Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam Composition for Class A and B Fires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firefighting foams containing fluorinated surfactants are being replaced by a need for non-fluorinated alternatives that can effectively extinguish Class A and Class B fires, as fluorinated products are undesirable in the marketplace.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous firefighting foam compositions comprising a sugar component, anionic and zwitterionic surfactants, organic solvents, and polysaccharide thickeners, which are free of fluorinated compounds and amine oxides, are used to create firefighting foams by dilution and aeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorinated surfactants are used in firefighting foam compositions, then fire-fighting effectiveness is improved, but environmental compatibility and market acceptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing fluorinated surfactants with non-fluorinated alternatives (specifically amino acid-based surfactants and zwitterionic surfactants). This substitution maintains the foam-forming capability and fire-fighting effectiveness while eliminating the environmental harm associated with fluorinated compounds, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite surfactant systems combining amino acid-based surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and other eco-friendly components. This composite approach creates a synergistic formulation that achieves the fire-fighting performance previously provided by fluorinated surfactants while maintaining environmental compatibility, effectively resolving the technical contradiction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-fluorinated surfactants are used to replace fluorinated surfactants, then environmental compatibility is improved, but fire-fighting effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure and concentration parameters of non-fluorinated surfactants, specifically using amino acid-based and zwitterionic surfactants with tailored hydrophobic and hydrophilic balances. These parameter adjustments enable the non-fluorinated surfactants to achieve foam stability and fire suppression effectiveness comparable to fluorinated alternatives, thereby resolving the contradiction between environmental compatibility and fire-fighting reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops composite foam formulations combining multiple non-fluorinated surfactant types (amino acid-based, zwitterionic) with complementary properties. This composite strategy creates synergistic effects that enhance fire-fighting effectiveness while maintaining environmental compatibility, successfully overcoming the performance limitations of individual non-fluorinated surfactants
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 compositions effectively extinguish Class A and Class B fires without the use of fluorinated surfactants, providing a viable alternative with high efficiency and environmental compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a surfactant mixture containing a zwitterionic surfactant and an alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant, alkyl sulfonate anionic surfactant, an alkyl ether sulfate anionic surfactant
Implementation Method 2
an organic solvent, such as a glycol, glycerol and/or glycol ether
Data Source
AI summary
A firefighting foam concentrate having a sugar component including a monosaccharide sugar, a sugar alcohol, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; a surfactant component comprising an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; and a suspension agent including microfibrillated cellulose and an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of fluorinated compounds.