Fire Fighting Foam
Fire-fighting foam is a foam used for fire suppression. Its role is to cool the fire and to coat the fuel, preventing its contact with oxygen, resulting in suppression of the combustion. Fire-fighting foam was invented by the Russian engineer and chemist Aleksandr Loran in 1902.
The surfactants used must produce foam in concentration of less than 1%. Other components of fire-retardant foams are organic solvents (e.g., trimethyltrimethylene glycol and hexylene glycol), foam stabilizers (e.g., lauryl alcohol), and corrosion inhibitors.
Low-expansion foams have an expansion rate less than 20 times. Foams with expansion ratio between 20 and 200 are medium-expansion. Low-expansion foams such as AFFF are low-viscosity, mobile, and able to quickly cover large areas.
High-expansion foams have an expansion ratio over 200. They are suitable for enclosed spaces such as hangars, where quick filling is needed.
Alcohol-resistant foams contain a polymer that forms a protective layer between the burning surface and the foam, preventing foam breakdown by alcohols in the burning fuel. Alcohol-resistant foams should be used in fighting fires of fuels containing oxygenates, e.g. MTBE, or fires of liquids based on or containing polar solvents.
Read more about Fire Fighting Foam: Class A Foams, Class B Foams, Applications, History of Fire Fighting Foams
Famous quotes containing the words fire, fighting and/or foam:
“We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.”
—Tennessee Williams (1914–1983)
“In a toddler’s mind, agreeing with you means that he is indistinguishable from you.... The adamant little tot is fighting hard to solidify a personal sense of Self. Selfhood sometimes requires great sacrifice and often precludes cooperation.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)
““To dine!” she shrieked in dragon-wrath.
“To swallow wines all foam and froth!
To simper at a table-cloth!”
Say, can thy noble spirit stoop
To join the gormandising troop
Who find solace in the soup?”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)