Patent ID: 6740250
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: A62D

Abstract:
In a method of firefighting including the steps of:preparing a biodegradable, non-toxic foamable firefighting concentrate composition comprising, by volume, from about 4 to about 40 parts of at least one alkoxylated tertiary amine having 2-10 alkoxy groups per mol selected from the group consisting of C14-C18 animal-based tallow amines and C12-C14 coconut amines, from about 1 to about 15 parts of at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms; about 1 to 6 parts of at least one of a C7-C12 aliphatic alcohol, from 0 to 10 parts of a C4 and lower alcohol, from about 0.5 to about 2 parts of a fatty amide type cationic surfactant, from about 0.5 to about 2 parts of an aliphatic substituted coco-amidopropyl betaine, and a preservative; and injecting said concentrate composition at high pressure into a turbulent stream of firefighting water such that said firefighting water includes up to about 6% of said concentrate composition, and directing said firefighting water toward a target to create a wetted target area covered at least in part by a blanket of stable, fire resistant foam; the improvement comprising; combining said concentrate composition with 10-15 parts sodium lauryl sulfate and/or sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate as a high foam producing agent, 0.05-2.0 parts xanthene gum and/or sodium alginate, 1-3 parts of one or more straight chain or branched glycol ethers, and the balance being water to create a total of 100 parts by volume; whereby a fire fighting foam is produced which emulsifies hydrocarbons and renders them inflammable for a period of at least two days.