Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02154122 2003-O1-03
FUGITIVE COLOUR FIRE RETARDANT COMPOSITION FOR AERIAL
APPLICATION
This invention relates to fire retardant compositions which are specially
adapted
for aerial application, to combat or prevent the spread of wildfires. More
particularly,
the invention concerns a fugitive colour 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 colour (hue).
In the early 1960's, aerial application of fire retardant compositions to
prevent or
re~rd the spread of forest fires, range fires, etc., became very widespread.
Typically,
these fire retardant compositions contained an electrolytic fire-suppressing
salt, e.g.,
ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, and the like, and also included other
components, e.g., viscosity modifiers, corrosion inhibitors and colouring
agents, e.g.,
pigments or dyes. Typical fire retardant compositions of the type described
above are
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,196,10$, to Nelson and U.S. Patents Nos.
3,257,316 and
3,309,324 to Langouth, et al. These compositions generally consisted of an
aqueous
slurry or solution of a fire-suppressing salt, e, g. , ammonium phosphate or
ammonium
sulphate and a thickening agent, e.g., attapulgite clay, guar gum or the like.
Colouring
agents, e.g., red iron oxide, were included to improve the visibility of the
material after
it was dropped. More recently, ammonium polyphosphate liquids, containing
colouring
agents and corrosion inhibitors, have been widely employed. Such liquid
polyphosphate
fire retardant compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,370,890 to
Nelson and
U.S. Patent No. 3,960,735 to Lacey.
Fire retardant compositions containing other thickeners, stabilizers and the
like
are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Patent No. 4,822,524 to
Strickland, U.S.
Patent No. 3,634,234 to Morganthaler, U.S. Patent No. 4,606,831 to Kegler, et
al.,
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U.S. Patent No. 4,447.,336 to Vandersall, U.S. Patent No. 4,447,338 to Adl, et
al., and
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,83!x,065 and 4,983,326 to Vandersall.
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, and dropping at, the wildfire site. In some instances,
a dry
concentrate is first muted 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.
The active fine-suppressing components employed in such fire retardant
compositions include any of the well-known electrolytic fire-suppressing
salts, e.g. , those
which are disclosed in i1. S. Patent No. 3,196,108 to Nelson, as well as the
more recently
employed liquid ammonium polyphosphate materials, as disclosed in U.S. Patent
No.
3,960,735 to Lacey, ammonium sulphate, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,176,071 to
Crouch, and mixtures of these salts with themselves and with other salts.
In general, the active fire retardant components are compounds or a mixture of
compounds that degrafe or decompose at temperatures which are below the
ignition
temperature of the fuels to be protected (e.g., cellulose), thereby releasing
a mineral
acid, e.g., phosphoric acid or sulphuric acid. Among the various fire
retardants typically
used in fire retardant mixtures and which might be used in the compositions of
aspects
of this invention are rnonoammonium 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-alkalimetal 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 sulphate, liquid ammonium polyphosphates and blends thereof. Some
liquid
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
3
ammonium polyphosphates may be too dilute in their commercial forms for
application
as fire retardants but, other retardants, e.g., 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 phosphates, e.g., 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 percentagc: potash in the blend.
The fire retardmt companents may also include thickening agents, which include
standard thickeners, e. g:. , galactomannan guar gum compositions and
derivatives thereof,
attapulgite clay, carbo:Kymethylcellulose and derivatives thereof, and the
like. The
thickening agent is employed to maintain the viscosity of the diluted mixed
fire retardant
composition, for example, at between 50 centipoise and 2000 centipoise for
aerial
application. In addition, the fire retardant components, in the concentrate or
in the final
diluted mixed form, rnay also typically include various adjuvants, e.g.,
corrosion
inhibitors, flow conditioners, spoilage inhibitors, stabilizers and the like,
and carriers for
these adjuvants, in accordance with art-recognized principles.
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
determine visually
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 colourless or may be of colours which do not contrast
well
with the ground or vegetation, it has been common practice to mix colouring
agents with
the fire retardant composition components. Colouring agents are used to give
the fire
retardant compositions a colour (hue) which contrasts with the hue of the
ground
vegetation, thereby enhancing the ability of the aircraft pilot to determine
where the last
CA 02154122 2003-O1-03
4
loads of fire retardants were dropped in constructing a fire-fighting line.
Prior art
colouring 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 colouring agents were remarkably effective in enhancing the aerial
visibility
of fire retardant compositions after they were applied. However, certain prior
art
colouring agents, especially red irow oxide, were very "colourfast" , such
that the ground
and structures (if any) to which the prior art fore retardant compositions
were applied,
remained permanently or semi-peruanently stained. Consequently, certain
government
fire-fighting agencies have, more recently, required that aerially-applied
fire retardant
compositions have so-called "fugitive" colouring agents, such that the colour
of the
compositions would fade over a short time, e.g., 30 days, to a colour which
did not
objectionably contrast with the ground and ground vegetation.
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" colour, i.e., such that the fire
retardant
compositions exhibit the colour they would have exhibited without the addition
of such
fugitive agents. However, although the fire retardant compositions themselves
might be
brilliantly colours 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 coloured 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 colour compositions are sometimes difficult to
visualize from
an aircraft after dropping on various kinds of vegetation and under various
lighting
conditions.
It would be advantageous to provide fugitive colour fire retardant
compositions
which exhibit improved aerial visibility after dropping. It would also be
advantageous
CA 02154122 2003-O1-03
to achieve this result in an economical manner and without
using any materials which are toxic to humans, animals, to fish
or to vegetation.
Briefly, a fugitive color liquid fire retardant
composition has been discovered for aerial application to
ground vegetation which achieves these objectives.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a fugitive color liquid from retardant composition for
aerial application to ground vegetation, said composition
comprising: a) fire retardant components having a first hue,
comprising a fire retardant salt; b)a colorant which initially
colors said composition to a second hue which contrasts with
the hue of said vegetation, said colorant comprising: i) a
fugitive color component; ii) a non-fugitive component which is
present in said composition in an amount which improves the
aerial visibility of said composition, but in less than an
amount which prevents said composition from fading to said
first hue after aerial application; arid c) an aqueous carrier.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a concentrate composition for preparing a fugitive
color liquid fire retardant composition for aerial application
to ground vegetation, by dilution thereof with an aqueous
carrier, said concentrate composition comprising:
a) fire retardant components having a first hue, comprising a
fire retardant salt; and b) a colorant which initially colors
said composition to a second hue which contrast with the hue of
said vegetation, said colorant comprising: i) a fugitive color
component, and ii) a non-fugitive component present in said
composition in an amount which improves the aerial visibility
of said composition, but in less than an amount which prevents
said composition from fading to said first hue after aerial
application.
According to a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a fugitive color liquid fire retardant
composition for aerial application to ground vegetation, said
CA 02154122 2003-O1-03
composition comprising: a) fare retardant components including
a fire retardant salt; b) a fugitive color component which
improves the aerial visibility of said composition and which
colors said composition to contrast with normal vegetation or
ground; and c) titanium dioxide, in an amount sufficient to
improve the aerial visibility of said composition, but in less
than an amount which prevents said composition from fading to a
neutral color which blends with normal vegetation or ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method for fighting wildfires comprising the
steps of: applying a fire retardant composition to ground
vegetation, which composition includes: a) fire retardant
components including a fire retardant salt; b) a fugitive color
component which improves the aerial visibility of said
composition and which colors said composition to contrast with
the vegetation or ground; and c) a non-fugitive color component
insoluble in an aqueous carrier which improves the aerial
visibility of said composition, and said non-fugitive color
component provided in less than an amount which prevents said
composition from fading to a neutral color which blends with
the vegetation or ground.
By two variants of this second broad aspect of this
invention, the concentrate composition is a dry composition, or
is a liquid concentrate composition.
By a variant of these two broad aspects of this invention,
the non-fugitive component is red iron oxide.
By a second variant of these two broad aspects of this
invention, and/or the above variants thereof, the fire
retardant salt comprises a liquid ammonium polyphosphate.
In other words, the compositions of aspects of this
invention generally comprise fire retardant components, a
colorant and a liquid carrier, a typically an aqueous carrier.
CA 02154122 2003-O1-03
6
'The fire retardant components include a fire-suppressing salt and have a
first hue. The
colourant comprises a fugitive component and a non-fugitive component.
The colourant used in aspects of thus invention initially colours 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 colour which is imparted by the
fugitive
component, or to the colour which is imparted by the combined fugitivelnon-
fugitive
components .
The non-fugitive component of the colourant of an aspect of this invention is
'
present in an amount which is sufficient to improve the aerial visibility of
the
composition when it is first applied to the vegetation. However, the non-
fugitive
component is the composition of an aspect of this invention is present in less
than an
amount which prevents the composition froth thereafter fading to the first
hue, i.e., the
hue of the fire retardant composition components without the colourant.
According to another embodiment of a general aspect of this invention, a
concentrate composition is provided for preparing the liquid composition
described above
by dilution thereof with the aqueous carrier. The concentrate composition of
this aspect
of this invention generally comprises the fire retardant components and the
colourant.
In one embodiment, the concentrate is a dry composition. In another
embodiment, the concentrate is a liquid which is suitable for later dilution
with water to
form the final mixed liquid fire retardant composition.
As used herein, the term "Errs retardant components" means all of the
components
of the composition except the "colourant" 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 fue retardant formulations,
e.g.,
corrosion inhibitors, spoilage inhibitors, flow conditioners, anti-foaming
agents, foaming
agents, stability additives and thickening agents.
The term "coiourant" means a combination of at least two components, namely,
a fugitive component and a non-fugitive component.
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7
The "fugitive component" is a dye, or a dye which is dispersed in a matrix
(i.e.,
a pigment), which fade, over time and under ambient field conditions to a
colourless or
less-highly-coloured 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 which are encapsulated in a resin
integument)
which are suspendible in the fire retardant compositions of aspects of this
invention and
which also fade rapidlw 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 pigments known by the trade name of the AXTM series pigments, supplied by
Day-
Glo Color Corp., Cleveland, Ohio. At present, it is preferred to employ
encapsulated-
dye fugitive pigments v~rithout uv absorbers, rather than using water-soluble
dyes because
the encapsulated-dye pigments are less likely to stain.
The colourant is present in an amount which provides a colour ("second hue")
to
the composition which is different from the colour of the composition without
the
colourant ("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.
The colourant also includes a "non-fugitive" component, i.e., a component
which
is insoluble in the carrier liquid and which, if coloured, does not
necessarily fade after
aerial application of the fire retardant composition.
The non-fugitive component preferably has an index of refraction of at least
2Ø
For example, prior art: fire retardant compositions containing fugitive
colourants and
which also contain various clays and other insoluble materials, e.g.,
attapulgite clay,
tricalcium phosphate, (c:omponents which have refractive indices below 2.0),
did not have
the improved aerial visibility which is exhibited by the compositions of
aspects 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 compor,~ents can be employed if the refractive index is higher
and larger
quantities of lower-index materials are required to achieve desirable results.
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g
The non-fugitive component of an aspect of this invention is included in the
colourant in an amount which is 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 in the fire retardant composition of an aspect of
this invention
is less than the amount which would prevent the fire retardant composition of
an aspect
of this invention from fading to the first hue after application.
The non-fugitive component is dispersible or suspendible in the final fire
retardant
composition of an aspect of this invention and in a liquid concentrate of an
aspect of this
invention of such composition. The dispersibility or suspendibility of such a
component
is primarily dependent upon particle size and particle size distribution and
the nature of
the other components which are present in the fire retardant composition of an
aspect of
this invention, e.g., thickeners, etc.
Also, the chemical structure and characteristics of the non-fugitive pigment
in the
fire retardant composition of an aspect of this invention must be compatible
with the
other components, espE:cially 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 of an aspect of this invention.
It should
also be non-toxic, and, if coloured, should not undesirably affect the hue
established by
the fugitive component: of an aspect of this invention.
For example, in a presently preferred practice of aspects of this invention,
red
iron oxide pigments are employed as the non-fugitive component. Yellow iron
oxide
pigments and white pigments, e. g. , titanium dioxide can also be employed.
Although
coloured pigments, e.g., red or yellow iron oxide do not fade appreciably, the
amounts
of such pigments in tree fire retardant compositions of an aspect of this
invention are
small enough that the overall composition of an aspect of this invention
ultimately fades
to a neutral colour, i.e., substantially the same colour which the composition
of an aspect
of this invention would have exhibited if no colourant had been added.
For example, if a red fugitive component and red iron oxide (non-fugitive
component) are employed, the initial colour (second hue) of the resultant fire
retardant
composition of an aspect of this invention will be red. If a red fugitive
component and
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
9
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, it is
preferred to employ red iron oxide in combination with a red fugitive
component to form
the colourant of an aspect of this invention.
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 of an aspect of this invention, will vary, depending on the
natural or
"neutral" colour of the fire retardant composition components and the natural
colours of
the terrain and vegetation. For example, if a blue-coloured fire retardant
composition,
e.g., that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,960,735 to Lacey, is employed on
darkly-
coloured vegetation, e.g., spruce fir, a greater quantity of a coloured non-
fugitive
colourant, e.g., red iron oxide, can be employed. On the other hand, less of a
coloured
non-fugitive component can be employed if the base composition is highly
viscous, or
if the composition is applied on less highly coloured vegetation or terrain,
e.g.,
chaparral. It appears that the maximum quantity of coloured non-fugitive
component is
higher when using a clay thickener than when using a gum thickener in the fire
retardant
composition of an aspeca of this invention. In general, it appears that the
coloured non-
fugitive pigment can be no more than 20 % to 30 % by weight of the total
colourant. The
maximum amount of the total colourant which is employed will be less than the
amount
which would prevent the fire retardant compositions of an aspect of this
invention from
fading to a neutral colour. These amounts can be determined by routine tests
by persons
skilled in the art having; regard to this disclosure.
For example, the maximum amount of red iron oxide which can be employed,
irrespective of the amount of fugitive component presently appears to be 0.5 %
by weight
of the liquid concentrate: formulations and 0.10 % by weight 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 colourant components of an aspect of this invention
can be
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
determined by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, having
regard to
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
5 Service Specification for Long Term Retardant, Forest Fire, Aircraft or
Ground
Application.
The use of both a dye and a pigment in the same fire retardant composition is
disclosed by U.S. Pate:nt No. 3,960,735, issued June l, 1976 to Lacey. In the
Lacey
patent (Example III) both "red iron oxide" and "6BL dye" are included in a
fire retardant
10 concentrate composition. However, the primary colouring 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 be
added, i.e., in
U.S. Patent No. 3,960,735, to Lacey, the compositions were not "fugitive". The
6BL
dye was added to the composition of Example III disclosed in that patent for
the purpose
of supplementing the re:d colour 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.
A prior art composition was known and used in the United States prior to the
present invention whiclh may have included a colourant consisting of a mixture
of a dye
and a small quantity of Ti02, which was 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 Ti02 in this
product was
only 40ppm to SOppm in the final diluted concentrate, which was far less than
the amount
which is required to provide the enhanced visibility which is achieved by the
compositions of aspects of the present invention.
The determination of whether the hue of the fugitive composition (second hue)
fades to the hue of the fire retardant composition of an aspect of this
invention without
any colourant (first hue;) can be determined by the method which is described
in Section
4.3.7.2 of Specification 5100-3U4a (February 1986), "USDA Forest Service
Specification
for Specification for Lcrng Term Retardant, Forest Fire Aircraft or Ground
Application" .
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11
The following examples are presented to illustrate principles of the present
invention further to those skilled in the art. These examples do not, however,
constitute
limitations on the scope of aspects of this invention.
EXAMPLE 1
This example illustrates the practice of an aspect of this invention in the
manufacture of so-called "liquid concentrate"-type fire retardant products.
The products
are prepared in accordance with the procedure described U.S. Patent No.
3,960,735 to
Lacey, except that the colourant in the fire retardant composition of an
aspect of the
present invention is substituted for the colouring agents described therein.
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 1B. 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 fire retardant compositions of aspects of this invention have
acceptable
fading characteristics, i.e., fade to hue which are substantially the same as
the
compositions would exhibit without addition of the colourant.
TABLE A
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate 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
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12
TABLE A (Continued)
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate Diluted (5:1)
Composition
COLOURANT
COMPONENTS
Corrosion, Inhibitor
Reagent(s), Stabilizers,
Spoilage Inhibitor(s),
Defoamer(s), etc. 0 - 10.0 0 - 2.24
Fugitive Pigment
(DAY-GLOTM 122-9180) 0.5 - 1.0 0.22 - 0.22
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Titanium Dioxide) 0.2 - 0.4 0.04 - 0.09
LI(,~UID CARRIER
Water None Balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
TABLE B
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate 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
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13
TABLE B (Continued)
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate Diluted (4.25:1)
Composition
FIRE RETARDANT
COMPONENTS
Corrosion Inhibitor
Reagent(s), Stabilizers.,
Spoilage Inhibitor(s),
Defoamer(s), etc. 0 - 10.0 0 - 2.49
COLOURANT COMPO NENTS
Fugitive Pigment
(DAY-GLOTM 122-91 0. 5 - 2.0 0.12 - 0. 50
&0)
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Yellow Iron Oxide) 0.2 - 0.6 0.05 - 0.15
LI(,~UID CARRIER
Water none balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
EXAMPLE 2
This example illustrates the practice of an aspect of this 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 which is suitable for aerial application. These compositions are
manufactured in accordance with the methods disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,176,071
to Crouch. The ingredients in each composition are set forth in Tables C, D
and E.
Each of these fire retardant compositions of aspects of this invention has
acceptable aerial
visibility and fugitive fading characteristics.
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
14
TABLE C
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate Composition
FIRE RETARDANT
COMPONENTS
Ammonium Sulphate 78.20 14.5
Diammonium Phosphate 3.78 0.7
Guar Gum 4.20 0,g
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
COLOURANT COMPONENTS
Fugitive Pigment 1.08 0.20
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Red Iron Oxide) 0.22 0.04
LIOUID CARRIER
Water none balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
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TABLE D
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
5 Concentrate Composition
FIRE RETARDANT
COMPONENTS
10 Ammonium Sulphate 24.52 3.2
Diammonium Phosphate 65.90 8.6
Guar Gum 5.98 .8
15
Stabilizer/Corrosion
Inhibitor 2.30 .3
COLOURANT COMPONENTS
Fugitive Pigment 1.00 0.13
Non-Fugitive Pigment 0.30 0.04
LIt,~UID CARRIER
Water None Balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
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16
TABLE E
Wt. % in Wt. % in Final
Concentrate Composition
FIRE RETARDANT
COMPONENTS
Ammonium Sulphate x,15 g.5
Diammonium Phosphate 24.15 3.2
Guar Gum ( , pp , g
Spoilage Inhibitor 0, 75 .1
Stabilizer/Corrosion
Inhibitor 0 - 3.77 0 - 0.5
(variable)
COLOURANT COMPONENTS
Fugitive Pigment 0.98 0.13
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Red Iron Oxide) 0.20 0.03
LIOUID CARRIER
Water None Balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
17
EXAMPLE 3
This example illustrates the practice of aspects of the invention in the
manufacture
of fugitive compositions of the general type which is disclosed in U.S. Patent
No.
4,983,326 to Vandersa,ll. A blended dry powder concentrate is prepared in
accordance
with Example 4B of U'.S. Patent No. 4,983,326 to Vandersall. 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 of aspects
of this invention having improved aerial visibility in comparison to the same
fire
retardant 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, interir~ediate liquid or so-called "fluid" concentrate and
the final diluted
mixed retardant composition of aspects of this invention.
TABLE F
Dry Con- Liquid Con- Final
centrate centxate 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
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
18
TABLE F (Continued)
Dry Con- Liquid Con- Final
centrate centrate Mix
FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS
Polyalkylene Derivatives
of Propylene Glycol 0.13 0.06 0.01
COLOURANT
Fugitive Component 1.61 0.75 0.17
Red Iron Oxide 0.28 0.13 0.03
LIOUID CARRIER
Water none 53.18 balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
19
Example 4 illustrates the best mode presently known for practising an aspect
of
the present 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 0.20 wt % in the concentrate, the compositions
will not
have acceptable aerial visibility, even if the red iron oxide which is 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 fugitive fading.
EXAMPLE 4
The following compositions were prepared in accordance with method described
in the U.S. Patent No. :3,960,735 to Lacey, except that the colourant in the
fire retardant
composition of aspects of the present invention is substituted for the
colouring agents
described therein. The ingredients used in preparing the liquid concentrates
and the final
diluted mixed fire retardant are listed in Tables G, H and I.
TABLE G
Wt % in Liquid Wt % in Dih~ted
Concentrate Mixed Retardarn
FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS
Ammonium Polyphosphate
Liquid (ARCADIANTN~ 11-37-0) 90.60 20.29
Attapulgite Clay
(FLORIDINTM AA Special) 3.50 0.78
Sodium Ferrocyanide
(WEGOTM Technical) 4.50 1.01
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
TABLE G (Continued)
Wt % in Liquid Wt % ~
Concentrate
COLOURANT
10 Fugitive Pigment
(DAY-GLOTM #122-9180) 1.00 0.22
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Mobay Corp. BAYFERROXTM
15 Red Iron Oxide 130M) 0.40 0.09
LIOUID CARRIER
20 Water none balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
21
TABLE H
Wt % in Liquid Wt % in Dihited
Concentrate Mixed Retai~ai~
FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS
Ammonium Polyphosphate
Liquid (SIMPLOTTM 11)-34-0) 90.70 22.98
Attapulgite Clay
(FLORIDINTM AA Special) 4.00 1.01
Sodium Ferrocyanide
(WEGOTM Technical) 3.90 0.99
COLOURANT
Fugitive Pigment
(DAY-GLOTM #122-91!30) 1.00 0.25
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Mobay Corp. BAYFERROXTM
Red Iron Oxide 130M) 0.40 0.10
LI(~UID CARRIER
Water none balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
22
TABLE I
Wt % in Liquid Wt % in Dihited
Concentrate Mixed R~darn
FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENTS
Ammonium Polyphosphate
Liquid (MACGREGORTM 11-37-0) 90.60 21.10
Attapulgite Clay
(FLORIDINTM AA Special) 3.50 0.82
Sodium Ferrocyanide
(WEGOTM Technical) 4.50 1.05
COLOURANT
Fugitive Pigment
(DAY-GLOTM #122-9180) 1.00 0.23
Non-Fugitive Pigment
(Mobay Corp. BAYF)=;RROXTM
Red Iron Oxide 130M) 0.40 0.09
LIQUID CARRIER
Water none balance
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
23
EXAMPLE 5
This example illustrates the practice of an aspect of this invention by the
manufacture of liquid concentrate products from ammonium polyphosphate
liquids, using
non-fugitive components other than red iron oxide. These fire retardant
compositions of
aspects of this invention have acceptable aerial visibility and fugitive
fading
characteristics. The fire retardant compositions of aspects of this invention
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 Polyphosphate90.6 20.26
(11-37-0)
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
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
TABLE K
Wt. % in Concentrate Wt. % in Solution
Ammonium Polyphospate 90.7 22.83
( 10-34-0)
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
'TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
a a ,
24
EXAMPLE 6
This example illustrates the practice of aspects of this invention by the
manufacture of dry concentrate products from ammonium phosphate and ammonium
sulphate, using non-fugitive components other than red iron oxide. These fire
retardant
compositions of aspects of this invention have acceptable aerial visibility
and fugitive
fading characteristics. The fire retardant compositions of aspects of this
invention are
prepared in accordance with the procedure of Example 2, with the components
listed in
Tables L-O.
TABLE L
Wt. % in Concentrate Wt. % in Solution
Ammonium Sulphate 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
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
c
25
TABLE M
Wt. % in ConcentrateWt. % in Solution
Ammonium Sulphate 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),
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
'TOTAL 100.00 100.00
TABLE N
Wt. % in ConcentrateWt. % in Solution
Ammonium Sulphate 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
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
CA 02154122 1999-11-10
c
26
TABLE O
Wt. % in Concentrate Wt. % in Solution
S
Ammonium Sulphate 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
TOTAL 100.00 100.00
