Gas-producing material

Abstract

The present invention relates to gas-producing materials, methods of forming gas-producing materials, and uses of gas-producing materials. The gas-producing materials comprise a comminuted foamed polymer, a nitrogen-containing fuel and an oxidiser. The gas-producing materials may be used to suppress a fire.

1 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A gas-producing material comprising:
 (i) a comminuted foamed polymer;   (ii) a nitrogen-containing fuel; and   (iii) an oxidizer.   
     
     
         61 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the foamed polymer is selected from phenolic resin foams, polystyrene foams, polyurethane foams, polyethylene foams, polyvinylchloride foams, polyvinylacetate foams, polyester foams polyether foams, and foam rubber. 
     
     
         62 . The gas-producing material of  claim 61 , wherein the foamed polymer is a phenolic resin foam. 
     
     
         63 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the comminuted foamed polymer has an average particle size in the range of 1 to 200 μm. 
     
     
         64 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the nitrogen-containing fuel is selected from guanidine salts, triazoles and tetrazole, and azo-compounds. 
     
     
         65 . The gas-producing material of  claim 64 , wherein the nitrogen-containing fuel is a guanidine salt or derivative. 
     
     
         66 . The gas-producing material of  claim 65 , wherein the guanidine salt or derivative is cyanoguanidine. 
     
     
         67 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the nitrogen-containing fuel is in the form of particles with a size in the range of from 5 to 150 μm. 
     
     
         68 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the oxidizer is selected from alkali metal nitrates, perchlorates or carbonates. 
     
     
         69 . The gas-producing material of  claim 68 , wherein the oxidizer is potassium nitrate or potassium carbonate. 
     
     
         70 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the oxidizer is in the form of particles with an average particle size in the range of from 1 to 100 μm. 
     
     
         71 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein:
 the comminuted foamed polymer is present in an amount of 8 to 20%;   the nitrogen-containing fuel is present in an amount of 19 to 29%; and   the oxidizer is present in an amount of 55 to 69%,   
       by total weight of the comminuted foamed polymer, the nitrogen-containing fuel and the oxidizer. 
     
     
         72 . The gas-producing material of  claim 71 , wherein the comminuted foamed polymer is present in an amount of 14%; the nitrogen-containing fuel is present in an amount of 24%; and the oxidizer is present in an amount of 62%, by total weight of the comminuted foamed polymer, the nitrogen-containing fuel and the oxidizer. 
     
     
         73 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the gas-producing material is in the form of a water-containing paste. 
     
     
         74 . The gas-producing material of  claim 73 , wherein the paste contains water in an amount of from 1 to 40%, by total weight of the comminuted foamed polymer, the nitrogen-containing fuel and the oxidizer. 
     
     
         75 . The gas-producing material of  claim 74 , wherein the paste contains water in an amount of from 5 to 20%, by total weight of the comminuted foamed polymer, the nitrogen-containing fuel and the oxidizer. 
     
     
         76 . The gas-producing material of  claim 60 , wherein the gas-producing material comprises further components selected from binders, burn rate modifiers, flame inhibition chemicals and/or additional oxidizing agents. 
     
     
         77 . The gas-producing material of  claim 76 , wherein the further components in total are present in the gas-producing material in an amount of up to 50% by total weight of the comminuted foamed polymer, the nitrogen-containing fuel and the oxidizer.