Accession Number:

AD0882649

Title:

The Destruction of High-Expansion Fire-Fighting Foam by the Components of Fuel Pyrolysis and Combustion.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

STANFORD RESEARCH INST MENLO PARK CA

Personal Author(s):

• Alvares, Norman J.
• Lipska, Anne E.
• Alger, Raymond S.

Report Date:

1971-02-24

Pagination or Media Count:

109.0

Abstract:

Combustion and pyrolysis products in the air supply of high-expansion foam generators generally inhibit foam production. While this phenomenon is well documented, the mechanism is not known. The purpose of this research was to identify both the foam-breaking constituents and the mechanisms. Chemical constituents were identified both through literature search and measurements. Foam-breaking parameters were measured by the quality and quantity of foam generated when combustion products were introduced into a laboratory-scale foam generator, from the foamability of foam solution-containing products, by surface tension measurements with product-contaminated foam solutions, and by product gas diffusion through bubble walls. Half of the compounds tested detrimentally affect the production andor stability of Hi-X foam. In an environment of high smoke concentration it is possible, at least on laboratory scale, to remove enough foam-breaking chemicals by water-spray scrubbing techniques so that foam formation will resume. Author

Descriptors:

• (*FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
• FOAM)
• (*FOAM
• INHIBITION)
• COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
• DEGRADATION
• COMBUSTION
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• SMOKE
• PYROLYSIS
• CELLULOSE

Subject Categories:

• Safety Engineering
• Combustion and Ignition

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE