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 composition, comprising:
magnesium chloride dissolved in water;
a polysaccharide gum present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.0% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition;
an organic amine present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition; and
a colorant present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 6.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the organic amine comprises triethanolamine.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide gum comprises xanthan gum.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a fluorescent pigment.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition is a liquid concentrate; and
the magnesium chloride is present in the concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 20% to about 50% relative to the total weight of the concentrate.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein:
the composition is a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires; and
the magnesium chloride is present in the final diluted product in an amount having a weight percent of about 7% to about 30% relative to the total weight of the final diluted product.
7. A forest fire retardant composition, comprising:
a liquid salt solution comprising magnesium chloride dissolved in water;
a thickening agent present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.0% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition; and
an organic amine present in the composition in a weight percent of about 1.0% to about 3.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition.
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 10% to about 70% relative to the total weight of the composition.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 20% to about 50% relative to the total weight of the composition.
10. The composition of claim 8 , further comprising a colorant present in the composition in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 6.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the composition.
11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the colorant comprises a fluorescent pigment.
12. The composition of claim 7 ;
wherein:
the composition is a final diluted product intended for use to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires; and
the magnesium chloride is present in the final diluted product in an amount having a weight percent of about 7% to about 30% relative to the total weight of the final diluted product.
13. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the organic amine comprises triethanolamine.
14. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the thickening agent comprises a polysaccharide gum.
15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the polysaccharide gum comprises xanthan gum.
16. A method of manufacture, the method comprising:
combining the following components to form the liquid concentrate of claim 5 :
a liquid salt solution comprising the magnesium chloride dissolved in water;
the polysaccharide gum; and
the organic amine;
wherein the step of combining is performed via batch mixing or continuous mixing.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 20% to about 50% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate.
18. The method of claim 17 , 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.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the components further comprise a colorant present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 6.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the colorant comprises a fluorescent pigment.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the organic amine comprises triethanolamine.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the polysaccharide gum comprises xanthan gum.
23. The method of claim 16 , the method further comprising:
diluting the liquid concentrate with water to form a final diluted product intended for use to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires; or
providing instructions for diluting the liquid concentrate to form the final diluted product;
wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the final diluted product in an amount having a weight percent of about 7% to about 30% relative to the total weight of the final diluted product.
24. A method of combating a forest fire, the method comprising:
depositing, via aerial or ground-based application, the final diluted product of claim 12 ;
wherein the step of depositing comprises at least one of a direct attack on the fire or an indirect attack before the fire.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of depositing is performed via aerial application from an airplane or a helicopter.