A New Sprayable Gel May Help Stop Buildings From Burning Amidst Worsening Wildfire Seasons In The United States
As the United States continues to battle worsening wildfire seasons, a new sprayable gel could help stop homes from burning.
Climate change is raising temperatures and intensifying droughts, resulting in hotter and drier conditions that make wildfires more extreme. Western states are being affected the most.
Just this year, more than five million acres have been destroyed by wildfire across the states. In July, California’s Park Fire tore through over 400,000 acres, engulfing 637 buildings in its path.
To address this growing crisis, researchers from Stanford University have developed a water-enhancing gel that can be sprayed onto buildings to shield them from the flames.
These types of gels contain super-absorbent polymers that are designed to alter the physical characteristics of water so that they can better cling to smooth and vertical surfaces.
According to the study, the new gel product lasts longer and is more effective than existing commercial gels.
“Under typical wildfire conditions, current water-enhancing gels dry out in 45 minutes,” said Eric Appel, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering at the university.
“We’ve developed a gel that would have a broader application window—you can spray it further in advance of the fire and still get the benefit of the protection—and it will work better when the fire comes.”
During wildfires, temperatures can reach nearly 100 degrees with zero percent humidity. There are also high winds that spread the flames. So, even water that is locked in a gel can evaporate in almost no time.
yelantsevv – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The gel designed by Appel and colleagues uses water as the first layer of protection. In addition, it consists of a cellulose-based polymer and silica particles.
When all the water evaporates, and the cellulose burns off, the silica particles get left behind. They assemble into a highly insulating aerogel foam that scatters away heat and protects the structure beneath it.
The researchers tested multiple formulations of their new gel by applying them to pieces of plywood. Then, they exposed the gel-covered wood to direct flame from a gas hand torch, which burns hotter than wildfires.
The most effective gel held up for more than seven minutes. In comparison, a commercial gel lasted for less than 90 seconds.
The gels are now stable in storage and sprayable with standard equipment. They have even been approved for use by the U.S. Forest Service.
The materials of the gels can be easily washed away and broken down by soil microbes after the fire is put out, making them sustainable options.
“They’re safe for both people and the environment,” said Appel. “There may need to be additional optimization, but my hope is that we can do pilot-scale application and evaluation of these gels so we can use them to help protect critical infrastructure when a fire comes through.”
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