Correct use of FK5112
The Kigali Amendment will enter into force for China on September 15, 2021. In 2024, China began to freeze 18 HFC gases including HFC227ea. The replacement of HFC227ea by FK5112 fire extinguishing agent has entered a critical period. FK5112 fire extinguishing agent has not been approved in China for more than 20 years. In addition to insufficient production and supply of FK5112, high price, and low fire extinguishing efficiency, the most important reason is that FK5112 has a certain corrosion risk.
DuPont believes that when Novec1230 is mixed with water, it will undergo a hydrolysis reaction to produce heptafluoropropane and pentafluoropropionic acid, which is strongly acidic and corrosive.
3M tested the chemical properties of FK5112 in the evaluation of Novec1230 fire extinguishing agent products. 100ppmd FK5112 water mixture is rapidly hydrolyzed at room temperature, the pH value is 1-9, and the half-life is less than 2.5 minutes. Heptafluoropropane and pentafluoropropionic acid were detected.
Guo Chunliang et al. (Fire Science and Technology, 2020, 39(11): 1545-1547) The corrosivity of 8 materials was studied by immersion test. The experimental results show that at room temperature, 304L stainless steel is slightly corroded, brass is slightly corroded, and Q245R and red copper are severely corroded.
Liang Xiamin (Nanjing University of Technology, 2019) tested the corrosion amount of four materials after being corroded for 60 days in FK5112 solutions with different water contents at room temperature and pressure. The test found that the amount of corrosion increases with the increase of water content, and the corrosion of galvanized iron and copper is the most serious.
Fire suppression system manufacturers must understand the proper use of FK5112 fire suppression agent.