A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) absorb many times their own weight of water or aqueous fluids. In hygiene applications they provide absorption capacity, dryness and leakage prevention. Other applications, however, require different properties and appearance. The chemical composition and microstructure of SAPs allows for a broad range of variations, e.g., a change in the amount of crosslinker leads to a gradual shift from a completely water insoluble, absorptive material over a partially insoluble absorption agent to a water soluble, highly viscosifying material which, at the correct proportion rate, forms a continuous, highly viscous gel. This article deals with the use of such gels for a very specific application: firefighting and fire prevention. Degussa FiresorbTM is a new fire extinguishing media additive for Category A fires. It offers superior performance in both preventive fire protection and firefighting, as it uses water substantially more efficiently. Firesorb transforms water into a fire-preventing and heat-absorbing gel, while at the same time giving it a very high level of adherence to any kind of surface, even to vertical glass surfaces. This drastically increases the extinguishing and fire protection capabilities of the gel. As a result, less water is required when Firesorb is being used compared to water alone, which runs off, making it much less effective. Depending on the combustible, savings of up to 50 % are achievable. For the same reason, the time required to extinguish a fire is reduced with the use of Firesorb.
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) absorb many times their own weight of water or aqueous fluids. In hygiene applications they provide absorption capacity, dryness and leakage prevention. Other applications, however, require different properties and appearance. The chemical composition and microstructure of SAPs allows for a broad range of variations, e.g., a change in the amount of crosslinker leads to a gradual shift from a completely water insoluble, absorptive material over a partially insoluble absorption agent to a water soluble, highly viscosifying material which, at the correct proportion rate, forms a continuous, highly viscous gel. This article deals with the use of such gels for a very specific application: firefighting and fire prevention. Degussa FiresorbTM is a new fire extinguishing media additive for Category A fires. It offers superior performance in both preventive fire protection and firefighting, as it uses water substantially more efficiently. Firesorb transforms water into a fire-preventing and heat-absorbing gel, while at the same time giving it a very high level of adherence to any kind of surface, even to vertical glass surfaces. This drastically increases the extinguishing and fire protection capabilities of the gel. As a result, less water is required when Firesorb is being used compared to water alone, which runs off, making it much less effective. Depending on the combustible, savings of up to 50 % are achievable. For the same reason, the time required to extinguish a fire is reduced with the use of Firesorb.
A new application for superabsorbents
Eine neue Anwendung für Superabsorber
Jonas, G. (author)
Nonwovens World ; 11 ; 75-79
2002
5 Seiten, 5 Bilder
Article (Journal)
English
Biodegradation Studies of Starch Based Composite Superabsorbents
| British Library Online Contents | 2004
Synthesis and Swelling Behavior of Superabsorbents Cross-Linked with N-Maleyl Chitosan
| British Library Online Contents | 2013