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Environmentally Acceptale Fire Extinguishants

Published

Author(s)

J D. Mather, R E. Tapscott

Abstract

Aircraft fire suppression applications inherently demanding performance requirements, made all the more challenging by low temperature conditions, physical inaccessibility, and high and possibly uncertain air flow conditions, have been historically addressed through the use of halon 1301 – a low boiling, highly effective chemical fire suppressant. To some extent these challenges have also been met by the chemical suppressant halon 1211 and to an even lesser degree by other halons. Current commercially available nonozone depleting non-brominated halon 1301 replacements (other than CF3I) are lacking in fire suppression effectiveness because they do not contain bromine in their molecular structure. One approach to retaining bromine (and iodine) in fire suppressants is through the use of short atmospheric lifetime - tropodegradable - compounds. A review project identified chemical families with potential to be chemically active and possible short atmospheric lifetime characteristics. These include brominated alkenes, ethers, and amines. Acquisition of low boiling members of these chemical families as well as several other formerly unstudied but potentially short atmospheric lifetime brominated families was initiated under this project. Also included were efforts to identify screening methods for cardiac sensitization tests.
Citation
Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR) - 06-901
Report Number
06-901

Citation

Mather, J. and Tapscott, R. (2007), Environmentally Acceptale Fire Extinguishants, Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908992 (Accessed April 19, 2024)
Created August 1, 2007, Updated February 19, 2017