Patent Application

App. No. 10/710,494

Abstract

Claims (13)

1 . A method for suppressing an explosion in a fuel tank, comprising:

installing into the tank a reticulated polyurethane foam having a density less than 1.0 pounds per cubic foot [16 kg/m 3 ].

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane foam has a density of from 0.6 to 0.9 pounds per cubic foot [9.6 to 14.4 kg/m 3 ].

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane foam has a volume electrical resistivity of less than 10 12 ohm-cm at 70EF [21.1EC].

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane foam is reticulated by thermal reticulation.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tank has an inner volume and the foam fills from 50 to 90% of the inner volume of the tank.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank is an aircraft fuel tank.

7 . A three dimensional structure for use as an explosion suppressing material in a fuel tank, comprising:

a reticulated polyurethane foam prepared by (i) reacting at least one polyester or polyether polyol or a mixture of such polyols and at least one isocyanate compound under foaming conditions to produce a polyurethane foam having a density less than 1.0 pounds per cubic foot [16 kg/m 3 ], and (ii) reticulating said polyurethane foam.

8 . The structure of claim 7 , wherein the polyurethane foam has a density of from 0.6 to 0.9 pounds per cubic foot [9.6 to 14.4 kg/m 3 ].

9 . The structure of claim 7 , wherein one or more antistatic agents are added when the polyurethane foam is formed, and the polyurethane foam has a volume electrical resistivity of less than 10 12 ohm-cm at 70EF [21.1EC].

10 . The structure of claim 7 , wherein the polyurethane foam is reticulated by thermal reticulation.

11 . The structure of claim 7 , wherein the polyurethane foam is formed under vacuum foaming conditions.

Assignments (8)