Long-term fire retardant with corrosion inhibitors and methods for making and using same
A forest fire retardant composition contains water and a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl 2 (H 2 O) x , wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl 2 (H 2 O) x , wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a liquid concentrate or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.
1. A forest fire retardant liquid concentrate, comprising:
a magnesium salt solution comprising a magnesium salt dissolved in water, the magnesium salt being present in the solution in an amount having a weight percent of about 25% to about 35% relative to the total weight of the solution, and the solution being present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 85% to about 99% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate;
a corrosion inhibitor for at least one of iron, brass, or aluminum, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a thickening agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.75% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a buffering agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a colorant, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate.
2. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium salt comprises magnesium chloride.
3. The liquid concentrate of claim 2 , wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 26% to about 33% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate.
4. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , further comprising a pigment, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.1% to about 2.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate.
5. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a fluorescent pigment.
6. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the thickening agent comprises a polysaccharide gum.
7. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the buffering agent comprises triethanolamine.
8. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises one or more azoles.
9. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , further comprising a glow-in-the-dark additive.
10. The liquid concentrate of claim 9 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark additive comprises at least one of LumiNova, LumiNova Green (G), LumiNova G PS-2, LumiNova Blue Green (BG), a zinc sulfide pigment, or a fluorophore.
11. The liquid concentrate of claim 10 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark additive comprises a fluorophore comprising at least one of CH1055 (4.8-Bis(2-(4-(bis(4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenyl)amino)phenyl)-5H-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-f]benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole), Cy7 or Cy7.5.
12. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluorescent pigment; and
a glow-in-the-dark additive.
13. A kit comprising:
a sealed container which contains the liquid concentrate of claim 1 substantially in the absence of external moisture; and
instructions for using the liquid concentrate to make a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires.
14. A forest fire composition comprising:
the liquid concentrate of claim 1 ; and
water;
wherein:
the forest fire composition is a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires; and
the magnesium salt solution is present in the final diluted product in an amount having a weight percent of about 2% to about 30% relative to the total weight of the final diluted product.