PEI Foam Enhancers for Fluorine-Free Class A/B Firefighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluorine-containing firefighting foams face issues related to toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence, necessitating the development of fluorine-free alternatives that are effective for both Class A and Class B fires.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a modified or unmodified polyethylene (PEI) polymer foam enhancer into firefighting foam compositions to enhance foam expansion ratio and quarter drain time, utilizing cationic PEI molecules that can be zwitterionic or anionic in nature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorine-containing firefighting foams are used, then firefighting effectiveness is improved, but toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirefighting effectivenessVSAvoidtoxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes fluorine-containing surfactants from the firefighting foam composition, extracting the harmful component while retaining the essential firefighting functionality through fluorine-free alternative surfactant systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by substituting fluorine-containing compounds with fluorine-free surfactants, thereby altering the chemical properties to eliminate toxicity and persistence while maintaining foam performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If fluorine-free firefighting foams are developed, then toxicity and persistence issues are resolved, but foam performance improvements are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoxicity and persistence reductionVSAvoidfoam performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite surfactant systems combining multiple fluorine-free surfactants with polyethyleneimine foam enhancer to achieve synergistic effects that improve foam expansion, stability, and fire suppression performance while maintaining the fluorine-free benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If conventional AFFF foams are used, then Class B fire suppression is effective, but environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveClass B fire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the environmental harm caused by fluorine-containing foams into a benefit by developing fluorine-free formulations that perform equally or superiorly in Class B fire suppression while eliminating the harmful environmental effects, effectively turning the limitation into an advantage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20250319341A1Polyethylene (PEI) foam enhancers for firefighting foam compositions for class a and class b fires

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 PERIMETER SOLUTIONS LP

AI summary

The present invention is generally directed to firefighting foam compositions containing a (modified or unmodified) polyethylene (PEI) polymer foam enhancer, including concentrates, solutions (e.g., foam-forming solutions), and the foams produced from the concentrates and/or solutions. Compositions of the present invention are typically fluorine-free. Compositions of the present invention are suitable for use for both Class A and Class B fires (Class A/B).