Preparation of new gel foam and evaluation of its fire extinguishing performance

Abstract

Developing a material that efficiently prevents spontaneous combustion of coal and can extinguish fire remains challenging. This research developed a gel foam that integrates the advantages of three fire-extinguishing technologies (i.e., foam, gel, and inert gas). The resistance and fire-extinguishing performance of this material were studied. The results show that a gel foam with compound foaming agent (sodium α-alkenyl sulfonate: fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate = 8:4), gelling agent, and crosslinking agent concentrations of 0.7 wt%, 0.7 wt%, and 1.1 wt%, respectively, achieves excellent foam expansion ratio and foam stabilization performance. After treatment with this gel foam, the resistance rate and cross-point temperature of a coal sample increased by 61.72% and 9.1 ℃, respectively, and the low-temperature oxygen consumption decreased by 9.74%. Compared with the fire extinguishing performance of water and two-phase foam, this gel foam releases locked water and covers coal when extinguishing fire. The temperature and heat radiation of coal are effectively reduced, and re-ignition was not obvious after the fire had been extinguished. This shows that the developed gel foam has excellent fire extinguishing performance. • Gel foam integrates the advantages of foam, gel and inert gas. • The gel foam has a high foam expansion ratio and good foam stabilization performance. • Gel foam has excellent fire-extinguishing performance. • The preparation of gel foam is simple and low in cost.