Chang Jho and Ed Kleiner: 6:2 Fluorotelomer Surfactants and Foam Stabilizers – Recent Developments
Published: 10 November, 2009
In 1963, Dr. Richard Tuve of the US Naval Research Laboratory discovered the film-forming properties of aqueous fluorosurfactant solutions on hydrocarbon fuels. This discovery did lead to 3M’s “Light Water Brand” AFFF agents based on PFOS-type fluorosurfactants. A decade later (1973-1975), Ciba-Geigy in the US and PCUK/Atochem in France introduced the first 6:2 fluorotelomer-type (6:2 FT-type) surfactants for use as AFFF agents.
The higher efficiency 6:2 FT-surfactants allowed the formulation of AFFFs with much lower fluorine contents than with the now phased-out PFOS-type fluorosurfactants. An 8:2 FT-polymeric surfactant developed in 1978 by Ciba-Geigy was found to be a superior fuel repellent additive for Fluoroprotein Foams still used today worldwide.
In 1991, Ciba-Geigy introduced a 10:2/12:2 FT-type foam stabilizer for AR-AFFF agents and in 1994 Dynax introduced the first 6:2 FT-foam stabilizer which made it possible to produce AR-AFFF agents with reduced or no polysaccharide content thus allowing the production of low viscosity 3x3, 1x3 and 1x1 AR-AFFF agents. Today a number of 6:2 FT-surfactants/foam stabilizers with essentially zero content of 7C8 FT-telomer homologs are available to AFFF
About the speakers
Eduard Kleiner and Chang Jho, resident and Vice President of Dynax Corporation have over 70 years of combined R&D experience in specialty fluorochemicals. Prior to founding Dynax in 1991, Dr. Kleiner, as Corporate Research of the former Ciba-Geigy Corporation, was responsible for the development of the Lodyne product line of fluorosurfactants and fluorochemical oil/water repellent finishes and sizes. Prior to joining Dynax Corporation, Dr. Chang was Technical Service and Development Manager of former Ciba Specialty Chemicals with the worldwide responsibility for fluorosurfactants and fluorochemical paper sizes. Dr. Kleiner has a Ph.D. in organic and polymer chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Dr. Jho received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Texas in Austin.
