Novel microencapsulated liquid fire extinguishers with a nanomodified microcapsule shell

Abstract

A new process has been developed for the microencapsulation of ecologically safe and highly effective fire extinguishers, including the perfluoroketone Novec 1230 (whose Russian analog is Khladon PFK-49), which has enhanced stability for use as a basic functional component in fire-extinguishing polymer materials. When Freons are microencapsulated via common methods, an intense loss of the liquid core of the microcapsule in the course of drying and storage via diffusion through the shell occurs. The stabilization effect was attained through modification of the microcapsule shell material via addition (at the stage of shell formation) of nanoparticles of the mineral layered filler montmorillonite. The processes of thermal degradation of the resulting microcapsules have been studied and a substantial improvement in stability (reduced permeability of the shell) and, hence, the possibility of their application has been shown. Laboratory fire tests of materials were performed, and the high effectiveness of fire extinguishment by microencapsulated perfluoroketone and the fire-extinguishing polymer material has been demonstrated.