Tropodegradable Bromocarbon Extinguishants
Abstract
Current commercially available Halon 1301 replacement compounds (other than CF3I) lack the fire suppression effectiveness of halon primarily because they do not contain bromine in their molecular structure. Bromine is thought to catalyze radical recombination reactions which deprive the combustion process of the (dot)OH and (dot)H radical species which promote the combustion of fuel molecules in the gas phase. This project was conceived to develop new fire suppressants incorporating bromine by basing the compounds on chemical families with expected or demonstrated short atmospheric lifetimes. These compounds are said to be tropodegradable bromocarbons. The targeted chemical families in order of importance were partially fluorinated alkenes, ethers, and amines. The alkenes have now been shown to have very short lifetimes on the order of days. This project identified several low boiling brominated and partially fluorinated alkenes, ethers, and amines with potential of meeting the toxicity, fire suppression, and environmental criteria currently identified under the EPA's SNAP program for halon replacements. Several of these tropodegradable compounds were subsequently acquired and their cup-burner flame suppression performance evaluated with promising results. Several of the bromofluoro alkenes have now also been evaluated in an acute inhalation toxicity test which yielded extremely promising results for this chemical family. This is an interim report covering the first phase of an ongoing effort.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA418385
Entities
People
- April Martinez
- J. D. Mather
- Joseph Lifke
- Robert E. Tapscott