Effect of polymers and surfactants on wood fire suppression: Experimental and simulation analysis of wettability, flowability and thermal stability

J Wang and JQ Meng and Y Lyu and C Lyu and LJ Wang and BS Nie, POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY, 233, 111180 (2025).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111180

To improve the environmental adaptability and relevance of polymers and surfactants for firefighting applications, the effects of polyacrylamide (PAM), polyethylene oxide (PEO), xanthan gum (XG), and guar gum (GG), along with PEO+DHSB and GG+DHSB (dodecyl hydroxy sulfobetaine), on the wettability, flowability, and thermal stability of wood were analyzed. The results showed that poly-surface additives significantly improved the wettability and liquid absorption of the wood, and the surface contact angle was reduced to around 10 degrees Liquid flow and splash are improved, with PEO achieving a flow time of 2.12 s, which is 1.5 s longer than that of pure water. In molecular simulations, additive molecular chains exhibited faster flow rates than water molecules, facilitating acceleration in flow, while the incorporation of DHSB promoted molecular deformation, further accelerating flow. Furthermore, the additives improved thermal stability by delaying the decomposition temperature of wood and promoting the integrity of the surface char layer. The ignition time index (TTI) for the PEO+DHSB system increased from 30 s (for pure water) to 69s. The effective heat capacity (EHC) of the GG+DHSB system was reduced by 13.55 %. This work provides theoretical insights into the implementation of polymers and surfactants in fire protection, enhancing their practical effectiveness.

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