Labile bromine fire suppressants

Abstract

A class of fire suppressant compounds which have labile bromine atoms bound to atoms other than carbon have been discovered to be more effective at suppressing fires than Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Moreover, this class of fire suppressant compounds hydrolyze or oxidize rapidly in the troposphere and as a consequence thereof, they have minimal ozone depletion potential.

1. A fire suppressant composition consisting essentially of at least one brominated, non-carbon compound selected from the group consisting of PBr 3 , POBr 3 , SOBr 2 , BrF 3 , BrF 5 , PBr 5 , TiBr 4 , SiBr 4 , IBr, CuBr, NOBr, BrF, and BBr 3 , which is combined with a propellant such that the ozone depletion potential of the composition is less than 0.1. 
     
     
       2. The fire suppressant composition of  claim 1  wherein ozone depletion potential is defined on a scale where the ozone depletion caused by CFI 3  is 1.0. 
     
     
       3. A fire suppressant composition consisting of at least one labile brominated compound selected from the group consisting of PBr 3 , POBr 3 , SOBr 2 , BrF 3 , BrF 5 , TiBr 4 , SiBr 4 , IBr, CuBr, NOBr, BrF, BBr 3 , and BrCl, which is combined with a propellant selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , N 2 , compressed air, and HCFC-123 (CF 3 CCl 2 H). 
     
     
       4. The fire suppressant composition of  claim 3  wherein ozone depletion potential of the propellant equals 0.016. 
     
     
       5. A fire suppressant composition consisting essentially of: at least one brominated, non- carbon compound in a liquid state selected from the group consisting of TiBr   4    and SiBr   4   ; and a propellant combined with the compound for propelling the composition such that sufficient bromine atoms are liberated from the composition to suppress a fire, wherein the composition has no ozone depletion potential.   
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of CO 2   , N   2   , and compressed air.   
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 5  wherein said brominated compound is TiBr 4   .   
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 5  wherein said brominated compound is SiBr 4   .   
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 5  wherein said brominated compound is TiBr 4    and the propellant is nonflammable.   
     
     
       10. The composition of  claim 5  wherein said brominated compound is SiBr 4    and the propellant is nonflammable.   
     
     
       11. The composition of  claim 7  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of oxygen. 
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 11  wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 7  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of heat. 
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 13  wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       15. The composition of  claim 7  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of water. 
     
     
       16. The composition of  claim 15  wherein said wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       17. The composition of  claim 8  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of oxygen. 
     
     
       18. The composition of  claim 17  wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       19. The composition of  claim 8  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of heat. 
     
     
       20. The composition of  claim 19  wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       21. The composition of  claim 8  wherein said brominated compound is not stable in, and said sufficient bromine atoms are liberated in, the presence of water. 
     
     
       22. The composition of  claim 21  wherein said wherein said liberated bromine atoms are sufficient to catalytically suppress the fire. 
     
     
       23. The composition of  claim 7  wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of a non- flammable, pressurized gas; a deflagrating, solid, gas - generating cartridge; and a pressurized liquid.   
     
     
       24. The composition of  claim 8  wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of a non- flammable, pressurized gas; a deflagrating, solid, gas - generating cartridge; and a pressurized liquid.   
     
     
       25. A fire suppressant composition consisting essentially of TiBr 4    in a liquid state and a propellant combined with the TiBr   4    for propelling the composition to catalytically suppress a fire, wherein the composition has no ozone depletion potential.   
     
     
       26. The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of CO 2   , N   2   , and compressed air.   
     
     
       27. The composition of  claim 25  wherein the propellant is nonflammable. 
     
     
       28. The composition of  claim 25  wherein the TiBr 4    is not stable in the presence of at least one of oxygen, heat, and water.   
     
     
       29. The composition of  claim 25  wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of a non- flammable, pressurized gas; a deflagrating, solid, gas - generating cartridge; and a pressurized liquid.   
     
     
       30. A fire suppressant composition consisting essentially of SiBr 4    in a liquid state and a propellant combined with the SiBr   4    for propelling the composition to catalytically suppress a fire, wherein the composition has no ozone depletion potential.   
     
     
       31. The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of CO 2   , N   2   , and compressed air.   
     
     
       32. The composition of  claim 30  wherein the propellant is nonflammable. 
     
     
       33. The composition of  claim 30  wherein the SiBr 4    is not stable in the presence of at least one of oxygen, heat, and water.   
     
     
       34. The composition of  claim 30  wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of a non- flammable, pressurized gas; a deflagrating, solid, gas - generating cartridge; and a pressurized liquid.