Methods of making self-steaming compositions and articles comprising such compositions

Abstract

A method of making a self-steaming composition is provided, said method comprising mixing a fuel component, a water manager component, and water, wherein the fuel component comprises carbon and wherein the method comprises prewetting the carbon prior to mixing the carbon with the water manager component.

1 . A method of making a composition comprising:
 (a) a fuel component having; (b) a water manager component, wherein the mean particle size distribution of the water manager component is greater than about 250 microns; and (c) water; wherein the composition is exothermic upon contact with oxygen and is self-steaming;   
       said method comprising mixing the fuel component, the water manager component, and the water, wherein the fuel component comprises carbon and wherein the method comprises prewetting the carbon prior to mixing the carbon with the water manager component. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the water manager component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of vermiculite, porous silicates, wood powder, wood flour, cotton, paper, vegetable matter, absorbent gelling material, carboxymethylcellulose salts, inorganic salts, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the water manager component comprises absorbent gelling material. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal salts, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the mean particle size distribution of the water manager component is from about 400 microns to about 800 microns and wherein the mean particle size distribution of the fuel component is from about 100 microns to about 300 microns. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the mean particle size distribution of the fuel component is at least about 100 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean particle size distribution of the water manager component is at least about 400 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel component comprises iron, a metal salt, and activated carbon. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  comprising from about 30% to about 95% of the iron, from about 0.5% to about 10% of the metal salt, from about 0.5% to about 25% of the activated carbon, all by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the iron is sponge iron. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising from about 0.1% to about 30% of the water manager component, by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising mixing in a volatile component to the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the volatile component is selected from the group consisting of camphor, menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint, spearmint, methyl salicylate, bornyl acetate, lavender, ephedrine, angelica root, aniseed, basil, bay, bergamot, cajeput, cardamom,  cassia , cedarwood, chamomile, sage, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, frankincense, geranium, ho-wood, lemongrass, lemon,  litsea , majoram, melissa, myrrh, myrtle, niaouli, neroli, nutmeg, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, pimento berry, pine needle, ravensara aromatica, rosewood, rosemary, tea tree, thyme, verbena, and mixtures thereof.