Autonomous Fire-Fighting Agent Using Polymeric Binder and Mineral Fibers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous firefighting agents face high production costs due to complex gelatin shell manufacturing and have a high triggering threshold, and they may detach from substrates over time, losing effectiveness, requiring smooth and level surfaces for adherence.
Innovation Solution
A composite firefighting agent with microcapsules of halocarbons in polyurea or polyurethane shells, embedded in a binder containing mineral fibers and particles, which are durable, flexible, and adhere well without a substrate, with a lower triggering threshold and improved durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gelatin shells are used to micro-capsulize fire-extinguishing composition, then the fire-extinguishing agent can be released automatically upon heating, but the manufacturing process becomes technologically complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive gelatin shells with inexpensive polymeric binder material that can be easily applied to substrates. The polymeric binder serves as a disposable coating that contains the fire-extinguishing composition and releases it when heated, eliminating the need for complex gelatin shell manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gelatin shell component from the system and replaces it with a polymeric binder. This removal of the complex gelatin shell manufacturing step simplifies the overall process while maintaining the essential function of containing and releasing the fire-extinguishing composition.
2Stability of the object's composition
If gelatin shells with high triggering threshold are used, then the microcapsules remain stable at lower temperatures, but the fire-extinguishing agent may not activate in time for certain fire scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature threshold parameter by using polymeric binder material that can be formulated to activate at appropriate temperatures. This allows the fire-extinguishing agent to remain stable during normal conditions but activate reliably when needed, adjusting the triggering threshold to match specific fire protection requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fire-extinguishing composition is coated on substrate surfaces, then the agent can be applied to protect objects, but the coating may crack and flake off over time due to temperature and moisture fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system where the polymeric binder is combined with fire-extinguishing composition and mineral fillers. This composite structure provides both adhesion to substrate surfaces and resistance to cracking under temperature and moisture fluctuations, maintaining coating integrity over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible polymeric binder film that can accommodate substrate surface irregularities and expand/contract with temperature changes without cracking. This flexible film maintains continuous adhesion to the substrate while protecting the fire-extinguishing composition from environmental degradation.
4Ease of operation
If the fire-extinguishing composition is embedded in polymeric binder, then the agent becomes flexible and can be applied without smooth substrates, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive polymeric binder material that can be easily applied to substrates through conventional coating methods. This cheap polymeric binder eliminates the need for expensive gelatin shell manufacturing while providing the flexibility and adhesion needed for easy application to various surface types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, flexible, and reliable firefighting agent that maintains effectiveness for years, adheres well to various surfaces, and extinguishes fires within 10 to 20 seconds, protecting electrical equipment and other critical objects from fire damage.
Implementation Method 1
The microcapsules are microspheres consisting of spherical gelatin shells, each enclosing a liquid fire-fighting agent such as any substances in the class of halo-organic compounds... that are released automatically upon heating
Implementation Method 2
the binder, which is a composite polymeric material containing a polymeric component and mineral fibers and/or particles, contributes strength, flexibility, and durability to the agent
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an autonomous fire-fighting agent (10) formed from a material with fire-extinguishing properties. Said material comprises: microcapsules with a fire-extinguishing composition, said microcapsules having sizes of from 2 to 100 µm and being in the form of a halocarbon enclosed in a polymeric shell consisting of polyuria and/or polyurethane; and a binder. In accordance with the invention, the binder comprises a composite material comprising a polymeric component and mineral fibers and/or particles. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an autonomous fire-fighting agent (10) and an object which uses the autonomous fire-fighting agent (10) to fight a fire 10-20 s after ignition.