Method of extinguishing or retarding fires
A foam concentrate or fire fighting composition for extinguishing and/or retarding fires is provided that meets UL162, Class B performance criteria for at least one of AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents. The concentrate is used to form the fire fighting composition when mixed with water. The concentrate or fire fighting composition includes a high molecular weight fluoropolymer and water and may have a fluorine content wherein less than about 0.008% fluorine by weight of the fire fighting composition is provided from any fluorochemical surfactant. Further, the composition may meet the UL162, Class B performance criteria without forming a stable seal on cyclohexane.
1. A method of extinguishing or retarding a fire comprising:
providing a fire fighting composition comprising water, a hydrocarbon surfactant and a high molecular weight fluoropolymer having an average molecular weight of at least 3000 g/mol so that the composition does not form a stable seal on cyclohexane and meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for at least one of AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents; and
applying the composition to an area where extinguishment or retardation of the fire is desired.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition contains less than 0.008% by weight fluorine provided by any fluorochemical surfactant.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying the composition to the area in combination with a dry fire fighting agent.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition contains a fluorochemical surfactant.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition contains a fluorochemical surfactant in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.008% fluorine by weight of the fire fighting composition.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition the fire fighting composition meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for at least two of AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and FP agents.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the high molecular weight fluoropolymer has an average molecular weight of at least 5000 g/mol.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides a foam life of at least 30 minutes without fluorochemical surfactants.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition has a spreading coefficient (SC) against cyclohexane of from about −4 or more.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.0003% or more fluorine by weight of the composition.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.045% or less fluorine by weight of the composition.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.0003% to about 0.045% fluorine by weight of the composition.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the high molecular weight fluoropolymer has an average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol.
15. A method of extinguishing or retarding a fire comprising:
providing a foam concentrate comprising water, a hydrocarbon surfactant and a high molecular weight fluoropolymer having an average molecular weight of at least 3000 g/mol;
mixing the foam concentrate with water to provide a fire fighting composition that does not form a stable seal on cyclohexane and meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for at least one of AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents; and
applying the composition to an area where extinguishment or retardation of the fire is desired.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the foam concentrate is used in an amount of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the composition contains less than 0.008% by weight fluorine provided by any fluorochemical surfactant.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
applying the composition to the area in combination with a dry fire fighting agent.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for AFFF agents.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the concentrate contains a fluorochemical surfactant.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
wherein the concentrate has a fluorine content provided from the fluorochemical surfactant that provides the fire fighting composition with from 0.001 to 0.008% fluorine by weight of the fire fighting composition.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for at least two of AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and FP agents.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for AFFF agents, AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides a foam life of at least 30 minutes without fluorochemical surfactants.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire fighting composition has a spreading coefficient (SC) against cyclohexane of from about −4 or more.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the high molecular fluoropolymer having an average molecular weight of at least 5000 g/mol.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.0003% or more fluorine by weight of the composition.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.045% or less fluorine by weight of the composition.
29. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluoropolymer provides the composition with from about 0.0003% to about 0.045% fluorine by weight of the composition.
30. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the high molecular weight fluoropolymer has an average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol.
31. A method of extinguishing or retarding a fire comprising:
providing a fire fighting composition comprising water, a hydrocarbon surfactant and a high molecular weight fluoropolymer having an average molecular weight of at least 5000 g/mol so that the composition has from about 0.0003% or more fluorine by weight of the composition from the fluoropolymer and does not form a stable seal on cyclohexane and meets UL 162, Class B performance criteria for AFFF agents and optionally at least one of AR-AFFF agents and fluoroprotein (FP) agents; and
applying the composition to an area where extinguishment or retardation of the fire is desired.