Kirtland Clark: Exceptional AFFF Performance Is Obtained From Novel Pure C6 Based Fluorosurfactants: Replacing C8 Based Products
Published: 10 November, 2009
The US EPA has obtained an agreement with manufacturers to reduce by 95% the amount of PFOA, PFOA precursers, and related higher homologue chemicals by the end of 2010 and to work toward elimination of PFOA, PFOA precursers, and related higher homologue chemicals by the end of 2015. However, the presence of C8 and C10 perfluoro-tails in fluorosurfactants have afforded AFFF agents enhanced fuel resistance, burnback, and sprinkler performance. The EPA initiative will mean the elimination of the widely used fluorosurfactants Forafac 1157N (~65% C6) used in many AFFF agents and Chemguard FS- 220B (>95% C8) used in many AFFF agents and the functional fluorochemical additive for ew line of C6-based fluorosurfactants with surface tensions as low as 14.5 dynes/cm. This line of fluorosurfactants when used in AFFF and AR-AFFF agents provides exceptional burnback and sprinkler performance at low fluorine content without C8 or higher perfluoro-tails.
About the speaker
After receiving his PhD. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Brown University (1971), Dr. Kirtland Clark joined the LeBlanc Research Corporation, Rhode Island, as an R&D chemist before moving to Ciba Geigy, Ardsley, New York, in 1973 where he ultimately became Director of Corporate Research (1986-1991). Subsequently Kirtland Clark was Vice President R&D and Secretary for the startup of Dynax Corp. (1991-1994), and Director luorochemical R&D for Cal Chemical Corp. (1995-1997). After arriving at Chemguard in January 1998, Kirtland Clark built a new chemical laboratory, established a vigorous R&D program and began fluorochemcal manufacture in 1999.
A new, fluorineefficient line of AFFF/AR-AFFF agents was developed based on Chemguard’s new chemicals. Dr. Clark worked with the President of Chemguard and Ciba to purchase the Lodyne surfactant product lines in 2003 and 2004 and then introduced those products to manufacture. He has 18 working patents in the fields of paper sizes, textile finishes, foam stabilizing polymers, and fluorosurfactants including two patents at Chemguard. He has made numerous NFPA and other presentations to teach fire extinguishing principles and promote Chemguard products. Two new, patent applications have been filed claiming a novel broad class of perfluoro and alkyl surfactants especially useful in AFFF, AR-AFFF and FP foam agents.
Contact details:
Dr. Kirtland Clark
Vice_president of Research and Development
Chemguard Inc..
204 S. 6th Ave.
Mansfield, TX 76063
tel: 817-473-1036 x230
kclark@chemguard.com
