[0001] This invention relates to fire retardant compositions which are specially adapted
for aerial application, to combat or prevent the spread of wildfires.
[0002] More particularly, the invention concerns a fugitive color fire retardant composition,
having improved aerial visibility after it is first aerially applied to ground vegetation,
but which fades over time and under ambient conditions to another color (hue).
[0003] In the early 1960's aerial application of fire retardant compositions to prevent
or retard the spread of forest fires, range fires, etc. became very widespread. Typically,
these fire retardant compositions contained an electrolytic fire suppressing salt
such as ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, and the like and also included other
components such as viscosity modifiers, corrosion inhibitors and coloring agents such
as pigments or dyes. Typical fire retardant compositions of the type described above
are disclosed in the patents to
Nelson, U.S. 3,196,108, and to
Langguth et al., U.S. 3,257,316 and 3,309,324. These compositions generally consisted of an aqueous
slurry or solution of a fire suppressing salt such as ammonium phosphate or ammonium
sulfate and a thickening agent such as attapulgite clay, guar gum or the like. Coloring
agents such as red iron oxide were included to improve the visibility of the material
after it was dropped. More recently, ammonium polyphosphate liquids, containing coloring
agents and corrosion inhibitors, have been widely employed. Such liquid polyphosphate
fire retardant compositions are disclosed in the patents to
Nelson, U.S. 3,370,890 and to
Lacey, U.S. 3,960,735.
[0004] Fire retardant compositions containing other thickeners, stabilizers and the like
are disclosed in the patents to
Strickland, U.S. 4,822,524;
Morganthaler, U.S. 3,634,234;
Kegler et al., U.S. 4,606,831;
Vandersall, U.S 4,447,336;
Adl et al., U.S. 4,447,338; and
Vandersall, U.S. 4,839,065 and 4,983,326.
[0005] Fire retardant compositions are typically manufactured as dry or liquid "concentrates".
These concentrates are shipped and stored in such form until just prior to use. Then,
the concentrate is mixed with water to form the final diluted "mixed" fire retardant
composition. This mixed retardant composition is then pumped in the tanker aircraft
for transport to and dropping at the wildfire site. In some instances a dry concentrate
is first mixed with an initial quantity of water to provide an intermediate liquid
concentrate and this intermediate liquid concentrate is then further diluted just
before use to the final diluted mixed form.
[0006] The active fire suppressing components employed in such retardant compositions include
any of the well known electrolytic fire suppressing salts, e.g., such as are disclosed
in the patent to
Nelson U.S. 3,196,108, as well as the more recently employed liquid ammonium polyphosphate
materials, as disclosed in the patent to
Lacey U.S. 3,960,735; ammonium sulfate, as disclosed in the patent to
Crouch U.S. 4,176,071; and mixtures of these salts with themselves and with other salts.
[0007] In general, the active fire retardant components are compounds or a mixture of compounds
that degrade or decompose at temperatures below the ignition temperature of the fuels
to be protected (e.g., cellulose), thereby releasing a mineral acid, such as phosphoric
acid or sulfuric acid. Among the various fire retardants typically used in fire retardant
mixtures and which might be used in the compositions of this invention are monoammonium
orthophosphate, diammonium orthophosphate, monoammonium pyrophosphate, diammonium
pyrophosphate, triammonium pyrophosphate, tetraammonium pyrophosphate, ammonium polyphosphate,
substituted ammonium polyphosphate, amide polyphosphate, melamine polyphosphate, ammonium-alkali
metal mixed salts of orthophosphate, ammonium-alkali metal mixed salts of pyrophosphate,
ammonium-alkali metal mixed salts of polyphosphate, ammonium-alkaline earth metal
mixed salts of orthophosphate, ammonium-alkaline earth metal mixed salts of pyrophosphate,
ammonium-alkaline earth metal mixed salts of polyphosphate, ammonium sulfate, liquid
ammonium polyphosphates and blends thereof. Some liquid ammonium polyphosphates may
be too dilute in their commercial forms for application as fire retardants but, other
retardants, such as those noted above, may be mixed with a liquid ammonium polyphosphate
until a minimum acceptable concentration is obtained. Ammonium polyphosphate is often
called polyammonium phosphate, and commonly contains other ammonium phosphate such
as pyro and metaphosphates, and the alkali metal equivalents thereof, as well as a
blend of phosphate polymers. Such polyammonium phosphates are often referred to as
10-34-0, 11-37-0, 12-40-0, 13-42-0 or the like, where the first number indicates the
percentage of nitrogen in the blend, the middle number indicates the percentage phosphate
in the blend and the last number indicates the percentage potash in the blend.
[0008] The fire retardant components may also include thickening agents, which include standard
thickeners such as galactomannan guar gum compositions and derivatives thereof attapulgite
clay, carboxymethylcellulose and derivaties thereof, and the like. The thickening
agent is employed to maintain the viscosity of the diluted mixed fire retardant composition,
for example, at between about 50 centipoise and about 2000 centipoise for aerial application.
In addition, the fire retardant components, in the concentrate or in the final diluted
mixed form, may also typically include various adjuvants such as corrosion inhibitors,
flow conditioners, spoilage inhibitors, stabilizers and the like, and carriers for
these adjuvants, in accordance with art recognized principles.
[0009] When such fire retardant compositions, in final diluted mixed form for aerial application,
are applied by dropping from fixed-wing or helicopter aircraft, successive "drops"
are often made by the aircraft to form a fire-fighting line. Under these circumstances,
it is important for the pilot of the aircraft to be able to visually determine where
the preceding loads were dropped, such that the pilot can drop the load from the aircraft
to form a continuation of this line. Since the fire retardant components (described
above) may be colorless or may be of colors which do not contrast well with the ground
or vegetation, it has been common practice to mix coloring agents with the fire retardant
composition components. Coloring agents are used to give the fire retardant compositions
a color (hue) which contrasts with the hue of the ground vegetation, thereby enhancing
the ability of the aircraft pilot to determine where the last loads of fire retardants
were dropped in constructing a fire-fighting line. Prior art coloring agents have
included pigments which are dispersible in the liquid fire retardant compositions
or soluble therein, most commonly red iron oxide or various water soluble dyes. Such
coloring agents were remarkably effective in enhancing the aerial visibility of fire
retardant compositions after they were applied. However, certain prior art coloring
agents, especially red iron oxide, were very "colorfast", such that the ground and
structures (if any) to which the prior art fire retardant compositions were applied,
remained permanently or semi-permanently stained. Consequently, certain government
fire-fighting agencies have, more recently, required that aerially applied fire retardant
compositions have so-called "fugitive" coloring agents, such that the color of the
compositions would fade over a short time, e.g., 30 days, to a color which did not
objectionably contrast with the ground and ground vegetation.
[0010] Several dyes and pigments (encapsulated dyes) have been identified which impart a
distinctive hue to fire retardant compositions, which contrasts with ground vegetation,
but which fade in a short time to a "neutral" color, i.e., such that the fire retardant
compositions exhibit the color they would have exhibited without the addition of such
fugitive agents. However, although the fire retardant compositions themselves might
be brilliantly colored by fugitive agents, after first application it was often difficult
to locate the fire retardant drop zone. It has been found that the reduced visibility
of these highly colored fugitive compositions is somewhat related to the viscosity
of the fire retardant compositions themselves. Thus, more highly viscous fugitive
compositions are somewhat easier to see on the vegetation, because they form a thicker
coating. However, even highly viscous fugitive color compositions are sometimes difficult
to visualize from an aircraft after dropping on various kinds of vegetation and under
various lighting conditions.
[0011] It would be advantageous to provide fugitive color fire retardant compositions which
exhibit improved aerial visibility after dropping. It would also be advantageous to
achieve this result in an economical manner and without using any materials which
are toxic to humans, animals, fish or to vegetation.
[0012] Briefly, we have discovered a fugitive color liquid fire retardant composition for
aerial application to ground vegetation which achieves these objectives. Our composition
comprises fire retardant components, a colorant and a liquid carrier, typically an
aqueous carrier. The fire retardant components include a fire suppressing salt and
has a first hue. The colorant comprises a fugitive component and a non-fugitive component.
[0013] The colorant initially colors the fire retardant composition components to a second
hue which contrasts with the hue of the ground vegetation. This may be due solely
to the color imparted by the fugitive component or the color imparted by the combined
fugitive/non-fugitive components.
[0014] The non-fugitive component of our colorant is present in an amount sufficient to
improve the aerial visibility of the composition when it is first applied to the vegetation.
However, the non-fugitive component is present in less than an amount which prevents
the composition from thereafter fading to the first hue, i.e., the hue of the fire
retardant composition components without the colorant.
[0015] According to another embodiment of our invention, we provide a concentrate composition
for preparing the liquid composition described above by dilution thereof with the
aqueous carrier. The concentrate composition comprises the fire retardant components
and the colorant.
[0016] In one embodiment, the concentrate is a dry composition. In another embodiment the
concentrate is a liquid, suitable for later dilution with water to form the final
mixed liquid fire retardant composition.
[0017] These, other and further embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description.
[0018] As used herein, the term "fire retardant components" means all of the components
of the composition except the "colorant" and the liquid carrier, if any. The fire
retardant components will include a fire retardant salt and may optionally include
(and usually will include) other common ingredients of fire retardant formulations,
e.g., corrosion inhibitors, spoilage inhibitors, flow conditioners, anti-foaming agents,
foaming agents, stability additives and thickening agents.
[0019] The term "colorant" means a combination of at least two components, namely, a fugitive
component and a non-fugitive component.
[0020] The "fugitive component" is a dye or a dye which is dispersed in a matrix (i.e.,
a pigment), which fades over time and under ambient field conditions to a colorless
or less highly colored hue. A number of such dyes and pigments are well known in the
art. For example, many water-soluble dyes fade rapidly and there are so-called fluorescent
pigments (fluorescent dyes encapsulated in a resin integument) which are suspendable
in the fire retardant compositions and which also fade rapidly to provide the "fugitive"
effect. Typical examples of prior art fugitive dyes and pigments include C.I. Basic
Red I dye, 6BL dye, Basic Violet II dye, Basic Yellow 40 and encapsulated-dye pigments
which are available commercially, e.g., the "AX" series pigments, supplied by Day-Glo
Color Corp., Cleveland, Ohio. At present, we prefer to employ encapsulated-dye fugitive
pigments without uv absorbers, rather than using water soluble dyes because the encapsulated-dye
pigments are less likely to stain.
[0021] The colorant is present in an amount which provides a color ("second hue") to the
composition which is different from the color of the composition without the colorant
("first hue"). The second hue contrasts with the hue of the vegetation (normally green
and/or brown). Advantageously, the second hue is red, orange or pink.
[0022] The colorant also includes a "non-fugitive" component, i.e., a component which is
insoluble in the carrier liquid and which, if colored, does not necessarily fade after
aerial application of the fire retardant composition.
[0023] The non-fugitive component preferably has an index of refraction of at least 2.0.
For example, prior art fire retardant compositions containing fugitive colorants and
which also contain various clays and other insoluble materials, e.g., attapulgite
clay, tricalcium phosphate, (components which have refractive indices below 2.0),
do not have the improved aerial visibility exhibited by the compositions of the present
invention unless the amounts of such lower-index materials are so large that the compositions
are not "fugitive". To achieve improved aerial visibility smaller quantities of non-fugitive
components can be employed if the refractive index is higher and larger quantities
of lower-index materials are required to achieve desirable results.
[0024] The non-fugitive component is included in the colorant in an amount sufficient to
provide improved aerial visibility of the composition when it is first aerially applied
to the vegetation. However, the amount of the non-fugitive component is less than
the amount which would prevent the fire retardant composition from fading to the first
hue after application.
[0025] The non-fugitive component is dispersable or suspendable in the final fire retardant
composition and in a liquid concentrate of such composition. The dispersability or
suspendability of such a component is primarily dependent upon particle size and particle
size distribution and the nature of the other components present in the fire retardant
composition such as thickeners, etc.
[0026] Also, the chemical structure and characteristics of the non-fugitive pigment must
be compatible with the other components, especially with the carrier liquid. It must
be sufficiently chemically inert that it does not lose its functional capability when
combined with the other components of the fire retardant composition. It should also
be non-toxic, and, if colored, should not undesirably affect the hue established by
the fugitive component.
[0027] For example, in the presently preferred practice of the invention we employ red iron
oxide pigments as the non-fugitive component. Yellow iron oxide pigments and white
pigments, such as titanium dioxide can also be employed. Although dolored pigments
such as red or yellow iron oxide do not fade appreciably, the amounts of such pigments
in the fire retardant compositions are small enough that the overall composition ultimately
fades to a neutral color, i.e., substantially the same color which the composition
would have exhibited if no colorant had been added.
[0028] For example, if a red fugitive component and red iron oxide (non-fugitive component)
are employed, the initial color (second hue) of the resultant fire retardant composition
will be red. If a red fugitive component and yellow iron oxide (non-fugitive component)
are employed, the second hue will be orange. If a red fugitive component and a white
non-fugitive component are employed, the second hue will be pink. Any of these second
hues may provide sufficient contrast with the hue of the ground vegetation to provide
acceptable aerial visibility. At present, we prefer to employ red iron oxide in combination
with a red fugitive component to form the colorant.
[0029] The maximum quantity of non-fugitive pigment which can be employed, which will still
maintain the overall fugitive (fading) characteristics of the fire retardant composition,
will vary, depending on the natural or "neutral" color of the fire retardant composition
components and the natural colors of the terrain and vegetation. For example, if a
blue-colored fire retardant composition such as that disclosed in the
Lacey patent U.S. 3,960,735 is employed on darkly-colored vegetation, e.g., spruce fir,
a greater quantity of a colored non-fugitive colorant, e.g., red iron oxide, can be
employed. On the other hand, less of a colored non-fugitive component can be employed
if the base composition is highly viscous or if the composition is applied on less
highly colored vegetation or terrain, e.g., chapparal. It appears that the maximum
quantity of colored non-fugitive component is higher when using a clay thickener than
when using a gum thickener in the fire retardant composition. In general, it appears
that the colored non-fugitive pigment can be no more than approximately 20-30 wt.%
of the total colorant. The maximum amount of the total colorant employed will be less
than the amount which would prevent the compositions from fading to a neutral color.
These amounts can be determined by routine tests by persons skilled in the art having
regard for this disclosure.
[0030] For example, the maximum amount of red iron oxide which can be employed, irrespective
of the amount of fugitive component presently appears to be approximately 0.5 wt.%
of the liquid concentrate formulations and about .10 wt.% in diluted mixed concentrate
compositions. However, for any given base composition of fire retardant composition
components (fire retardant salt, thickener, corrosion inhibitor, etc.), the optimum
and maximum concentrations of colorant components can be determined by those skilled
in the art without undue experimentation, having regard for the disclosure hereof.
For example, suitable procedures for assessing the aerial visibility and fugitive
fading characteristics of these compositions are set forth in Sections 3.8 and 4.3.7.
of Specification 5100-304a, February 1986, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Specification for Long Term Retardant, Forest Fire, Aircraft or Ground Application.
[0031] The use of both a dye and a pigment in the same fire retardant composition is disclosed
by the U.S. Patent No. 3,960,735, issued June 1, 1976 to Kathleen P. Lacey. In the
Lacey patent (Example III) both "red iron oxide" and "6BL dye" are included in a fire retardant
concentrate composition. However, the primary coloring agent, red iron oxide, was
present in an amount which was far in excess of that which would permit the composition
to fade to the hue which it would exhibit if the dye/iron oxide had not been added,
i.e., the
Lacey '735 compositions were not "fugitive". The 6BL dye was added to the composition of
Example III for the purpose of supplementing the red color of the iron oxide, i.e.,
making the composition "redder", because the iron cyanide blue corrosion inhibitor
of
Lacey (Col. 2, lines 5 et seq.) and the red iron oxide otherwise provided a "purplish"
composition.
[0032] A prior art composition was known and used in the United States prior to our present
invention which may have included a colorant consisting of a mixture of a dye and
a small quantity of TiO
2, encapsulated in a polymeric matrix. This prior composition was manufactured and
shipped as a dry powder "concentrate" which was then diluted with water for field
application. The quantity of TiO
2 in this product was only about 40-50 ppm in the final diluted concentrate, far less
than the amount required to provide the enhanced visibility achieved by the present
invention.
[0033] The determination of whether the hue of the fugitive composition (second hue) fades
to the hue of the composition without any colorant (first hue) can be determined by
the method described in Section 4.3.7.2 of Specification 5100-304a (February 1986),
"USDA Forest Service Specification for Specification for Long Term Retardant, Forest
Fire Aircraft or Ground Application".
[0034] The following examples are presented to further illustrate principles of my invention
to those skilled in the art. These examples do not, however, constitute limitations
on the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims.
EXAMPLE I
[0035] This example illustrates the practice of the invention in the manufacture of so-called
"liquid concentrate"-type fire retardant products. The products are prepared in accordance
with the procedure described in U.S. Patent 3,960,735 to Kathleen P. Lacey, except
that the colorant of the present invention is substituted for the coloring agents
described therein.
[0036] A concentrate composition is manufactured using two different types of ammonium polyphosphate
liquid. The ingredients of each of these compositions are set forth in Tables A and
B. Both of these compositions have improved aerial visibility in comparison to the
same compositions which do not contain the red iron oxide pigment. However, these
compositions have acceptable fading characteristics, i.e., fade to hues which are
substantially the same as the compositions would exhibit without addition of the colorant.
TABLE A
| |
Wt. % in Concentrate |
Wt. % in Final Diluted (5:1) Composition |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Polyphosphate Liquid (11-37-0) |
99.3 - 78.6 |
22.2 - 17.58 |
| Attapulgite Clay (AA Special) |
0 - 10.0 |
0 - 2.24 |
| Corrosion Inhibitor Reagent(s), stabilizers, spoilage inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), etc. |
0 - 10.0 |
0 - 2.24 |
| COLORANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment (Day-Glo 122-9180) |
0.5 - 1.0 |
0.11 - 0.22 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Titanium Dioxide) |
0.2 - 0.4 |
0.04 - 0.09 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
None |
Balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
TABLE B
| |
Wt. % in Concentrate |
Wt. % in Final Diluted (4.25:1) Composition |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Polyphosphate Liquid (10-34-0) |
99.3 - 77.4 |
24.74 - 19.28 |
| Attapulgite Clay (AA Special) |
0 - 10.0 |
0 - 2.49 |
| Corrosion Inhibitor Reagent(s), stabilizers, spoilage inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), etc. |
0 - 10.0 |
0 - 2.49 |
| COLORANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment (Day-Glo 122-9180) |
0.5 - 2.0 |
0.12 - 0.50 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Yellow Iron Oxide) |
0.2 - 0.6 |
0.05 - 0.15 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
none |
balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
EXAMPLE II
[0037] This example illustrates the practice of the invention by the manufacture of so-called
dry or powder concentrate compositions. These dry compositions are thereafter mixed
with water to form a final diluted fire retardant composition suitable for aerial
application. These compositions are manufactured in accordance with the methods disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 4,176,071. The ingredients in each composition are set forth in
Tables C, D and E. Each of these compositions has acceptable aerial visibility and
fugitive fading characteristics.
TABLE C
| |
Wt. % in Concentrate |
Wt. % in Final Composition |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Sulfate |
78.20 |
14.5 |
| Diammonium Phosphate |
3.78 |
0.7 |
| Guar Gum |
4.20 |
0.8 |
| Xanthan Gum |
0.11 |
0.2 |
| Corrosion Inhibitors |
1.08 |
0.20 |
| Spoilage Inhibitor |
0.54 |
0.10 |
| Defoamer/Anti-Oxidant |
10.79 |
2.00 |
| COLORANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment Non-Fugitive Pigment |
1.08 |
0.20 |
| (Red Iron Oxide) |
0.22 |
0.04 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
none |
balance |
| |
|
|
TABLE D
| |
Wt. % in Concentrate |
Wt. % in Final Composition |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Sulfate |
24.52 |
3.2 |
| Diammonium Phosphate |
65.90 |
8.6 |
| Guar Gum |
5.98 |
.8 |
| Stabilizer/corrosion inhibitor |
2.30 |
.3 |
| COLORANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment |
1.00 |
0.13 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Red Iron Oxide) |
0.30 |
0.04 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
None |
Balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
TABLE E
| |
Wt. % in Concentrate |
Wt. % in Final Composition |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Sulfate |
64.15 |
8.5 |
| Diammonium Phosphate |
24.15 |
3.2 |
| Guar Gum |
6.00 |
.8 |
| Spoilage inhibitor |
0.75 |
.1 |
| Stabilizer/corrosion inhibitor |
0-3.77 |
|
EXAMPLE 3
[0038] This example illustrates the practice of the invention in the manufacture of fugitive
compositions of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,983,326. A blended
dry powder concentrate is prepared in accordance with Example 4B of the '326 patent.
The dry concentrate is mixed with water to form an intermediate low-viscosity liquid
concentrate, which is then further diluted to form a high-viscosity final mixed fire
retardant composition having improved aerial visibility in comparison to the same
compositions without the iron oxide pigment and has acceptable "fugitive" fading characteristics.
Table F depicts the weight percentages of the components of the dry concentrate, intermediate
liquid or so-called "fluid" concentrate and the final diluted mixed retardant composition.
TABLE F
| |
Dry Conc |
Liq Conc |
Final Mix |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
|
| Monoammonium phosphate |
52.24 |
24.46 |
5.62 |
| Diammonium phosphate |
34,81 |
16.30 |
3.74 |
| guar gum |
7,24 |
3.39 |
0.78 |
| sodium molybdate |
0.19 |
0.09 |
0.02 |
| tricalcium phosphate |
2.01 |
0.94 |
0.22 |
| sodium silicofluoride |
0.47 |
0.22 |
0.05 |
| mercaptobenzothiazole |
0.30 |
0.14 |
0.03 |
| dimercaptothiadiazole |
0.72 |
0.34 |
0.08 |
| Polyalkylene derivatives of propylene glycol |
0.13 |
0.06 |
0.01 |
| COLORANT |
|
|
|
| Fugitive component |
1.61 |
0.75 |
0.17 |
| Red Iron Oxide |
0.28 |
0.13 |
0.03 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
|
| Water |
none |
53.18 |
balance |
| Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION
[0039] Example 4 illustrates the best mode presently known to us for practicing our invention.
Each of the products described in Examples 4 and 5 has acceptable aerial visibility
and fugitive fading. If the red iron oxide is deleted from the compositions or reduced
below about 0.20 wt% in the concentrate, the compositions will not have acceptable
aerial visibility, even if the red iron oxide deleted is replaced by equal amounts
of the fugitive pigment. If the fugitive pigment is eliminated or reduced and the
red iron oxide content is increased to provide sufficient aerial visibility, then
the compositions do not have acceptable the fugitive fading.
EXAMPLE 4
[0040] The following compositions were prepared in accordance with method described in the
U.S. Patent No. 3,960,735 to Kathleen P. Lacey, except that the colorant of the present
invention is substituted for the coloring agents described therein. The ingredients
used in preparing the liquid concentrates and the final diluted mixed fire retardant
are listed in Table G, H and I.
TABLE G
| |
wt% in liquid concentrate |
wt% in diluted mixed retardant |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Polyphosphate Liquid (Arcadian 11-37-0) |
90.60 |
20.29 |
| Attapulgite Clay (Floridin AA Special) |
3.50 |
0.78 |
| Sodium Ferrocyanide (Wego Technical) |
4.50 |
1.01 |
| COLORANT |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment (Day-Glo #122-9180) |
1.00 |
0.22 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Mobay Corp. Bayferrox Red Iron Oxide 130M) |
0.40 |
0.09 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
none |
balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
TABLE H
| |
wt% in liquid concentrate |
wt% in diluted mixed retardant |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Polyphosphate Liquid (Simplot 10-34-0) |
90.70 |
22.98 |
| Attapulgite Clay (Floridin AA Special) |
4.00 |
1.01 |
| Sodium Ferrocyanide (Wego Technical) |
3.90 |
0.99 |
| COLORANT |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment (Day-Glo #122-9180) |
1.00 |
0.25 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Mobay Corp. Bayferrox Red Iron Oxide 130M) |
0.40 |
0.10 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
none |
balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
TABLE I
| |
wt% in liquid concentrate |
wt% in diluted mixed retardant |
| FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS |
|
|
| Ammonium Polyphosphate Liquid (Macgregor 11-37-0) |
90.60 |
21.10 |
| Attapulgite Clay (Floridin AA Special) |
3.50 |
0.82 |
| Sodium Ferrocyanide (Wego Technical) |
4.50 |
1.05 |
| COLORANT |
|
|
| Fugitive Pigment (Day-Glo #122-9180) |
1.00 |
0.23 |
| Non-Fugitive Pigment (Mobay Corp. Bayferrox Red Iron Oxide 130M) |
0.40 |
0.09 |
| LIQUID CARRIER |
|
|
| Water |
none |
balance |
| TOTAL |
|
|
EXAMPLE 5
[0041] This example illustrates the practice of the invention by the manufacture of liquid
concentrate products from ammonium polyphosphate liquids, using non-fugitive components
other than red iron oxide. These compositions have acceptable aerial visibility and
fugitive fading characteristics. The compositions are prepared in accordance with
the procedure of Example 1, with the components listed in Table J and Table K.
TABLE J
| |
Wt.% in concentrate |
Wt.% in solution |
| Ammonium Polyphosphate (11-37-0) |
90.6 |
20.26 |
| Attapulgite Clay |
3.5 |
0.78 |
| Corrosion inhibitor |
4.5 |
1.01 |
| Water |
None |
balance |
| Fugitive pigment |
1.0 |
0.22 |
| Titanium dioxide |
0.4 |
0.09 |
TABLE K
| |
Wt.% in concentrate |
Wt. % in solution |
| Ammonium Polyphospate (10-34-0) |
90.7 |
22.83 |
| Attapulgite Clay |
4.0 |
1.01 |
| Corrosion inhibitor |
3.9 |
0.99 |
| Water |
None |
balance |
| Fugitive pigment |
1.0 |
0.25 |
| Yellow iron oxide |
0.4 |
0.10 |
EXAMPLE 6
[0042] This example illustrates the practice of the invention by the manufacture of dry
concentrate products from ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, using non-fugitive
components other than red iron oxide. These compositions have acceptable aerial visibility
and fugitive fading characteristics. The compositions are prepared in accordance with
the procedure Example 2, with the components listed in Tables L-O.
TABLE L
| |
Wt.% in concentrate |
Wt.% in solution |
| Ammonium sulfate |
94.47 - 82.21 |
14.70 |
| Diammonium phosphate |
4.56 - 3.97 |
0.71 |
| Guar gum |
0 - 4.47 |
0 - 0.8 |
| Stabilizer(s)/corrosion |
|
|
| inhibitor(s)/spoilage |
|
|
| inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), |
|
|
| etc. |
0 - 8.40 |
0 - 1.5 |
| fugitive pigment |
0.84 - 0.73 |
0.13 |
| yellow iron oxide |
0.13 - 0.22 |
0.02 - 0.04 |
| Water |
None |
84.44 - 82.14 |
TABLE M
| |
Wt.%in concentrate |
Wt.% in solution |
| Ammonium sulfate |
93.90 - 83.44 |
10.00 - 20.00 |
| Diammonium phosphate |
4.69 - 6.25 |
0.50 - 1.50 |
| Guar gum |
0 - 4.47 |
0 - 0.8 |
| Stabilizer(s)/corrosion |
|
|
| inhibitor(s)/spoilage |
|
|
| inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), |
0 - 6.26 |
0 - 1.5 |
| etc. |
0 - 6.26 |
0 - 1.5 |
| fugitive pigment |
1.22 - 0.54 |
0.13 |
| titanium dioxide |
0.19 - 0.17 |
0.02 - 0.04 |
| Water |
None |
89.35 - 76.03 |
TABLE N
| |
Wt.% in concentrate |
Wt.% in solution |
| Ammonium sulfate |
71.61 - 59.98 |
8.5 |
| Diammonium phosphate |
26.96 - 22.58 |
3.2 |
| Guar gum |
0 - 5.65 |
0 - 0.8 |
| Stabilizer(s) /corrosion |
|
|
| inhibitor(s)/spoilage |
|
|
| inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), etc. |
0 - 10.59 |
0 - 1.5 |
| fugitive pigment |
1.09 - 0.92 |
0.13 |
| yellow iron oxide |
0.34 - 0.28 |
0.04 |
| Water |
None |
88.13 - 85.83 |
TABLE O
| |
Wt.% in concentrate |
Wt.% in solution |
| Ammonium sulfate |
69.47 - 53.53 |
14.00 - 5.00 |
| Diammonium phosphate |
29.78 - 20.02 |
6.0 - 1.87 |
| Guar gum |
0 - 4.47 |
0 - 0.8 |
| Stabilizer(s)/corrosion |
|
|
| inhibitor (s) /spoilage |
|
|
| inhibitor(s), defoamer(s), |
|
|
| etc. |
0 - 16.06 |
0 - 1.5 |
| fugitive pigment |
1.65 - 1.40 |
0.13 |
| titanium dioxide |
0.10 - 0.43 |
0.02 - 0.04 |
| Water |
None |
79.85 - 90.66 |
[0043] Having described our invention in such terms as to enable those skilled in the art
to make and use it and, having identified the presently preferred embodiments and
best modes thereof, we claim:
