Non-Fluorinated Firefighting Foam Composition for Class A and B Fires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firefighting foams containing fluorinated surfactants are being phased out, necessitating the development of non-fluorinated firefighting compositions that can effectively extinguish Class A and Class B fires.
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 formulated to form firefighting foams by dilution and aeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorinated surfactants are used in firefighting foam compositions, then firefighting effectiveness is improved, but environmental sustainability and safety deteriorate due to persistence and toxicity
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 surfactant functionality needed for foam formation and fire suppression while eliminating the harmful environmental properties associated with fluorinated compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite surfactant systems combining amino acid-based surfactants with zwitterionic surfactants. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect that maintains firefighting effectiveness while achieving environmental sustainability. The combination of different surfactant types allows the formulation to achieve both fire suppression performance and eco-friendliness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-fluorinated surfactants are used to replace fluorinated surfactants, then environmental sustainability is improved, but firefighting effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and molecular structure parameters of non-fluorinated surfactants to achieve effective firefighting performance. By carefully selecting the amino acid derivatives and zwitterionic surfactant concentrations, the formulation achieves sufficient surface activity and foam stability needed for fire suppression while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite surfactant systems combining amino acid-based surfactants with zwitterionic surfactants to achieve synergistic effects. This combination compensates for the individually lower performance of non-fluorinated surfactants while maintaining environmental sustainability. The composite approach enables both eco-friendliness and effective fire suppression.
3Reliability
If conventional foam-forming compositions are used, then firefighting performance is maintained, but dependence on harmful fluorinated compounds continues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes fluorinated compounds from the firefighting foam composition entirely. By eliminating these harmful substances and replacing them with amino acid-based and zwitterionic surfactants, the formulation maintains firefighting performance while achieving freedom from harmful fluorinated compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable amino acid-based surfactants that are environmentally friendly and can be safely degraded after use. These surfactants replace persistent fluorinated compounds with substances that have short environmental lifetimes and can be broken down naturally, reducing long-term environmental impact while maintaining firefighting effectiveness.
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 provide effective firefighting foams that can extinguish Class A and Class B fires without the use of fluorinated surfactants, offering a sustainable alternative with improved performance.
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
a polysaccharide thickener
Implementation Method 3
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.