Polymer dispersions for fire prevention and firefighting

A process for preventing fires or fighting fires, the process comprising:

• (a) treating water with a sufficient amount of a water-in-oil polymer dispersion to raise the viscosity of the resulting mixture to 100 mPas or more, wherein the water-in-oil polymer dispersion comprising (i) a continuous organic phase practically not miscible with water, (ii) finely dispersed and cross-linked, water-swellable polymerizates, and (iii) a residual monomer content of less than 1,000 ppm;
• and
• applying the resulting water-in-oil polymer dispersion mixture to a surface.

A method for using an agent for fire protection and/or fire fighting, the method comprising:

• (a) treating water with a sufficient amount of the agent to raise the viscosity of the resulting mixture to 100 mPas or more, wherein the agent comprises a water-in-oil polymer dispersion comprising (i) a continuous organic phase practically not miscible with water, (ii) finely dispersed and cross-linked, water-swellable polymerizates, and (iii) a residual monomer content of less than 1,000 ppm;
• and
• (b) applying the resulting mixture to a surface.