Foam type fire extinguishing agent for hydrophilic combustible liquids

Abstract

A foam type fire extinguishing agent for hydrophilic combustible liquids which comprises (a) a hydroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof represented by one of the following general formulae and/or a lactone formed in equilibrium with the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acid: HO--HCOH).sub.n COOX (Ia) H--HCOH).sub.n COOX (Ib) CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.m (HCOH).sub.n COOX (Ic) H--HCOH).sub.n (CH.sub.2).sub.l COOX (Id) where X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an ammonium ion, triethanolamine, diethanolamine or monoethanolamine; n represents an integer of 1 to 10; m represents zero or an integer of 1 to 5; and l represents an integer of 1 to 5; (b) an aliphatic carboxylic acid or salt thereof represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## where R represents an alkyl group containing 8 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkylene group containing 8 to 20 carbon atoms, D represents a hydrogen atom or an amino group, and X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an ammonium ion, triethanolamine, diethanolamine or monoethanolamine, (c) a salt of an organic or an inorganic acid and a metal other than an alkali metal, or a metal hydroxide other than an alkali metal hydroxide, and (d) a foaming agent. This agent exhibits high foaming ability upon dilution with not only fresh water but also sea water and can generate foams excellent in both alcohol resistance and flowability and can thereby effectively extinguish fires of hydrophilic combustible liquids.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.