Flame or fire retarding agents and their manufacture and use

Abstract

The invention relates to an agent, in particular a flame retarding agent and/or a fire retarding agent, for reducing the combustibility and flammability of various materials or matters, e.g. like wood and wood products, textiles, paper, cardboard, fibers and fabrics, paints, including composites and/or composite materials therewith, the manufacture of the composition and methods of using the agent and/or the corresponding combination of its constituents to reduce combustibility and flammability. An exemplary composition in dry form (powder) for 1 l of aqueous solvent, in particular for 1 l of water, contains borax in an amount of 30 to 70 wt.-%, boric acid of 30 to 70 wt.-%, sodium chloride (NaCl) in a maximum amount of less than 5 wt.-%, and, if desired, urea in an amount up to 5 g; based in each case on the composition as 100 wt.-%. However, the compositions are preferably free from urea.

Claims

1. An agent for reducing the flammability or combustibility of materials comprising a mixture of: a) boric acid in an amount from about 30% to about 70% by weight of the mixture; b) borax in an amount from about 30% to about 70% by weight of the mixture; and c) an alkali metal chloride in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to less than about 5% by weight of the mixture.

2. The agent of claim 1, wherein the agent is in a solid form.

3. The agent of claim 1, wherein the agent is in the form of pellets or granulates.

4. The agent of claim 1, wherein the agent is dissolved in an aqueous solvent.

5. The agent of claim 4, wherein the aqueous solvent is water.

6. The agent of claim 1, wherein from about 50 g to about 200 g of the mixture is dissolved in an amount of an aqueous solvent to provide about 1000 g of a total composition.

7. The agent of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal chloride is sodium chloride.

8. The agent of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal chloride is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of the mixture.

9. An agent for reducing the flammability or combustibility of materials, wherein the agent comprises a mixture of: a) boric acid in an amount from about 30% to about 70% by weight of the mixture; b) borax in an amount from about 30% to about 70% by weight of the mixture; c) an alkali metal chloride in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to less than about 5% by weight of the mixture; and d) urea in an amount of up to about 5% by weight of the mixture.

10. The agent of claim 9, wherein the agent is in a solid form.

11. The agent of claim 9, wherein from about 50 g to about 200 g of the mixture is dissolved in an amount of an aqueous solvent to provide about 1000 g of a total composition.

12. The agent of claim 11, wherein the aqueous solvent is water.

13. The agent of claim 9, wherein the alkali metal chloride is sodium chloride.

14. The agent of claim 9, wherein: a) the alkali metal chloride is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of the mixture; and b) the urea is present in an amount of less than about 5% by weight of the mixture.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) In the following, the functionality of the invention will now be described in more detail by means of examples, but without intending to limit the scope of the invention as a result. The scope of the invention is defined in the patent claims and is supported by the above detailed description. The examples serve for further illustration.

(2) To facilitate the mixing of the compositions in the examples below, it is recommended to heat the water to about 60 C.

Example 1: Flame Retarding Agent

(3) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with sum of borax and boric acid to 95 g:

(4) TABLE-US-00001 Borax 30 to 65-70 g Boric acid 30 to 65-70 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) up to less than 5 g (max. <5 wt.-%) Urea 0 to 5 g

Example 2: Flame Retarding Agent

(5) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with the sum of borax and boric acid to 100 g:

(6) TABLE-US-00002 Borax 35 to 55 g Boric acid 35 bis 55 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) up to less than 5 g.

Example 3: Flame Retarding Agent

(7) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with the sum of borax and boric acid to 100 g.

(8) TABLE-US-00003 Borax 35 to 55 g Boric acid 35 to 55 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) 5 g (4.76 wt. %)

Example 4: Flame Retarding Agent

(9) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with the sum of borax and boric acid to 100 g.

(10) TABLE-US-00004 Borax 45 to 55 g Boric acid 45 to 55 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) up less to than 5 g (4.76 wt.-%)

Example 5: Flame Retarding Agent

(11) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with sum of borax and boric acid to max. 95 g:

(12) TABLE-US-00005 Borax 45 to 55 g Boric acid 45 to 55 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) up less to than 5 g (max. <5 wt.-%)

Example 6: Flame Retarding Agent

(13) Composition in dry form (powder) for aqueous solvent, in particular for water, to 1000 g total solution; with the sum of borax and boric acid to 100 g:

(14) TABLE-US-00006 Borax 30 to 70 g Boric acid 30 to 70 g Sodium chloride (NaCl) up to 3 g (max. <2.91 wt.-%)

Example 7: Other Flame Retarding Agents Analogously to Example 6

(15) TABLE-US-00007 Ex. Borax Boric Acid NaCl NaCl No. (g) (g) (g) (wt.-%) 7a 60 40 4 3.85 7b 40 60 4 3.85 7c 60 40 3 2.91 7d 40 60 3 2.91 7e 60 40 2 1.96 7f 40 60 2 1.96 7g 54 44 2 2.0 7h 54.5 44 1.5 1.5 7i 55 45 1 0.99 7j 45 55 1 0.99 7k 55 44 1 1.0 44 55 1 1.0 71 55 44.5 0.5 0.5 7m 54.5 45 0.5 0.5 7n 55 44.9 0.1 0.1

Example 8: Flame Retarding Agent-Application

(16) The flame retarding agents of Examples 1 to 7 show excellent flame and fire protection properties, in particular in the case of wood-like or paper-like materials, in the test with a gas burner (flame heat, optionally adjustable, between 350 and about 1000 C.). Flame formation is prevented by the agent and, if an initial slight flame formation occurs during the action of the gas burner, the flame extinguishes very quickly and cannot maintain itself.