on the water used as long as it does not impair the effects of the present invention, and tap water, river water, seawater, etc. can be used.

[0020] (4) Divalent Metal Salt As described above, the present inventors have found that when a divalent metal salt is further added to a foam fire extinguishing agent containing a water-soluble polymer, a polysaccharide, and a hydrocarbon surfactant, an alkylamine oxide, the foam extinguishing agent can exhibit sufficient fire-extinguishing ability against a fire caused by isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a water-soluble fuel, and have thus completed the present invention. Although the details of the reason for this are unknown, it is speculated that the interaction between the metal ions and the polysaccharide produces a precipitate that is less likely to penetrate the water-soluble fuel.

[0021] Among these, the divalent metal salt is preferably a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and the alkaline earth metal is preferably Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba. Furthermore, Ca or Mg is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of low toxicity, familiarity, and ease of procurement and handling.

[0022] (5) Anionic Surfactant The foam fire extinguishing agent according to the present invention also contains an anionic surfactant. Examples of the anionic surfactant include compounds having a hydrophilic group, such as a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, sulfate, or phosphate ester group, and a hydrophobic group, such as an aliphatic or aromatic group. The inventors have discovered that the use of sodium alkyl sulfate, one of the anionic surfactants, in addition to a divalent metal salt further improves fire extinguishing performance. While the details of the reason for this are unknown, the inventors speculate that the increased foam stability and water retention improve heat resistance.

[0023] More specifically, examples of anionic surfactants include alkylbenzenesulfonic acids or salts thereof such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dialkylsulfosuccinic acids or salts thereof such as sodium diethylhexyl sulfosuccinate and sodium diisotridecyl sulfosuccinate, dipolyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinic acids or salts thereof such as sodium di(polyoxyethylene 2-ethylhexyl ether) sulfosuccinate and sodium di(polyoxyethylene isotridecyl ether) sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfate such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate such as polyoxyethylene myristyl ether sulfate and sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ester salts such as ammonium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate sodium and polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate ester salts such as sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate and ammonium polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, ... polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether sulfate salts such as sodium polycyclic phenyl ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether ammonium sulfate; polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene glycol ether sulfate or a salt thereof; alkyl sulfates or a salt thereof such as sodium lauryl sulfate, higher alcohol sodium sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate; fatty acids or a salt thereof such as potassium oleate, sodium oleate and semi-hardened beef tallow fatty acid sodium; alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonic acids or a salt thereof such as diammonium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, calcium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate and sodium alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonate; salts of condensates of aromatic sulfonic acids and formaldehyde, salts of condensates of aromatic sulfonic acids and formaldehyde such as sodium naphthalenesulfonate formalin condensate; N-acyl sarcosinates such as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate;Examples include higher fatty acid amidosulfonic acids or salts thereof, such as coconut oil fatty acid methyl tauride sodium, and N-acyl glutamic acids or salts thereof, such as N-stearoyl glutamate disodium and N-stearoyl glutamate monosodium.

[0024] (6) Optional Components The foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention may contain, as other components, various components that are added to conventional foam fire-extinguishing agents, to the extent that the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

[0025] (6-1) Solvent Examples of the solvent include water-soluble organic solvents that can be mixed with water. Examples include alcohols and esters. Specific examples include propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, normal propanol, normal butanol, octanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentadiol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, methyl glycolate, triethyl citrate, sodium lactate, and glycerin.

[0026] (6-2) Surfactants The foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention may contain other surfactants (nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants) that are not classified as the hydrocarbon surfactants in (1) above or the anionic surfactants in (5) above.

[0027] Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether type, polyoxyethylene alkylphenol type, polyoxyethylene alkylamine type, polyoxyethylene alkylamide type, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester type, propylene glycol fatty acid ester type, propylene glycol fatty acid dipolyoxyethylene lanolin ether type, aliphatic alkanolamide type, polyoxyethylene castor oil type, polyoxyethylene polyhydric alcohol type, polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester type, and polyoxyethylene polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester type.

[0028] Examples of cationic surfactants include monoalkylammonium chloride, dialkylammonium chloride, EO-added ammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, and benzyltrimethylammonium chloride.

[0029] (6-3) Others In addition, the composition may contain preservatives (for example, preservatives available from Taisho Technos Co., Ltd., Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd., ADEKA Corporation, Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., etc.), freezing point depressants (for example, lower alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol, butanol, octanol, etc., glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc., polyacrylamide, polyethyleneimine, urea, various inorganic salts, etc.), etc., within the scope of not impairing the effects of the present invention.

[0030] 2. Mixing Proportions of Each Component As described above, the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized by containing at least water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a divalent metal salt, and an anionic surfactant. The mixing proportions of these essential components may be adjusted as appropriate within a range that does not impair the effects of the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention. In particular, the mixing proportion of the anionic surfactant in the foam fire-extinguishing agent (total 100% by mass) is preferably 0.2% to 3.5% by mass, from the viewpoint of reliably achieving the effects of the present invention. In addition, the contents of the hydrocarbon surfactant and the water-soluble polymer in the mother liquor are preferably 8 to 15% by mass and 0.5 to 2.0% by mass, respectively, with the remainder being water (total 100% by mass).

[0031] Thus, the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, despite being formulated without containing fluorine-based compounds, has excellent heat resistance, which has been difficult to achieve with conventional fire-extinguishing agents, and also has other excellent properties. In addition, the raw materials are easily available.

[0032] 1. Preparation of Foam Fire-Extinguishing Agent The components shown in Table 1 were mixed in the mixing ratios shown in Tables 1 and 2 (total 100% by mass).

[0033] 2. Evaluation Test The foam fire extinguishing agent obtained as described above was diluted with water to 6% by volume to prepare a foam solution. A table fire extinguishing test was conducted for each foam solution sample as follows, and the results are shown in Table 2. (1) 200 ml of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was placed in a tray with an opening at the top and ignited. (2) Two minutes after ignition, the foam solution was foamed using a mixer and scooped into the tray with a spoon. (3) The foam fire extinguishing agent was continued to be added until the fire was extinguished, and the time and amount added until the fire was extinguished were confirmed.

[0034] From the results shown in Table 2, it was found that the foam fire extinguishing agent according to the present invention, when containing an anionic surfactant (sodium alkyl sulfate) in addition to a salt of a divalent metal, exhibits rapid fire extinguishing ability against water-soluble fuels at a small dosage (mixing ratio of anionic surfactant in the foam fire extinguishing agent (total 100 mass%): 0.2 mass% to 3.5 mass%. In particular, when the mixing ratio was 1.0 mass% to 3.0 mass%, a good balance was achieved between a short fire extinguishing time and a small dosage. Note that clouding is not preferred because it reduces the foaming ratio and makes the nozzle more likely to clog when the foam fire extinguishing agent is sprayed from the nozzle. Note that when MgCl is used as the salt of a divalent metal, ２ Similar results were obtained when a similar experiment was carried out using CaCl ２ Not only MgCl ２ was also found to be preferable.

Claims

1. A foam fire extinguishing agent that does not contain organic fluorine compounds, characterized by containing water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a divalent metal salt, and an anionic surfactant.

2. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant is sodium alkyl sulfate.

3. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the anionic surfactant in the foam fire extinguishing agent is 0.2% by mass to 3.5% by mass.

4. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the salt of the divalent metal is a Ca salt or an Mg salt.

5. The Ca salt or the Mg salt is CaCl ２ or MgCl ２ The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 4,

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