Product Tests

Industrias DEMSA

Product Tests

Our chemical products are the result of many years of research and development.
These chemical compounds are manufactured under the strictest quality standards; throughout the entire process there are constant controls in relation to the chemical composition of products, particle size testing by grain-size analysis, volume density monitoring, humidity content, etc.
The final result is a product line consisting of dry chemical powders and foaming agents with maximum fire-extinguishing power and storage stability.
Demsa’s dry powders and foams had been conceived based on a design intended to satisfy a growing market need, to offer a reliable and high-performance product, supported by prestigious quality certifications.
This commitment translates into actions enabling our products to meet the required reliability levels demanded by our customers.

DRY POWDERS

Residue accumulated on screen

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Equipment
Screening device with alternating round movement of 285v/min ± 10 turns/min. and approximately 150 vertical blows per minute, enabling installation of at least 4 screens with a diameter of 20 cm, collector tray, and cap.
Screens with the features defined under IRAM 1501, with no internal welding, according to the following:
a) IRAM screen, 425 mm.
b) IRAM screen, 150 mm.
c) IRAM screen, 75mm.
d) IRAM screen, 45 mm.
Glossy paper
Analytical scale

Procedure
Place the screens on the screening device in a decreasing opening sequence, from top to bottom.
Leave sample on site for at least 24 hours. Then, weigh 50g of sample, place it on the 425 mm IRAM screen, put the cap in place, assemble the device, and put it to work for 20 min.
Once this period has elapsed, you must eliminate the dust accumulated on the collector tray. Re-assemble device to continue operating for an additional 10 minutes.
If residue remains on the tray, transfer it to previously weighed glossy paper with the aid of a soft brush and weigh it at 0.01g.
Re-assemble the equipment and operate it for 10-minute periods until the powder mass collected on the tray is less than 0.1g. At this point, screening is completed.
Transfer any powder collected in each screen to previously weighed glossy paper, and weigh it at 0.01 g.

Calculation
a) A = m1 /m x 100
b) B = A + m2 /m x 100
c) C = B + m3 /m x 100
d) D = C + m4 / m x 100

where
A is the residue on the 425 mm IRAM screen, in grams per 100g.
B is the residue on the 150 mm IRAM screen, in grams per 100g.
C is the residue on the 75 mm IRAM screen, in grams per 100g.
D is the residue on the 45 mm IRAM screen, in grams per 100g.
m is the sample mass, in grams
m1 is the sample mass collected on the 425 mm IRAM screen, in grams
m2 is the sample mass collected in the 150 mm IRAM screen, in grams
m3 is the sample mass collected in the 75 mm IRAM screen, in grams
m4 is the sample mass collected in the 45 mm IRAM screen, in grams

Hygroscopicity

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Equipment
Weighing bottle of around 65mm in diameter and 18mm high, including ground-glass top (cap).
Analytical scale.
Dryer with ammonium chloride.

Reagents
Ammonium chloride saturated solution. It is prepared by dissolving about 40g of ammonium chloride in 100ml of water and then adding 5-10 additional grams of the salt, until sediment is formed.

Procedure
Put the ammonium chloride saturated solution in a dryer; this solution maintains a relative humidity of around 80% at 20° C.
Fill up the capsule, previously weighing 1mg of testing powder, perfectly adjusting it to the edges of container, without compacting it. Cover weighing bottle and weigh at 1mg.
Remove top, place weighing bottle in dryer, and leave it for 48 hours at 20° C ± 2°C.
Remove weighing bottle from dryer, cover it, and weigh at 1mg.

Calculation
H = (m2 – m1)/ m1 x 100
where
H is the hygroscopicity of the powder, in grams per 100 g.
m2 is the powder mass, after drying, in grams,
m1 is the initial powder mass, in grams.

Agglutination

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Equipment
Analytical scale.
Dryer with ammonium chloride aqueous solution.
Dryer with calcium chloride.
250ml precipitation vessel.

Procedure
Put 100g of sample material in a precipitation vessel of 250ml and place it inside a dryer containing a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride; leave it to rest for 48 hours at 20° C ± 2° C.
Transfer it to another dryer containing dry calcium chloride and leave it to rest for 48 hours under those conditions; repeat this procedure until completing a total of 5 cycles.
Spill product on black glossy paper and, aided by a spatula, look and see whether any lumps have formed.
If there are any granules, pick one with the spatula and drop it from a height of 10cm. on a flat, hard surface. In order to pass the test, the granule must break up and turn into dust.

Water repellency

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Equipment
Analytical scale.
Heater capable of maintaining a temperature of 60°C ± 2°C.
250ml precipitation vessel.
Graduated test tube of 50 ml.

Procedure
Weigh about 50g of sample material at 0.01g and place it in a precipitation vessel of 250ml, previously weighed.
Level powder surface without compacting it. Avoiding splashes and, without shaking it, slowly add 50ml of water at 20°C ± 2°C and leave to rest for 2 min.
Turn container 180° so as to spill its content; keep it in that position for 15 seconds, without shaking it or making any other sudden movement.
Place vessel in its normal position in a heater at 60°C ± 2°C for 30 min.; cool down in dryer containing anhydrous calcium chloride, and weigh vessel and residue at 0.01g.

Calculation
R = 100 – (mr x 100)/m
where
R is the water repellency, in grams per 100 g;
mr is the mass of residue adhered to precipitation vessel, in grams;
m is the sample mass, in grams.

Foam compatibility

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Reagents
Protein foam concentrate according to IRAM 3518.

Equipment
Electric heater of approximately 800-1000 W and 160 mm of diameter.
Home blender, enabling mixing at 800v/min – 1000 v/min.
420 mm. IRAM screen of 20 mm of diameter.
Cylinder-shaped metal tray of 180mm of diameter and 60mm high, with lateral tube of 5mm ± 1mm of internal diameter, at base level, to enable drainage.
Properly sized support to keep drainage tray bent. Inclination should be of around 20mm in 200mm, that is to say, in an angle of approximately 5°-6° in relation to the horizontal line.
Rubber spatula.
Analytical scale.

Procedure
In relation to both the sample and blank test, determinations are triplicated.
Prepare 200ml of foam concentrate aqueous solution of 6g/100g, spill into blending machine, and mix for exactly 2 min.
Fill up tray with foam, and level it by using the rubber spatula.
Weigh 10g of trial powder at 0.1g and run through screen, extending it uniformly on foam.
After 30 seconds, place drainage tray on support and expose it to the heat source that must be placed, with the same inclination as the tray, on top of it, so as to leave 30mm of separation between the radiation surface and foam.
Place a test tube of 100ml, graduated at 1ml, under the drainage tube and record the volume of liquid collected, at 30-second intervals.
Write down the volume accumulated in milliliters in relation to time elapsed in seconds.
Calculate drainage ratio average for liquid by using linear portion of graph. In order to do this, consider the total volume of liquid recovered during the period covered by the linear portion of the curve and divide it by the amount of time, in minutes, during which such a volume has been collected. This represents the drainage ratio average, in milliliters per minute.
Conduct blank test, repeating the determination but, in this case, without extending the sample material on foam surface.
Calculate the average between the results from the two drainage ratios determined for sample and blank testing.

Dry chemical powder melting trial

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Equipment
Scale to guarantee ± 0.1 g.
Porcelain melting pot.
Electric muffle with temperature indicator and capacity to reach temperatures of 600°C ± 20°C.

Procedure
Weigh 1 g ± 0.1 g in a porcelain melting pot.
Place melting pot in a muffle at 500°C for 5 min.
Place muffle melting pot and look immediately. All material must be melted down, forming a semi-solid residue.

Humidity

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Reagents
Sulphuric acid ( d = 1.84 g/ml)

Equipment
Petri box.
Dryer containing concentrated sulphuric acid in its lower compartment.
Analytical scale.

Procedure
Weigh 20.0 g ± 0.1 g. of powder in Petri box.
Place uncovered Petri box with powder 48 hours in dryer. Re-weigh and calculate mass loss.

Electric isolation

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Equipment
Testing cup including rigidly mounted electrodes with parallel sides and axles in horizontal line arranged in such a way that no portion of it is at less than 13mm from any portion of the trial electrodes, made of a material of high dielectric resistance that is humidity-resistant.
The upper end of cup must be at least 32mm over electrode top.
The cup will be designed to enable easy electrode removal for cleaning and polishing, and also to make it possible to easily adjust the opening space.
Electrodes will be polished bronze disks of 25mm of diameter and at least 3mm thick with square edges. Space between electrodes will be 2.50 mm ± 0,01 mm.
Stage-transformer connected to proper low-voltage base.

Procedure
Fill up testing cup with extinguishing powder, leaving cup to drop 500 times with a frequency of 0.1 ± 0,2 Hz from a height of 15 mm. If desired, it may be placed in an adequate protection cage during this procedure.
Apply electric power to electrodes by using the transformer, increasing it until reaching the cut indicated by continual shock through the space between electrodes.
Record voltage as dielectric breaking voltage.

Laboratory extinction FOAMS

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Laboratory extinction will be performed according to the standard IRAM 3672 in three and five copies.
Use the sample mass declared by manufacturer for the product submitted to the trials of extinguishing power qualification or else complying with extinction trials 4.6 and 4.7, with a maximum of 1.5g.
It is considered that the sample has passed the trial if, out of three determinations, two of them cause extinction; if this is not the case, two additional determinations will be made, which must be satisfactory, so as to reach a total of 3 extinctions out of 5 determinations.

DRY POWDERS

Density

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It is determined at 20º C +/- 1º C, by means of a density meter calibrated at this temperature and whose scale allows measuring 0.001 g/ml. It can also be determined by means of a calibrated pycnometer (IRAM-AQA AA 91021)

pH

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It is determined at 20º C +/- 1º C, by means of a device calibrated for pH measurement provided with a glass electrode.

Accelerated aging

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Enough foaming agent volume is placed in one or more capped recipients, suitable for avoiding evaporation, inside a forced circulation furnace for 10 d a 60ºC +/- 2ºC and 1 d a 20ºC +/- 5ºC. This volume must be equal to or greater than 20 L.
Test results of aged and non-aged foams should then be compared; discrepancies of +/- 10% will be allowed.

Film formation and sealability

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This test is carried out at the concentration of use recommended by the manufacturer.
6.7.1 Reagents
6.7.1.1 Cyclohexane p.a
6.7.1.2 Water (IRAM 21322)

6.7.2 Instruments and materials
6.7.2.1 One-liter capacity, 11.5-cm diameter, and 13-cm height stainless steel or glass flask.
6.7.2.2 12-cm diameter, 13-cm height stainless steel wire cone. Wire mesh designation is IRAM 180 m in accordance with IRAM 1501-2 standard.
6.7.2.3 Burner with an approximately 3-cm long pilot flame
6.7.2.4 Common, household use blender.
6.7.2.5 Timer with an accuracy of 0.2 s.

6.7.3 Procedure
6.7.3.1 400 ml of water at 20ºC are poured into the stainless steel flask and 200 ml of cyclohexane are added.
6.7.3.2 200 ml of the foaming solution at the use concentration recommended by the manufacturer and 20ºC are poured into the blender, and the blender is started at its minimum speed during 30 s.
6.7.3.3 200 ml of foam are immediately poured over the cyclohexane.
6.7.3.4 Then, the cone is introduced inside the flask with its vertex downwards, handling it slowly. The inner surface of the cone should be free of foam; if there is any foam on this surface it should be removed.
6.7.3.5 After 1 min, the pilot flame is passed over the surface of the fuel at an approximate distance of 16 mm.
6.7.3.6 The appearance of small, self-extinguishable flames is allowed, but no sustained ignition should occur

Foam expansion

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It is determined at the use concentration recommended by the manufacturer.

6.8.1 Instruments and materials
6.8.1.1 Foam-collecting equipment with the shape and measures indicated in figure 2 and built with rigid, non-absorbing material.

Image 2 – Foam expansion and drainage time testing equipment – Measures in millimeters

6.8.1.2 Two one-liter test tubes, graded every 10 ml and made of glass or transparent plastic material, with a height of 33 cm and an internal diameter of 6 cm. Test-tube gradations should start at the base and the 1,000-ml mark should be on the upper edge
6.8.1.3 Timer with an accuracy of 0.2 s.
6.8.1.4 Foam-generating equipment composed by:
a) Pressurizable tank for pressures up to 1 MPa and an approximate capacity of 150 L, with wheels to allow its displacement, a loading inlet, pressure gauges, and a quick opening outlet valve;
b) Hose with a diameter of approximately 12.7 mm;
c) Foam generating nozzle with a set flow of 8 L/min for pressures between 0.5 MPa and 0.8 MPa;
d) Pressurizing system for the tank (e.g., compressed nitrogen cylinder).
NOTE: The diagram of the foam generating nozzle, its pieces and attachments, are detailed in Annex B: Informative diagram. The user can therefore implement changes if the flows defined for the specified pressure range are achieved.
6.8.1.5 Scales with a precision of 0.1 g.
6.8.1.6 20-liter bucket.

6.8.2 Procedure
6.8.2.1 Nozzle flow measurement
6.8.2.1.1 The foam-generating equipment is filled with water (a 20ºC +/- 5ºC) and foaming liquid in the proportions indicated by the manufacturer.
6.8.2.1.2 An application rate of 3.1 L/min.m2 is set, with a 5% deviation tolerance. To achieve this, a suitable diameter peak is used to obtain the established application rate within the working pressure range.
6.8.2.1.3 Pressure is increased inside the tank until the working pressure value determined for obtaining the corresponding flow is reached, and the correct formation of foam is checked.
6.8.2.1.4 The bucket is filled with foaming solution, and the time required until it is full (t) is recorded
6.8.2.1.5 The bucket thus filled is weighed and the application density is calculated by means of the following equation:

with:
Ta application density, in liters per minute per square meter;
m1 mass corresponding to the filled bucket, in grams;
m2 mass corresponding to the empty bucket, in grams;
t time needed to fill the bucket, in seconds;
A tray area used in the extinction, sealing and re-lighting test (2.54 m2);
p density of the foaming liquid solution ( 1 kg/L).
6.8.2.1.6 The calculated application rate is compared with the application density indicated in 6.8.2.1.2 and, if necessary, the pressure inside the tank is adjusted and steps 6.8.2.1.4 and 6.8.2.1.5, are repeated until the specified application rate is obtained.

6.8.2.2 Expansion
6.8.2.2.1 There are two possible procedures to carry out this test. For the first one (procedure A), two 1-L test tubes are used. This procedure simultaneously tests drainage time (6.9). The second possible procedure (procedure B) requires the use of a 20-L bucket to collect foam.

6.8.2.2.1.1 Procedure A
This test is a continuation of the previous one.
6.8.2.2.1.2 Test tubes are identified, weighed with a precision of 0.1 g, and placed below the collector
6.8.2.2.1.3 Foam is applied on the center of the collector; to do this, the foaming equipment is attached to the deflector on the upper edge of the collecting equipment so that the foam falls gently. It is important to keep a constant pressure.
6.8.2.2.1.4 Once the test tubes are filled, the timer is started to measure drainage time (see 6.9) and test tubes are weighed.

6.8.2.2.2.1 Procedimiento B
For this test, a 20-L, tared bucket is used instead of the test tube. This procedure does not allow carrying out the drainage time test afterwards (6.9).
6.8.2.2.2.2 Foam is applied on the center of the collector; to do this, the foaming equipment is attached to the deflector on the upper edge of the collecting equipment so that the foam falls gently. It is important to keep a constant pressure.
6.8.2.2.2.3 Once the bucket is full, it is leveled and weighed.

6.8.3 Calculations

with:
E foam expansion, in milliliters per gram
V test tube or bucket volume, in milliliters
m2 mass of the test tube with foam, in grams;
m1 mass of the empty test tube or bucket, in grams

Drainage time for 25% of the volume

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6.9.1 Procedure
6.9.1.1 The test tubes filled during the foam expansion test are used
6.9.1.2 Every 30 s, the volume drained by the foam is recorded, until a total volume of 50 ml is obtained.
6.9.1.3 The drained volume is graphically represented, in milliliters, as a function of time, in seconds

6.8.3 Calculations
6.9.2.1 25% of the mass of foam contained in the test tube is calculated and this value is taken as 25% of foam volume.

with:
Vol 25% 25% of the total volume of foam, in milliliters;
m2 mass of the test tube with foam, in grams
m1 mass of the empty test tube, in grams
6.9.2.2 By means of the curve obtained, the drainage time corresponding to 25% of the volume obtained in 6.9.2.1 is calculated

Requirements of foaming agents

AFFF

Characteristics of non-polar foaming liquids

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RequerimentsUnitMinimumMaximumTesting methodDensity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)g/mlThis value shall not differ by more than 5% of the value stated by the manufacturer6.1Viscosity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)*m2/sThis value shall not differ by more than 5% of the value stated by the manufacturerIRAM-IAP A 6597pH (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)—78.56.2Pour point Type I
Type II
Type IIIºC
ºC
ºC-10
-20
-0
-10
-20IRAM-IAPG A 6566Sediment (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC), without adding solvents or demulsifying agentsml/100ml-0.10IRAM-IAP A 6541Corrosion (11 d a 38ºC +/- 2ºC)
a) Cold laminated steel, type 1010 (IRAM-IAS U 500-600)
b) Stainless steel, type 301 (IRAM-IAS U 500-690)mg/dm2,d
mg/dm2,d-
-10
26.3

Characteristics of non-polar aged foaming liquids

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RequerimentsUnitMinimumMaximumTesting methodDensity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)g/mlDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowed6.1Viscosity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)m2/sDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowedIRAM-IAP A 6597Sediment (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC), without adding solvents or demulsifying agentsml/100mlDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowedIRAM-IAP A 6541pH (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)—78.56.2

Characteristics of non-polar aged foaming solutions

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Requeriments	Unit	Minimum	Maximum	Testing method
Surface tension (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	mN/m	–	20	6.6
Interface tension (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	mN/m	–	5	6.7
Film formation and sealability	(at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	–	Test fulfilled	6.8
Foam expansion	Ml/g	6	–	6.9
Drainage time for 25% of the volume (at 20ºC +/- 51ºC)	min	3	–	6.10
Extintion	min	–	2	6.11
Sealing	–	Test fulfilled
Re-lighting	min	–	5

Note: 1mN/m=1dyn/cm

AR-AFFF

Characteristics of polar foaming liquids

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RequerimentsUnitMinimumMaximumTesting methodDensity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)g/mlThis value shall not differ by more than 5% of the value stated by the manufacturer6.1Viscosity (a 20ºC +/- 1ºC)*mPa.s–30006.2pH (a 20ºC +/- 1ºC)—78.56.3Pour point Type IºC-100IRAM-IAPG A 6566Type IIºC-20-10 Type IIIºC–-20 Sediment (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC), without adding solvents or demulsifying agentsml/100ml–0.30IRAM-IAP A 6541Corrosion (11 d at 38ºC +/- 2ºC)
a) Cold laminated steel, type 1010 (IRAM-IAS U 500-600)
b) Stainless steel, type 304 (IRAM-IAS U 500-690)mg/dm2,d
mg/dm2,d-
-10
26.4

Characteristics of polar aged foaming liquids

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RequerimentsUnitMinimumMaximumTesting methodDensity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)g/mlDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowed6.1Viscosity (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)mPa.sDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowed6.2Sediment (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC), without adding solvents or demulsifying agentsml/100mlDiscrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowedIRAM-IAP A 6541pH (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)–Discrepancies of +/- 10%, from the values determined for the unaged product shall be allowed6.3

Characteristics of polar aged foaming solutions

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Requeriments	Unit	Minimum	Maximum	Testing method
Surface tension (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	mN/m (dyn/cm)	–	20	6.5
Interface tension (at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	mN/m (dyn/cm)	–	5	6.6
Film formation and sealability	(at 20ºC +/- 1ºC)	–	Test fulfilled	6.7
Foam expansion	Ml/g	6	–	6.8
Drainage time for 25%	min	2	–	6.9
Extintion	min	–	2	6.10
Sealing	–	Test fulfilled
Re-lighting	min	–	5

Industrias DEMSA

Product Tests

Residue accumulated on screen

Hygroscopicity

Agglutination

Water repellency

Foam compatibility

Dry chemical powder melting trial

Humidity

Electric isolation

Laboratory extinction FOAMS

Density

pH

Accelerated aging

Film formation and sealability

Foam expansion

Drainage time for 25% of the volume

Characteristics of non-polar foaming liquids

Characteristics of non-polar aged foaming liquids

Characteristics of non-polar aged foaming solutions

Characteristics of polar foaming liquids

Characteristics of polar aged foaming liquids

Characteristics of polar aged foaming solutions

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