Studies of fundamental physical-chemical mechanisms and processes of flame extinguishing by powder aerosols

Theoretical and experimental studies on mechanisms of interaction of the fire-extinguishing aerosol with flame are carried out. The factors of heterogeneous inhibition of flame free radicals (O, OH, H, CHx) on a crystal surface of inorganic salts being the basic components of fire-extinguishing powders and aerosols are measured using laboratory equipment. The semi-empirical calculations by methods of quantum chemistry for heterogeneous and homogeneous inhibition reactions of burning are executed. The thermal mechanism for fire extinguishing is evaluated. The universal mechanism of influence on flame of a crystal surface of a fire-extinguishing powder particle is offered. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.