Application of ultra-fine dry chemicals modified by POTS/OBS for suppressing aviation kerosene pool fire

Author: Zhao, J. C., Lu, S., Fu, Y. Y., Shahid, M. U., Zhang, H. P.

Journal: Fire Safety Journal

DOI:  10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103148

Keywords: Ultra-fine dry chemicals, Oil-repellency, Aviation kerosene, Pool fires, Fire extinguishing, flame, fabrication, extinction, Engineering, Materials Science

Abstract: 

Ultra-fine dry chemicals, as an effective fire suppressant, may have higher fire extinguishing efficiency and the ability to inhibit pool fires re-ignition after oil-repellent treatment. Thus, we used two surfactants, i.e. POTS (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane) and OBS (Sodium perfluorononyloxybenzenesulfonate) to modify fine sodium bicarbonate and studied the effect of POTS/OBS compound ratios on powders oil-repellency. SEM images revealed the structures of the modified powders, and XPS confirmed that the modifiers were successfully grafted on the surface of powders. The fire extinguishing experiments showed that the dry chemicals after modified would have higher fire extinguishing efficiencies, especially after OBS added. Furthermore, the isolation layer formed by modified powders was observed on the fuel surface after fire extinguishing, which would effectively inhibit the re-ignition of aviation kerosene.