Research on Optimization of Flame Retardants for Performance Optimization and Foam Stability Enhancement in PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams

Research on Optimization of Flame Retardants for Performance Optimization and Foam Stability Enhancement in PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Research on Optimization of Flame Retardants for Performance Optimization and Foam Stability Enhancement in PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams Lu He, Danni Shao, Dongliang Guo, Bingrui Yan, Zihan Kang, Jiangfeng Fu, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9211672/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Current research on flame retardants in firefighting foams centers on fire suppression efficacy, with relatively limited mechanistic insights into how these agents regulate and optimize critical physicochemical properties such as foam stability. This study investigates the regulatory mechanisms of two flame retardants, ammonium pentaborate (APB) and magnesium hypophosphite (MHP), on the stability of PFAS-free (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) foam, based on a blended system of silicone surfactants, hydrocarbon surfactants, and foam stabilizers. Experimental results reveal that the flame-retardant-regulated, PFAS-free foam system exhibits elevated viscosity and a prolonged drainage time. APB adversely affects the physicochemical properties of the foam, whereas MHP significantly enhances foam stability by strengthening the liquid film and delaying drainage. Further study revealed that within a certain concentration range, the addition of MHP consistently improves the stability of PFAS-free foam, with overall enhancement first increasing and then decreasing. The system achieved optimal stability at 0.2 wt% MHP, corresponding to the best fire suppression performance. This concentration-dependent effect provides an important theoretical basis for the optimal dosage of flame retardants in PFAS-free foams, addressing a critical research gap in the regulation and optimization of foam stability by flame retardants. Flame retardants PFAS-free foam Foam stability Fire extinguishing agents Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMaterial.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 14 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 25 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 24 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9211672","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":618888167,"identity":"2a521323-9cb0-4a7a-8287-5bdebc8c0925","order_by":0,"name":"Lu He","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China University of Mining and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lu","middleName":"","lastName":"He","suffix":""},{"id":618888168,"identity":"d91156c9-f61f-4d2d-a9ab-83928e0bb3d9","order_by":1,"name":"Danni Shao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China University of Mining and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Danni","middleName":"","lastName":"Shao","suffix":""},{"id":618888169,"identity":"4d992c43-81df-43cf-bfd8-8d828a215443","order_by":2,"name":"Dongliang Guo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. 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