Environmentally Friendly Surfactants for Foams with Low Fuel Permeability Needed for Effective Pool Fire Suppression
Abstract
We conducted bench scale experiments, computational modeling, large scale testing, and collaboration with industry to develop fluorine free aqueous foam for effective pool fire suppression to replace Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). We invented a siloxane formulation containing commercial trisiloxanepolyoxyetylene and alkylpolyglycoside (APG) that suppressed heptane fire effectively (60% of AFFF) due to synergistic effects reducing foam degradation by heptane. However, the siloxane is less effective on gasoline fire due to its extraction by the fuel. By performing surfactant synthesis, we varied the oxyethylene size and head and tail sizes of the APG; competition between increased synergism and decreased amphiphilicity might have limited the improvements in foam stability. An understanding of the synergistic mechanisms and a more efficient design of surfactant structures are needed to improve fire suppression involving different fuels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 05, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1111148
Entities
People
- Arthur W. Snow
- John P. Farley
- Katherine M. Hinnant
- Ramagopal Ananth
- Spencer L. Giles
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory