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What you didn't know about flame protection: Why fire retardants save lives?
Fire retardant is a substance used to slow or stop the spread of fire, reducing the flammability of fuel or delaying its burning rate through chemical reactions. These products not only improve fire safety, but also play an important role in many areas.
How it works
Fire retardants generally reduce the flammability of a substance by physically blocking flames or triggering chemical reactions.
Physical Action
Fire retardants can slow down the combustion process in a variety of ways, primarily by cooling the material, forming a protective layer, and diluting free radicals in the flame. Some commonly used fire retardants include mixed hunting stone and hydrated magnesia, aluminum hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide. During the heating process, aluminum hydroxide dehydrates to form aluminum oxide. This process not only releases water vapor, but also greatly absorbs heat, further cooling the material.
Chemical Action
Fire retardants can also prevent reactions through chemical reactions in the gas phase. Some of the common organic halides, such as Halons and PhostrEx, are effective but often considered toxic. In addition, some retarders can damage the polymer, causing it to melt and flow away from the flame and combustion zone.
Purpose
Fire extinguisher
For example, Class A foam can be used to suppress small grass fires and create fire breaks. Many retarders render the materials to which they are applied nonflammable and are used in many types of fires.
Surface coating
The surface of an object can be coated with fire retardant. For example, Christmas trees are often sprayed with fire retardant to reduce their flammability. Corresponding fire-retardant coatings will also be used on the columns and beams of steel structures to maintain the stability of the structure in the event of a fire.
Forest fire fighting
Early fire delay agents were primarily mixtures of water and thickeners, but now the practice is to release chemicals directly from aircraft or ground forces to suppress the spread of fire. This creates time for firefighters on the ground to work.
Textiles
With the advancement of production technology, fire retardants are now being added to some materials. These materials can effectively slow down the spread of flames, which is particularly important in the application of fire-resistant clothing.
Environmental concerns
While some forest fire delay agents are currently considered non-toxic, there are still risks from exposure at high concentrations. Data suggest these chemicals may pose a threat to aquatic life.
Chemicals used in aviation firefighting, in particular, can contaminate soil and water sources, and these contaminants can flow back into the human body and cause health problems.
Potential Risks and Health Issues
Many chemical fire retardants, such as Halon and PhostrEx, have proven to be toxic. Historically, one of the most commonly used fire retardants was PentaBDE, which was banned due to its potential health and environmental concerns! Since then, a range of new chemicals have emerged, but some of these substances have also been shown to be mutagenic and absorbed by the body.
Long-term exposure to these chemicals may cause cancer or skin diseases. Firefighters and the general public should remain highly vigilant about environmental pollution.
Even though these fire protection systems play an important role in saving lives, the consideration of their potential health risks cannot be ignored. In the future, can we find a balance between effective fire protection and environmental safety?
