Fire fighting water additive

Abstract

A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition containing an aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer, and an emulsifier. The acrylic copolymer is preferably polyacrylamide. The acrylic copolymer has a polymeric weight of 5,000,000-50,000,000 Daltons or between 12,000,000-15,000,000 Daltons and is negatively charged. A surfactant acts as an inverter. The aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer is present in a range 35% to 70% by volume in the concentrate and the emulsifier is present in a range 10% to 70% by volume.

Claims

1. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is an aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon.

2. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, wherein the acrylic copolymer is a polyacrylamide.

3. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, wherein the acrylic copolymer has a molecular weight of 5,000,000-50,000,000 Daltons.

4. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, wherein the acrylic copolymer has a molecular weight of 12,000,000-15,000,000 Daltons and is negatively charged.

5. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, further comprising a surfactant which acts as an inverter.

6. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 5, wherein the surfactant/inverter is present in a range 0.01% to 10% by volume.

7. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 5, wherein the surfactant/inverter is isotridecanolethoxylate.

8. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, wherein the aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer is present in a range 35% to 70% by volume in the composition, and the emulsifier is present in a range 10% to 70% by volume.

9. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, further comprising a filler for increasing to final volume of the composition to facilitate easier mixing of the composition into a batch of water.

10. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 9, wherein the filler is present up to 40% by volume.

11. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 9, wherein the filler is a 0.1-10% solution of water.

12. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, further comprising a dye.

13. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition as in claim 1, wherein the composition is anionic and negatively charged.

14. A polymeric fire fighting water additive composition comprising 40% to 60% aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer, 30% to 60% of an emulsifier, and 0.01% to 5% of a surfactant/inverter, wherein the emulsifier is an aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon.

15. A polymeric fire fighting water additive concentrate having a pH of approximately 7.1, comprising about 50% anionic aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer, 49% aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon, and 0.5% isotridecanolethoxylate filler and suspension assister, all of the above concentrations by volume.

16. A polymeric fire fighting anti-freeze additive composition, comprising an aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is an aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1) The above description essentially outlines the invention, but to further assist with a level of understanding, reference follows to a particular example and a method of mixing the concentrate that has been found to be efficacious.

(2) It should be noted that the resultant product is for all intents and purposes the formulation, which performs and acts as described above.

Example 1—Wildfire Fighting Composition

(3) The following ingredients are prepared in quantity:

(4) Anionic aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer: 25 L

(5) Aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon: 24 L

(6) Ilsotridecanolethoxylate: 50 ml.

(7) Water (optional as suspension assister) 1 L

(8) Polymer Dye (colour to suit) Optional 5 ml.

(9) The ingredients are combined in the following order: 1. The aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymers must be placed in mixing vat and mixed for approximately 10 minutes. 2. Whilst mixer is still in progress add Aliphatic Cycloparaffinic Hydrocarbon and mix for approximately 45 minutes. 3. Whilst mixer is in progress add isotridecanolethoxylate slowly and mix for approximately 15 minutes and let sit for minimum 1 hour. 4. If suspension assister is required for warmer climates (optional) whilst mixer is still in progress, add water very slowly and mix for approximately 30 minutes. and let sit for a minimum 6 hours then mix again for 30 minutes prior to packaging through a filter system (approx 300 microns).

(10) If the ingredients in this formula are not mixed in the above order, [critically No. 1 & 2 prior to No. 3] & [Nos. 1, 2 & 3 prior to No. 4] the finished product will be unusable as planned for in this invention. The water must be added slowly to the polymer mixture, you cannot add the polymer mixture to water in these quantities.

(11) The mixer should be a vat type with propeller type mixing equipment.

(12) By this formulation and manufacture means, a polymeric fire fighting water additive concentrate is formed which can be packed in plastic drums, plastic dispenser bags with one way valves, or similar containers.

(13) As described above the concentrate can be used in a ratio of 2:1000 liters of water alternatively the concentrate may be used in concentrations of 0.5:1000 to 4:1000 depending on the specific application requirement.

Example 2—Wildfire Fighting Composition

(14) Anionic aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymer: 25 L

(15) Aliphatic cycloparaffinic hydrocarbon: 23 L

(16) Isotridecanolethoxylate: 50 ml.

(17) Polypropylene Gylcol: 1 L

(18) Water 1 L 1. The aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymers must be placed in mixing vat and mixed for approximately 10 minutes. 2. Whilst mixer is still in progress add Aliphatic Cycloparaffinic Hydrocarbon and mix for approximately 45 minutes. 3. Whilst mixer is in progress add isotridecanolethoxylate slowly and mix for approximately 15 minutes and let sit for minimum 1 hour. 4. Premix glycol with the required amount of water. 5. Whilst mixer is still in progress, add water/glycol premix very slowly and mix for approximately 30 minutes and let sit for a minimum 6 hours then mix again for 30 minutes prior to packaging through a filter system (approx 300 microns).

(19) As with example 1 given above it is important that the mixing regimes is as followed above.

(20) As with the examples given it is found that the invention can be frozen and thawed back to its pre-frozen state which is uncommon for normal polyacrylamide emulsions.

(21) Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

(22) In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprising” is used in the sense of “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.