GB1588876A - Creación de Inventos y Patentes con Inteligencia Artificial

GB1588876A – Extinction of metal fires
– Google Patents

GB1588876A – Extinction of metal fires
– Google Patents
Extinction of metal fires

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Publication number
GB1588876A

GB1588876A
GB47999/77A
GB4799977A
GB1588876A
GB 1588876 A
GB1588876 A
GB 1588876A
GB 47999/77 A
GB47999/77 A
GB 47999/77A
GB 4799977 A
GB4799977 A
GB 4799977A
GB 1588876 A
GB1588876 A
GB 1588876A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
graphite
fire
intercalation compound
metal
exfoliated
Prior art date
1976-11-22
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)

Expired

Application number
GB47999/77A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

Carbonisation et Charbons Actifs CECA SA

Mersen SA

Original Assignee
Carbone Lorraine SA
Carbonisation et Charbons Actifs CECA SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1976-11-22
Filing date
1977-11-17
Publication date
1981-04-29

1976-11-22
Priority claimed from FR7635125A
external-priority
patent/FR2371207A1/en

1977-09-05
Priority claimed from FR7726857A
external-priority
patent/FR2401672A2/en

1977-11-17
Application filed by Carbone Lorraine SA, Carbonisation et Charbons Actifs CECA SA
filed
Critical
Carbone Lorraine SA

1981-04-29
Publication of GB1588876A
publication
Critical
patent/GB1588876A/en

Status
Expired
legal-status
Critical
Current

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Classifications

A—HUMAN NECESSITIES

A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING

A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING

A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

A62C99/0009—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames

A62C99/0045—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames using solid substances, e.g. sand, ashes; using substances forming a crust

A—HUMAN NECESSITIES

A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING

A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING

A62C3/00—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places

A62C3/06—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places of highly inflammable material, e.g. light metals, petroleum products

A—HUMAN NECESSITIES

A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING

A62D—CHEMICAL MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES OR FOR COMBATING OR PROTECTING AGAINST HARMFUL CHEMICAL AGENTS; CHEMICAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN BREATHING APPARATUS

A62D1/00—Fire-extinguishing compositions; Use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires

A62D1/0007—Solid extinguishing substances

A62D1/0014—Powders; Granules

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION
( 11) 1 588 876 ( 21) Application No 47999/77 ( 31) Convention Application No’s ( 33) France (FR) ( 22) Filed 17 Nov 1977 7635125 ( 32) Filed 22 Nov 1976 7726857 5 Sep 1977 in ( 44) Complete Specification Published 29 Apr 1981 ( 51) INT CL 3 A 62 D 1/00 ( 52) Index at Acceptance A 5 A 1 C 1 A J 210 J 403 J 404 J 405 J 406 J 407 J 423 J 424 J 431 J 462 J 5 ( 54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE EXTINCTION OF METAL FIRES ( 71) We, C E C A S A, a French Company, of Velizy-Villacoublay 78140 11, Avenue Morane Saulnier, France, and LE CARBONE-LORRAINE, a French joint stock company, of 45, rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:This invention relates to a method of extinguishing metal fires, especially those fires which are difficult to extinguish by conventional means, such as alkali metal fires, more particularly sodium fires, and light metal fires, especially those involving aluminium, magnesium and alloys thereof, and to compositions for use therein.
Generally metal fires are characterized by the fact that the temperature of the burning mass is considerably higher than the selfburning temperature of the metal, and accordingly the metallic surface must be isolated from the ambient atmosphere, in order to stop the combustion.
In many cases this isolation is difficult to carry out for many reasons, depending mostly on both the metal involved and the fire temperature.
For example, metals, such as alkali metals which are used as coolants particularly in nuclear power units, are characterized by:
a very low density when liquid and at the temperatures encountered when undergoing burning i e about 0 85 at 600 ‘C and 0.76 at 800 ‘C in case of sodium.
a low viscosity of about O 2 centipoise at 600 ‘C for sodium.
Moreover, when combustion of alkali metals occurs at relatively low temperature, i.e below 400-450 ‘C, the oxide blanket which forms partially remains on the surface of the metal and somewhat screens the metal from contact with the air In contrast, at higher temperatures the oxide layer flows and dissolves the metal, thereby exposing the surface of the metal.
Furthermore, when molten, sodium and the other alkali metals wet most fire extinguishing agents which are generally of higher density than the metal and hence flow and cannot provide any protecting effect on the metal surface.
Another factor to consider is that the high conductivity of metals during the fires results in the whole mass of metal reaching high temperature This is not the case with other fuels, such as hydrocarbons, with which only the surface is blazing and at a relatively high temperature.
The choice of materials which can be used for fighting against metal fires is very important, due to the fact that chemical reactions may occur in view of the reactivity of the metal and the high temperature.
Accordingly, it is not possible to use most of the organic compounds able to provide cracking products which may be a source of secondary fires Such compounds may additionally form explosive gaseous mixtures.
Most inorganic compounds with the exception of metal halides, especially the sodium halides, and certain inert compounds, such as carbon, are reduced by alkali metals and light metals This reduction generally involves highly exothermic reactions which may cause prohibitively high temperatures to be achieved and be a source of severe accidents In certain cases silica and silicates react violently with burning metals.
At the present time alkali metal halides are available as extinguishing powders and the action thereof is efficient on light metal fires However they have major disadvantages:
they have a considerably corrosive action which may be very detrimental to industrial plant located close to the fires, ( 19) 1 588 876 when used for extinguishing alkali metal fires, especially sodium fires, further difficulties occur due to the fact that the halides are wetted by the metals and flow away.
Carbon in its various forms does not react with metals However, when used for extinguishing alkali metal fires, it is easily wetted and also flows away.
Accordingly, use has to be made of a significant amount of either alkali metal halide or carbon (to fill the whole plenum including the metal) before the formation of an isolating layer is achieved.
A main object of the invention is to provide a method of extinguishing metal fires, which enables the metallic surface to be efficiently and simply isolated from the ambient atmosphere, whatever the type of metal and the fire temperature may be.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of extinguishing metal fires, which enables only small amounts of fire extinguishing agents to be used.
These objects are attained according to the present invention by providing a method of extinguishing metal fires, characterized in that the metallic surface is isolated from the ambient atmosphere by applying to the fire exfoliated graphite or graphite which is exfoliated «in situ» in the fire.
It is already known that natural graphite flakes are capable, under certain conditions, of adsorbing many chemical elements and compounds, or mixtures thereof, which become intercalated between the laminae of the graphite network, which remains unexpanded, so as to form complexes It is these not previously expanded products which are generally termed herein «intercalation compounds of graphite».
The process used to produce such intercalation compounds has to be adapted to the nature of the material or materials to be inserted It is usual to react the respective material or materials with natural graphite flakes, possibly in the presence of elements or compounds promoting such an insertion under selected conditions of temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time The product thus obtained may be subjected to the action of a solvent (such as water or an alcohol).
One can obtain, for example, a graphitesulphuric acid intercalation compound by reacting natural graphite with a sulphonitric mixture and then washing the graphite thus treated with water.
Some of the intercalation compounds have the property of exfoliating when they are subjected suddenly to a high temperature and as a result provide graphite having a low density i e the exfoliated graphite.
According to the invention, this exfoliated graphite may be used as such, generally after compaction under low pressure to form it into granules or when formed «in situ» within the temperature ranges of the metal fires.
When preparing exfoliated graphite, various intercalation compounds thereof may be used.
Examples of such intercalation compounds are those obtained starting from graphite and:
nitric acid (HNO 3) sulphuric acid (H 2504) hydrofluoric acid (HF) orthophosphoric acid (H 3 P 04) ferric chloride (Fe CI 3) trifluoroacetic acid (CF 3 CO 2 H) ferric chloride/ammonia (Fe CI 3 NH 3) antimony pentachloride (Sb C 19) calcium/ammonia (Ca NH 3) barium/ammonia (Ba NH 3) strontium/ammonia (Sr NH 3) Some of said intercalation compounds have an exfoliation ratio ranging from 20 to 300 when subjected to high temperature stressing When exfoliated graphite is poured, even in small amounts, on blazing metals, for instance light metals such as aluminium and magnesium and alloys thereof, the fires are extinguished.
In the case of alkali metals, the liquid metal is wet-fixed by the exfoliated graphite which has a sponge-like action and a graphite amount in excess ensures the blanketing and the isolation of the metal from the atmosphere The required amount of exfoliated graphite is proportional to the amount of burning metal, this amount being, however, low in relation to the amounts of extinguishing agents commonly used.
In the case of exfoliated graphite formation «in situ», the choice of an intercalation compound thereof essentially depends on the type of burning metal, on the metal temperature (since it is necessary that the intercalation compound should exfoliate at this temperature) and on the fire environment The material or materials inserted within the intercalation compound cause(s) the exfoliated graphite to be formed «in situ»-.
When carrying out the method of the invention, it is necessary to select the, amount of material to be inserted in the graphite and/or the intercalation compound, so as to obtain «in situ» an exfoliated graphite which will be so light as to float on the molten metal, and well-bonded as to form a blanket isolating the metal from the ambient atmosphere Thus a maximum exfoliation rate will be that which provides an exfoliated graphite not so light as to be swept away by the combustion gas stream incident on the burning metal.
3 1 588 876 3 When exfoliation is effected «in situ», it is carried out at the molten metal surface and the exfoliated graphite layer formed therein «in situ» does not flow away and provides an isolating layer which causes combustion to terminate even in the case of alkai metals.
The amount of intercalation compound of graphite required is quite low and only depends in practice on the surface area of the molten metal and not on the volume thereof.
In case of sodium fires, the extinguishing process takes place within a few seconds.
The discharge of sodium oxide aerosols from the burning metal surface ceases and then the metal temperature slowly decreases, owing to the fact that the exfoliated graphite layer is thermally isolating.
According to another advantageous feature, the method of the invention is easy to carry out, this being of particular value having regard to the conditions under which the metal fires may occur.
Thus application of the graphite may be effected by gravity flow, hand spraying or mechanical spraying, for example means of an extinguisher, when using either an exfoliated graphite or graphite able to be exfoliated When spraying graphite an intercalation compound of this may be packaged either in small bags or in capsules and delivered to the fire, by a spraying process involving an explosive However, this list of processes is not intended to be limiting.
It has also be found that the graphite product may be employed in the form of granules, bars or foils.
Agglomerates and bars may be obtained by mere compression of the relevant intercalation compound (see, for example, the bodies obtained hereinafter by the processes of Examples 16, 17, 18 and 20) One may also use machines for producing tablets.
These tablets, by virtue of their smaller size, are different from bars They may be cylindrical with a diameter ranging from 6 to 12 mm and a height ranging from 3 to 12 mm The weight of an agglomerate particle ranges from 0 2 to 2 grams The sizes and weight are not critical, and the term agglomerate is used herein to denote small bodies having various shapes and sizes, for instance spherical and cylindrical, which may be produced.
It has been discovered, and it is a feature of the invention that, when a certain amount of agglomerated intercalation compound of graphite is poured on the surface of a sodium fire, each particle, when undergoing exfoliation, repels the neighbouring particles which are themselves undergoing exfoliation This ensures that complete blanketing of the burning surface takes place particularly quickly.
In general, blocks and bars may be obtained by any convenient moulding process It is also possible to employ a compression process exerting a pressure amounting to 200 bars, to prepare plates having a thickness of, for example, 10 mm; these plates can be mechanically cut so as to obtain bars.
It has been established that, when disposed on a blazing surface, these bars display the same behaviour as agglomerates, in providing a metal repelling effect that ensures a fire blanketing quicker than with more bulky blocks.
Agglomerates and bars may be bound or packaged together to form blocks, provided that the binding or packaging is such as either to be destroyed on contact with the fire, or easily eliminated during the fire extinguishing process as in case of a wrapper, of plastics material or easily melted metal such as lead foil.
It might also be thought possible to use compressed thin plates capable of being disposed on the blazing surface However, the mechanical strength of such plates is poor, and as a result they are too weak to use It is a further object of the invention to improve the mechanical strength of these plates.
A foil having a sufficient mechanical strength may be obtained by filling a paper or board sheet undergoing production in accordance with paper technology, with an intercalation compound of graphite in powder form When disposed on a sodium fire surface, such a sheet ensures the extinction of the fire in only a few seconds.
Alternatively, the same paper technology may be used to obtain a foil having sufficient mechanical strength if fibres which are largely incapable of burning are incorporated in the graphite intercalation compound powders used to produce the foil.
It is also possible to produce a graphite foil by a dry process, for example a process used for producing non-woven fabrics from fibres which are substantially incapable of combustion.
In another procedure for producing such a foil, the intercalation compound of graphite is agglomerated with another form of carbon, for example exfoliated graphite.
However, in addition to supplying exfoliated graphite to the seat of a fire, the present invention also includes the use of exfoliated graphite or graphite which can exfoliate «in situ» in a fire, in various precautionary modes, for example:
small bags containing intercalation compounds of graphite can be disposed within reception chambers employed for recovering liquid metals to be effective if accidents occur during metal pouring; blocks formed of expansible intercalation compounds of graphite and which may 1 588 876 1 588 876 be covered or uncovered can be used as building elements for receptacles.
The present invention will be more fully apparent from the following non-limiting examples.
In these examples, tests were carried out in a steel-sheet vat thermally isolated on the lateral and bottom faces thereof by means of exfoliated vermiculite.
The molten metal surface area was about 2.2 dm 2, except in examples 18 and 19.
Sodium was heated in the vats and then ignited by means of a propane torch.
Thermocouples were used to enable the metal temperature to be controlled and registered When no extinction process was carried out, combustion took place at a speed of about 40 kg/h x m 2.
Example 1 grams of exfoliated graphite granules having a density of 0,05 were sprayed by hand on to 1 kg of sodium heated at 600 ‘C and previously ignited.
As soon as the spraying process had begun, the exfoliated graphite granules were wetted by the sodium and became attached to the metal which was like a sponge to form a blanket on the metal surface, thus isolating said metal from the ambient atmosphere, and as a result the extinction of combustion occurred.
The aerosol emission of sodium oxides was immediately stopped and fire extinction occurred in under about ten seconds.
Example 2
This example relates to a variant of the process of Example 1 in which a double amount of sodium was used.
Operates exactly as in Example 1, it was established that it was necessary to use 200 g of exfoliated graphite granules having a density of 0 05 to obtain the complete extinction of combustion in the same manner as in Example 1.
Example 3 g of ammonia-ferric chloride-graphite intercalation compound were sprayed by hand on to 1 kg of sodium heated at 6 t)0 ‘C and already alight.
At this temperature intercalation compound expanded to form exfoliated graphite the particles of which were intermingled at the metal surface as to form a blanket which ensured the isolation of said surface from the ambient atmosphere and the complete extinction of combustion in under about ten seconds.
During said process amnmonium chloride vapours formed and were released into the atmosphere However these vapours are considerably less corrosive than sodium oxides produced by the ignition of sodium.
Example 4
The procedure of Example 3 was repeated but using 25 g of ammonia-calciumgraphite intercalation compound instead of the aforesaid graphite intercalation compound.
It was established that complete fire extinction occurred in an analogous manner.
During this process, ammonia vapours discharged into the atmosphere However these vapours were less dangerous than those produced by sodium ignition.
Example 5
The procedure of Examples 3 and 4 was repeated, but using 25 g of 10 % nitric acid-graphite intercalation compound.
It was established that complete fire extinction occurred in an analogous manner.
During this process, a small amount of nitrous vapours discharged in the atmosphere, but this was less dangerous than sodium oxides produced by sodium ignition.
Example 6
The procedure of Example 5 was repeated but using the aforesaid intercalation compound in a polyethylene bag which was thrown on to the burning metal.
At the temperature of the fibre, the bag burnt and liberated the intercalation compound which expanded so as to obtain exfoliated graphite which formed an isolating blanket on the metal surface as in the preceeding examples, and extinguished the fire.
Example 7
A polyethylene bag containing 25 g of a % nitric acid-graphite intercalation compound was placed in the bottom of a container and 1 kg of burning sodium heated at 600 ‘C was poured thereonto.
After ignition of the bag, the intercalation compound thus liberated expanded The exfoliated graphite particles thus obtained, which had a low density, floated on the metal surface so as to form thereon an isolating blanket sufficient to extinguish the fire.
Example 8
Operating otherwise as in Example 7, intercalation composed of the graphite was positioned at a certain height from the bottom of the container.
When the burning sodium at 600 ‘C was in contact with the bag, the same course of events as previously described occured and finally the metal surface was covered with an isolating blanket of exfoliated graphite particles, which extinguished the fire.
1 588 876 Example 9
A mass of magnesium turnings ( 1 kg) was ignited by means of an electric arc and 100 g of exfoliated graphite agglomerate particles having a density of 0,05 were sprayed thereon by hand.
An isolating blanket immediately formed and the fire was extinguished.
Example 10
Operating otherwise as in Example 9, 25 g of 10 % nitric acid-expansible graphite intercalation compound instead of exfoliated graphite ( 100 g) were sprayed on to the burning metal.
At the fire temperature, the complex exfoliated so as to form exfoliated graphite the particles of which interlocked at the metal surface, thus forming a blanket which enabled the fire to be isolated from the ambient atmosphere and extinguished.
Example 11
The procedure of Example 10 was repeated, except that the magnesium turnings ( 1 kg) were substituted by 1 kg of aluminium turnings.
The fire was extinguished in analogous manner.
Example 12 g of 10 % sulphuric acid-expansible graphite intercalation compound were sprayed by hand on to 1 kg of sodium heated to 600 ‘C and alight The emission of an aerosol of sodium oxides ceased immediately stopped and blanketing of the sodium was completed within 5 seconds, thus extinguishing the fire.
Example 13
The procedure of Example 12 was repeated, but using 25 g of intercalation compound only The same observations were made However some burning sodium could still be observed, and the addition of a few further grams of intercalation compound was necessary to complete extinction of the fire.
Example 14
The procedure of Example 12 was repeated but for the difference that the intercalation compound was sprayed by means of an extinguisher specially adapted to the procedure Use was made of 300 g of intercalation compound.
The emission of aerosol of sodium oxides was immediately stopped Blanketing of the fire, and hence extinction thereof, was achieved within 3 seconds.
Example 15
When operated as in Example 14 but only using 120 g of intercalation compound, the same results were obtained.
Example 16
A cylindrical block of sulphuric acidgraphite intercalation compound was made in a mould by a compression process, the intercalation compound being subjected to a pressure of 200 bars The block was deposited on 1 kg of sodium heated to 600 ‘C and alight Graphite exfoliation immediately started and led to complete blanketing of the fire, which is thus extinguished The exfoliation process then continued for a certain period of time.
Example 17
The procedure of Example 16 was repeated but using a block provided with holes and finished on one of its sides so as to increase the surface area.
The same results were obtained However the blanketing was achieved in a shorter period of time, i e within 20 seconds.
Example 18
Two graphite blocks similar to that used in Example 17 were placed on a fire of sodium ( 3 kg) burning at 600 ‘C, the fire having a surface area of 3 5 dm 2 The fire was extinguished within about 20 seconds.
Example 19
Sulphuric acid graphite intercalation compound turnings were sprayed by means of an extinguisher onto a fire of sodium ( 3 kg) at 600 ‘C the fire having a surface area of 3 5 dm 2 When using 280 g of intercalation compound, a part of which was deposited outside the fire, extinction of the fire occurred within about 4 seconds.
Example 20
A block ( 1 Og) of sulphuric acid-graphite intercalation compound similar to that used in Example 16, was jacketed by means of a welded lead sheet having a thickness of 5/10 mm This block was placed on a fire of sodium ( 1 kg) burning at 600 ‘C Extinction occurred in the same way as in the case of Example 16.
Example 21 g of cylindrically shaped agglomerate bodies (diameter: 8 mm; height: 6 mm) of sulphuric acid-graphite intercalation compound were spraved on to a fire (surface area: 2 2 d M 2) of burning sodium ( 1 kg) at 600 ‘C Expansion of the graphite and extinction of the fire occurred in under 3 seconds.
Example 22
A bundle ( 100 g) of bars of graphite intercalation compound the bars having a size: 10 mm x 10 mm x 100 mm and being 1 588 876 bound together by means of either a cotton thread (any inflammable material could have been used) was deposited on a fire (surface area 3 5 dmi 2) of burning sodium ( 3 kg) at 600 ‘C The inflammable material was immediately ignited so as to free the bars which blanketed the fire area as they underwent expansion, thus extinguishing the fire within a short period of time.
Example 23
A bundle ( 90 g) of graphite intercalation compound bars wrapped in a welded lead sheet was deposited on a fire of burning sodium ( 1 kg) at 600 ‘C The fire extinction occured in the same way as previously observed.
Example 24
200 g of a bar-shaped graphite intercalation compound were preventively disposed in a test vat having a surface area of 3 5 dm 2; then 2 kg of sodium previously heated to 600 ‘C were poured thereinto.
Exfoliation of the intercalation compound occured at the beginning of the pouring process, and any general blazing of the sodium mass was prevented thereby.
At the end of the pouring process, all that could be seen was dropping of burning sodium The amount of intercalation compound used was important and in fact carbonaceous froth could be seen to overflowing out of the receiving vat However no metal was entrained therein.
The temperature in the receiving vat slowly began to decrease when the pouring process was completed.
Example 25
A board containing about 8 () gum 2 of cellulose and 2000 g 1 m 2 of sulphuric acid/ graphite intercalation compound was made by a conventional paper processing procedure using a test forming machine The sheet was cut to the size of the fire to be treated.
This sheet is deposited on a fire of sodium ( 1 kg) at 600 ‘C After early combustion of a small portion of the cellulose, the sheet expanded so as to extinguish the fire.
The foregoing examples clearly show the advantage of using expansible graphite which mav be obtained -in situ-, to extinguish metal fires Whereas generally use needs to be made of 1 kg of conventional products to extinguish 1 kg of burning metal, either 100 g of exfoliated graphite or g of graphite intercalation compound are sufficient according to the present invention.
Moreover, while exfoliated graphite has the advantage of not yiclding potentially dangerous vapours, the use of intercalation compounds to be exfoliated ‘in situ’ has the two following main advantages:
the storage volume is considerably reduced by at least 20 times; the interlocking of the exfoliated graphite particles obtained with each other and with the container partitions is improved Accordingly the isolating blanketing thus produced is also improved.

Claims (27)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1 A method of extinguishing metal fires, characterized in that a burning metallic surface is isolated from the ambient atmosphere by applying to the fire exfoliated graphite or graphite which is exfoliated «in situ» in the fire.

2 A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said exfoliated graphite is obtained in situ using an expansible graphite intercalation compound which is able to be exfoliated at the fire temperature range.

3 A method according to claim 2, characterized in that said intercalation compound is selected from the products of intercalating graphite with one of the following:
nitric acid (HNO 3) sulphuric acid (H 2504) hydrofluoric acid (HF) orthophosphoric acid (H 3 P 04) trifluoroacetic acid (CF 3 CO 2 H) ferric chloride (Fe C 13) ferric chloride/ammonia (Fe CI 3 NH 3) antimony pentachloride (Sb CI 5) calcium ammonia (Ca NH 3) barium/ammonia (Ba NH 3) strontium/ammonia (Sr NH 3)

4 A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said expansible or exfoliated graphite is applied to the fire by gravity pouring.

A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said expansible or exfoliated graphite is applied to the fire by manual spraying.

6 A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that said expansible or exfoliated graphite is applied to the fire by mechanical spraying.

7 A method according to claim 5, characterised in that the graphite is sprayed from an extinguisher.

8 A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the intercalation compound of graphite to be applied is packaged in bags or capsules.

9 A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the intercalation compound of graphite is packaged in bags deposited in containers provided for recovering molten metals in case of accidental overflowing.

A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said intercalation compound of graphite is employed in the form of blocks which are coated or uncoated and 1 588 876 which may constitute building elements used in constructing a part of the container.

11 A method according to claim 9, characterised in that said blocks of the intercalation compound of graphite are jacketed by means of a sheet of easily melted metal or of plastics material.

12 A method according to claim 11, characterised in that said blocks are jacketed in lead sheet.

13 A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the intercalation compound of graphite is applied by explosive spraying.

14 A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the intercalation compound of graphite is applied as granules or small blocks able to become self-repellent during exfoliation of their graphite content.

15 A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the intercalation compound of graphite is applied in the form of a sheet structure.

16 A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an alkali metal fire is extinguished.

17 A method according to claim 16, wherein a sodium fire is extinguished.

18 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a light metal fire is extinguished.

19 A method according to claim 18 wherein burning magnesium, aluminium or a burning alloy of magnesium or aluminium is extinguished.

Extinguishing product for use in fighting metal fires, which product comprises an expansible graphite intercalation compound in the form of agglomerates or small blocks of intercalated graphite particles able to become self-repellent during expansion of the graphite thereof so as to form a blanket rapidly at the fire surface.

21 Extinguishing product for use in fighting metal fires which product is a sheet made by a paper-making technique and including an expansible intercalation compound of graphite incorporated therein.

22 Extinguishing product according to claim 21, wherein said sheet further contains cellulosic board or paper components.

23 Extinguishing product for use in fighting metal fires, which product is a non-woven fabric containing an expansible intercalation compound of graphite incorporated therein.

24 Extinguishing product according to claim 21 or 23, which additionally contains fibres of a material which does not readily burn.

Extinguishing product for use in fighting metal fires, which product is a sheet in which an expansible intercalation compound of graphite is agglomerated with another form of carbon.

26 Extinguishing product according to claim 25, wherein said other form of carbon is exfoliated graphite.

27 Extinguishing product substantially as hereinbefore described in any one of the foregoing Examples.
HASELTINE, LAKE & CO,Chartered Patent Agents, Hazlitt House, 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London WC 2 A 1 AT.
-alsoTemple Gate House, Temple Gate, Bristol B 51 6 PT.
-and9 Park Square, Leeds L 51 2 LH, Yorks.
Printed for Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1981.
Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A IAY, from which copies may be obtained.

GB47999/77A
1976-11-22
1977-11-17
Extinction of metal fires

Expired

GB1588876A
(en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title

FR7635125A

FR2371207A1
(en)

1976-11-22
1976-11-22
Metal fires extinction with expanded graphite – prevents metal flow and gives rapid extinction

FR7726857A

FR2401672A2
(en)

1977-09-05
1977-09-05
Metal fires extinction with expanded graphite – prevents metal flow and gives rapid extinction

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GB1588876A
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GB1588876A
(en)

1981-04-29

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Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date

GB47999/77A
Expired

GB1588876A
(en)

1976-11-22
1977-11-17
Extinction of metal fires

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US
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US4177152A
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JP
(1)

JPS5367992A
(en)

BE
(1)

BE860907A
(en)

CA
(1)

CA1124990A
(en)

CH
(1)

CH624582A5
(en)

DE
(1)

DE2751497C2
(en)

GB
(1)

GB1588876A
(en)

IL
(1)

IL53397A0
(en)

IT
(1)

IT1088634B
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NL
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NL188389C
(en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party

Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title

GB2138285A
(en)

1983-04-21
1984-10-24
Magyar Szenhidrogenipari
Fire-fighting powders

GB2169273A
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1984-12-27
1986-07-09
Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd
Preparation of carbon articles

WO1993014820A1
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1992-01-30
1993-08-05
Ljuberetskoe N Proizv Ob
Fire extinguishing composition

DE4337071C1
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1995-03-02
Nico Pyrotechnik
Pyrotechnic smoke charge for camouflage purposes and its use in a smoke body

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1984-11-06
The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
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Method for fire extinguishment of hardly extinguishable dangerous material

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Battelle Memorial Institute
Apparatus for producing thin flakes

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Enhancement of the mechanical properties by graphite flake addition

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Enhancement of mechanical properties of polymers by thin flake addition and apparatus for producing such thin flakes

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Dow Chemical Co
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Expanded pyrolytic graphite and process for producing the same

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1977

1977-11-15
IL
IL53397A
patent/IL53397A0/en
not_active
IP Right Cessation

1977-11-17
BE
BE182681A
patent/BE860907A/en
not_active
IP Right Cessation

1977-11-17
GB
GB47999/77A
patent/GB1588876A/en
not_active
Expired

1977-11-17
US
US05/852,238
patent/US4177152A/en
not_active
Expired – Lifetime

1977-11-18
DE
DE2751497A
patent/DE2751497C2/en
not_active
Expired

1977-11-21
NL
NLAANVRAGE7712775,A
patent/NL188389C/en
not_active
IP Right Cessation

1977-11-21
IT
IT29859/77A
patent/IT1088634B/en
active

1977-11-21
CH
CH1419177A
patent/CH624582A5/fr
not_active
IP Right Cessation

1977-11-22
CA
CA291,470A
patent/CA1124990A/en
not_active
Expired

1977-11-22
JP
JP13954177A
patent/JPS5367992A/en
active
Granted

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Priority date
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Assignee
Title

GB2138285A
(en)

1983-04-21
1984-10-24
Magyar Szenhidrogenipari
Fire-fighting powders

GB2169273A
(en)

1984-12-27
1986-07-09
Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd
Preparation of carbon articles

US4777083A
(en)

1984-12-27
1988-10-11
Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Carbon article comprising pieces of carbonaceous material bonded with one another and process for producing the same

WO1993014820A1
(en)

1992-01-30
1993-08-05
Ljuberetskoe N Proizv Ob
Fire extinguishing composition

DE4337071C1
(en)

1993-10-29
1995-03-02
Nico Pyrotechnik
Pyrotechnic smoke charge for camouflage purposes and its use in a smoke body

GB2312841B
(en)

1996-05-08
1999-06-30
Environmental Seals Ltd
Fireproofed cabinets

Also Published As

Publication number
Publication date

IT1088634B
(en)

1985-06-10

NL7712775A
(en)

1978-05-24

NL188389C
(en)

1992-06-16

NL188389B
(en)

1992-01-16

JPS5367992A
(en)

1978-06-16

DE2751497C2
(en)

1986-10-09

IL53397A0
(en)

1978-01-31

JPS6226791B2
(en)

1987-06-10

BE860907A
(en)

1978-03-16

CH624582A5
(en)

1981-08-14

DE2751497A1
(en)

1978-06-01

CA1124990A
(en)

1982-06-08

US4177152A
(en)

1979-12-04

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