WO2009060246A2

WO2009060246A2 - Fire-proof liquid as well as its production and use

Info

Publication number: WO2009060246A2
Application number: PCT/HU2008/000126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Imre KALMÁR-NAGY
Original assignee: Vidatech Kft.
Priority date: 2007-11-05
Filing date: 2008-10-21
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: WO2009060246A3; HUP0700710A2; HU0700710D0

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with fire-proof liquids which form on inflammable materials a resisting crust inhibiting the combustion of the inflammable materials. The main components of a fire-proof liquid according to the present invention are the alkali salts of water-glass, the common salt (sodium chloride), talc and other similar silicates, the graphite, and optionally the alkali earth metal salts of arabic acid, including acacia gum, i.e. gum arabic, too. The present invention is concerned also with the production process of said fire-proof liquids as well as the relief from fire performed with this liquid.

Description

Fire-proof liquid as well as its production and use

The present invention is concerned with fire-proof liquids which form on inflammable materials a resisting crust inhibiting the combustion of the inflammable materials. The main components of a fire-proof liquid according to the present invention are the alkali salts of water-glass, the common salt (sodium chloride), talc and other similar silicates, the graphite, and optionally the alkali earth metal salts of arabic acid, including acacia gum, i.e. gum arabic, too. The present invention is concerned also with the production process of said fire-proof liquids as well as the exemption from fire performed with this liquid.

One of the greatest blessing and one of the greatest malediction of the mankind is the fire. The fire setting on duty of the mankind is practically fundamental condition of our life, on the other hand, it can irregularly cause such damages which are able to annihilate lives, establishments, fortunes. Accordingly the protection against fire is equal in age with the striking of fire - or also older, if we are thinking about fires caused by stroke of lighting. When the smaller and later the greater human communities rose, the organizational forms and technical means of the collective fire-fighting developed together with these communities, too.

Though a lot of reasons and forms of the origin of fire are possible, the source of a fire developed from some kind of reasons and the presence of combustible materials form the basis of spreading of the fire.

The traditional means of the fire-fighting for thousand years are the application of water, and the removal of the combustible materials, i.e. the isolation of the seat of a fire; these means form the basis of most fire-fighting today, too. By the development of the technics, first of all the chemistry, however, other fire-fighting technics have appeared, too. No matter, how the means of the fire-fighting have developed, the fire is a living danger today too in like manner as in the age of our ancestors. It is enough to think about the forest fires of the past years in the Mediterranean countries or in any hot, dry region of the world. That is, why the mankind demands the improvement of materials and means for fire-fighting further on.

The task of the fire-protection is twofold: a. to extinguish the already developed fire, and b. to render that materials, which are flammable and can be found in an ignitable place, less combustible or incombustible. It can happen in advance, only to precede the fire hazard soon, but it can also happen in the vicinity of the already established fire on that place on where the propagation of the fire is expectable.

The present invention is dealing with the performance of the task according to point b. by applying a fire-proof liquid onto a combustible material. The application of the fireproof, anti-flame liquid forming the object of the invention to the material to be protected prevents partly or fully the access of the fire to the combustible material because on the influence of the fire a crust is formed which prevents the passage of the fire.

Among the fire-proof crusts it can be found ones from which by the hotness of the fire incombustible, moreover fire-hindering gases and foams containing these gases are released; really a great variety of gases can be in question but because of their effectiveness and their low prices that materials can be raised which develop carbon dioxide and which develop formaldehyde. Both gases play the role that abstract the oxygen necessary to the combustion around the combustible material. Other fire-proof materials coalescing and/or aggregating on the influence of the heat form a coherent, incombustible, fire-proof layer on the surface of the combustible material, first of all on the influence of the fire. The fire-proof, anti-flame liquid forming the object of the invention belongs to these materials.

The soaking with fire-proof, anti-flame materials which can be called fire-proof impregnation, too, can look backward to some centuries-old past. At the assembling of a liquid of this sort in addition to standpoints of the effectiveness which is the main demand, it has to be taken into consideration that huge quantities, volumes are in question here but it has to give preliminary or simultaneous fire-protection for matters of incalculably great quantity as substances, articles, agricultural crops, forests and last but not least people being around fire and participating in the extinguishing; that is, why the price standpoints have an extraordinarily great role. The basic materials have to be cheap and freely accessible, and however it would occur perhaps a more effective material for certain targets, if its price would prove expansive on the basis of a risk/benefit analysis, its use cannot be in question.

Consequently it cannot reckon very likely with the emergence of such a basic material which could compete both in effectiveness and prices with the basic materials used at present and tried and tested well for decades.

There is a great possibility, however, in the novel processing of the basic materials used for decades, in the suitable election of the proportions between each other, in the improvement of the solubility, etc.

The present invention belongs to this field, too, which invention works from materials used for impregnation against fire for a long time but it establishes fire-proof liquids of excellent effect with verified results by the help of their experimentally worked-out composition, of the election of the proportions within the compositions and of suitable technological modifications. Although the mixtures according to the invention serve first of all to preliminary flame relief, they can be employed also to the fires already being launched.

The present invention works from three, optionally four basic material which are as follows:

Alkali metal, sodium and/or potassium, water-glasses, which are first of all the alkali metal salts of the silicic acid, i.e. Na₂SiO₃ or K₂SiO₃. These materials occur in a lot of patented fire-proof liquid mixtures as a component of an impregnating agent, in many instances as a main component. Talc alias lard stone or soapstone is a mineral material the basis of which magnesium silicate, MgSiO₃, but such a magnesium silicate which contains crystal water in its crystal in different proportions from mine to mine; the Mg₃H₂(SiO₃ )₄ total formula nears best the composition varying otherwise in a small extent; talc is called as magnesium hydrogen silicate, too. From the point of view of the technology the talc originating from different sources can be considered uniformly as talc.

In addition to talc it is possible to employ in the mixture further other so-called lamellar silicates, too, mostly with magnesium silicate content and with similar composition and form; among them the power plant filter flue-dust deserves emphasis the composition and physicochemical characteristics of which stand near to the talc of mineral origin.

These materials of mostly magnesium silicate content are called as "laminar materials with talc structure and mostly with magnesium silicate content", why this two characteristics, i.e. the chemical composition determining the bulk of the material, and the structure with lard stone character which responsible to a part of the anti-flame effect, are sufficient to the characterization of the material in the particular target.

The employment of the talc has already occurred as anti-fire, flame-proof impregnating agent in the GB 3308 patent document (1908); the employment of gum arabic has occurred in the same document, too. None of these two materials is a main component in the mixtures according to the innumerable formulae outlined in said document, but they have undoubtedly occur in it.

The participation of the graphite is also necessary in the anti-flame mixtures. This material among others significantly improves the physical and physicochemical characteristics of the mixtures.

Similarly the common salt, i.e. sodium chloride is an obligatory part of the mixtures, too, which can be mixed to the mixtures in the form of 5-30 % solution by weight. This compound is generally used in other liquid compositions of similar type. Optionally the derivatives of arabic acid can be employed; arabic acid is a sugar acid which consist of mostly D-mannan- and L-glucuronic acid units, although other saccharide units with total formula C₆H₄O₆ can occur in it, too, depending from its origin; its alkali earth metal salts are the arabinates, as calcium- or magnesium arabinate; the basis of the gum arabic from natural sources is the natural alkali earth arabinate which can be obtained first of all from resins of some kind of African tropical and subtropical trees. Another source for arabic acid and hereby arabinates can be also the marine brown algae. Depending on their origin and process technology the composition of the arabinates can be variable to a certain extent but this fact in the point of view of the necessary properties has not big importance; every arabinate, alkali earth arabinate or gum arabic is suitable for this particular target, which is placed on the market by this name and has the physicochemical properties of these materials.

As a consequence of its composition this material participates in the flame-relief, too, but its another important role is the improvement of the adhesion of the agent to the surface to be protected.

In the flame-retaining preparation according to the Chinese patent document ^CN 1342621 8-25% sodium water-glass and 1-10% gum arabic can be found in addition to other components as industrial wastes, inorganic fillers, calcium oxide, gypsum, etc. The Japanese patent document JP 58187475 fire-proof adhesives are reported in which sodium water-glass and also gum arabic can be found in an unknown proportion in addition to a lot of other components as a powder of shells, granite or marble, as well as zirconium and borax.

The abovementioned GB patent description belongs also to this subject- matter.

The abovementioned three patent documents cannot touch at all the novelty of the present invention but verify the conclusion that the components of this anti-flame preparation are not novel for this target, every component occurs in other fire-proof preparations but the essence of the invention is not the discovery of a new fire-proof material but suitable combining of materials known in the fire protection to compose simple and cheap composition. Same or similar composition comparing to this composition, which forms the novelty of the present invention, however, cannot be found among thousands of patents and articles in this subject-matter. Consequently the inventor of the present invention has struck upon an anti-flame composition with consistent work and countless examinations which composition is novel, having excellent effect, and economical. The inventor, in fact, has refuted the belief that it is already impossible to find better and novel compositions from materials known in the field of the fire protection. This fact is extraordinarily significant in the age of conflagrations with non-decreasing strength not only from economical standpoint but from the standpoint of the saving of lives.

Further on fire-proof, anti-flame liquids shall be made known in the executive examples which liquids belong to the scope of the invention; these executive examples don't serve to limit the scope of the invention. The enclosed claims serve to the limitation of the scope of protection.

From the point of view of the subject-matter of the protection and of the effectiveness the compositions are divided into three main group. _,

1. It serves for protection from fire and localization of wood, materials of ^"wood content, straw and textiles of cellulose content as well as living trees, bushes, etc., and guarantees approximately 75% protection. The mixtures contain 75- 85% by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight common salt in the form of 5-30 percentile aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight laminar material with talc structure and with magnesium silicate content, and 1-5 % by weight graphite.

2. It serves for protection from fire and localization of wood, materials of wood content, textiles e.g. protective clothing, tents, straw, living trees and bushes etc., and guarantees approximately 90% protection. The mixtures contain 50-65% by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 15-25% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight laminar material with talc structure and with magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, and 15-25% by weight calcium- or magnesium arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 25-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution.

3. It serves for protection from fire and localization of wood, materials of wood content, wood buildings, textiles, e.g. protective clothing, straw, bushes, etc., and guarantees approximately 95% protection. The mixtures contain 70-75% by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight laminar material with talc structure and with magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, and 10-15% by weight calcium- or magnesium arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 25-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution.

The percentage by weight of each component refers to the dry weight, i.e. to the total weight of the material without water. In the solutions according to the invention the mass of water used as solvent or thinner agent contributes to this at the solutions of water-glass, common salt and arabinates or gum arabic, as well as optionally the volume of water used to the dilution contributes to this, too. The strength of the preparations can be decreased by dilution. The diluted preparations are contained in the scope of the invention.

The choice about the composition and dilution is determined by the target to be reached as well as the amount of money available to the given target. It can be said, however, that because all the components are produced in great quantities and available in trade, still the most expansive version don't represent extraordinary financial burden, either, especially taking into consideration how big gain can derive from the permanence of a material riding out the effect of the fire safely or almost safely, and first of all from the saving of the human lives.

The production essentially consists of the simple mixing of the components, except the preparation of the solution of gum arabic and alkali earth metal arabinates, respectively. Their dissolution is i.e. slow, that is, why it is worth to employ a pre- swelling technology. In the frame of this technology the row material is soaked in cold water for a day then it shall be dissolved by careful heating while agitating.

Examples

Example 1

40 percentile by weight aqueous sodium water-glass solution is produced from 75 kg of sodium water-glass and 140 litres of water. To this solution 75 litres of 20 percentile by weight common salt solution prepared in advance, 12 kg of talc and 3 kg of graphite are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed up. Approximately 220 litre of mixture is obtained in which the water- free dry material content is about 105 kg-

Example 2 42 percentile by weight aqueous potassium water-glass solution is prepared from 55 kg of potassium water-glass and 120 litres of water. To this solution 65 litres of 30 percentile by weight common salt solution prepared in advance, 65 litres of 30 percentile by weight aqueous magnesium arabinate solution of marine brown- algae origin, 14 kg of power plant filter flue-ash and 4 kg of graphite are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed up. Approximately 220 litres of mixture is obtained in which the water-free dry material content is about 112 kg.

The preparation of the solution of magnesium arabinate is started in the previous day putting the magnesium arabinate to about the half of the final amount of water, and the aqueous solution is prepared in the next day from the already swollen and partly dissolved slurry while stirring and heating.

Example 3

40 percentile by weight aqueous mixed sodium + potassium water-glass solution is prepared from 75 kg of mixed sodium + potassium water-glass and 180 litres of water. To this solution 40 litres of 30 percentile by weight common salt solution prepared in advance, 50 litres of 15 percentile by weight aqueous gum arabic solution, 10 kg of talc and 4 kg of graphite are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed up. Approximately 270 litres of mixture is obtained in which the water-free dry material content is about 109 kg.

The preparation of the solution of gum arabic is started in the previous day putting the gum arabic to about the half of the final amount of water, and the aqueous solution is prepared in the next day from the already swollen and partly dissolved slurry while stirring and heating.

Example 4

32 percentile by weight aqueous sodium water-glass solution is prepared from 65 kg of sodium water-glass and 203 litres of water. To this solution 50 litres of 25 percentile by weight common salt solution prepared in advance, 52 litres of 25 percentile by weight aqueous gum arabic solution, 18 kg of talc and 4 kg of graphite are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed up. Approximately 305 litres of mixture is obtained in which the water- free dry material content is about 113 kg.

, In connection with Examples 1 -4 it has to mention that although the dissolution of the individual materials is practical on the given concentration values, and the best way is the mixing of the materials dissolved in this manner, the mixing of solutions of other concentration is also within the scope of the invention. It is obvious for an expert that the total water content obtained at the end of the process is the only important factor, and that fact has not real significance that the necessary water quantity from which solution or perhaps from a surplus water quantity gets in the final liquid. Example 5

Two wooden houses are made with same dimension and assembly, one of them is sprayed with the fire-proof, anti-flame liquid according to Example 4, the other, however, is not sprayed at all. Both houses are surrounded with bunches of straw which then will be set on fire. One part of the bunches of straw are sprayed. The wooden house not sprayed with the said liquid bursts into flame, is absolutely gutted by fire and falls down, while the sprayed house only discolours on its outer surface, and the fire has no any effect on its interior. The bunches of straw not sprayed burn away absolutely while the sprayed ones remain mostly unharmed.

Example 6

Slightly cleaned stubble field containing a large quantity of stalk of straw is divided into two parts, one half of them is sprayed with the fire-proof liquid mixture according to Claim 1, the other half is not sprayed. The stubble field is set aflame. On the non-sprayed stubble field the fire remains burning and propagates, while on the handled half the fire stops and is not going on.

Example 7

Two canvas tents with equal shape and size are set upright. One of them is sprayed in and out with the fire-proof liquid according to Example 3. A heavy fire is ignited by the side of both tents. The flame does not burn through the sprayed tent, it at last discolours the surface. The wall and interior of the non-treated tent is absolutely gutted by fire.

Example 8

Canvas sack and linen suit e.g. overalls are soaked and by this means impregnated with the liquid material made according to Example 3. The aim of this experiment is to help the personal security of people working at places with fire hazard and to take measures in defence of their tools. The impregnated protective clothing facilitates significantly the escape from the fire, and the tools ridc out practically safely the passing of the fire in the impregnated canvas sack. Example 9

Two dry bale of straw with equal size and composition are ignited. One of them is not extinguished, the other is sprayed with the liquid mixture according to Example 2. While the non-treated bale of straw burns down quickly, the burning of the sprayed bale of straw slows down, in time maybe stops.

The executive examples until now have proved that the fire-proof, anti-flame liquids serve to the protection of combustible materials. In fact, this is their primary target but on the basis of our experiments they can be used as fire-fighting materials, too, i.e. for extinguishment of the already burning fires. They can be used by working out experimentally the suitable pulverizing technology for extinguishing disaster fires, as gas-, petrol-, alcohol- etc. fires. The materials give possibility to put into circulation cylinders or bottles of smaller packing as with e.g. 0,5-2-10 kilograms, by this means to extinguish homes, cars, offices, weekend-cottages, roof-timbers and tents, too.

The said basic materials are to be found in every technically developed country in a big amount, available from trade, and the fire-proof liquids forming the subject- matter of the invention can be made by a simple mixing, and are storable and transportable.

Claims

1. A fire-proof liquid from alkali metal water-glass, sodium chloride, material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, graphite and optionally alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic characterized in that it contains referring to the dry material 55-85% by weight alkali water-glass in the form of 25-50 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-25% by weight common salt in the form of 5-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite and optionally 20-35% by weight alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 5-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution, and the water content referring to the dry material weight is 2-2,7-fold of quantity.

2. A fire-proof liquid according to Claim 1 characterized in that it contains referring to the dry material 75-85 % by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form of 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, and the water content referring to the dry material weight is ,2-2,2- fold of quantity.

3. A fire-proof liquid according to Claim 1 characterized in that it contains referring to the dry material 50-65 % by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form of 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 15-25% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, 15-25% by weight alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 25-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution, and the water content referring to the dry material weight is 2,1-2,3-fold of quantity.

4. A fire-proof liquid according to Claim 1 characterized in that it contains referring to the dry material 70-75 % by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form of 37-45 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 10-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, 10-15% by weight alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 25-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution, and the water content referring to the dry material weight is 2,4-2,6-fold of quantity.

5. A fire-proof liquid according to Claim 1 characterized in that it contains referring to the dry material 60-75 % by weight sodium- or potassium water-glass in the form of 25-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 5-15% by weight common salt in the form of 25-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, 15-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite, 20-35% by weight alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic in the form of 20-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution, and the water content referring to the dry material weight is 2,4-2,7-fold of quantity.

6. A fire-proof liquid according to Claim 1 characterized in that it contains as alkali water-glass sodium- or potassium water-glass or mixtures thereof, as material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content talc or laminar .power plant filter flue-ash having characteristics similar to talc and containing mostly magnesium silicate or mixtures thereof, and as alkali earth metal arabinate calcium- or magnesium arabinate or gum arabic.

7. A process for preparation of fire-proof liquid characterized in that 25-50 percentile by weight aqueous solution made from 55-85% by weight alkali water- glass, 5-30 percentile by weight aqueous solution made from 10-25% by weight common salt, 10-20% by weight material of talc structure and of laminar magnesium silicate content, 1-5% by weight graphite and optionally 5-35 percentile by weight aqueous solution made from alkali earth metal arabinate or gum arabic are mixed together in such a manner that the total weight of alkali water-glass, common salt, talc or talc derivative, graphite and alkali earth arabinate or gum arabic should be 100%, and the water content of the liquid referring to the weight of the dry material should be 2-2,7-fold of quantity.

8. A process according to Claim 6 characterized in that the materials according to Claim 2, or the materials according to Claim 3, or the materials according to Claim

4, or the materials according to Claim 5 are mixed together.

9. A process according to Claim 6 or 7 characterized in that a part or the whole of aqueous slurry of the alkali earth arabinate or gum arabic is pre-soaked for a day, and after this is mixed to the mixture of other components.

10. A process for flame -proofing and/or fire-fighting characterized in that the fireproof liquid according to any of Claims 1-6 is applied to the surface of a material waiting fire relief or to the surface of already burning material with . some mechanical method first of all with spraying, blowing or soaking.