Eric Craenmehr and Jelle Rohlfs (TNO – Materials Solutions) as they extinguish a 1 ft2 fire (0.09 m2) with a new formulation (Photo: TNO)
Eco-friendly firefighting: innovative solutions and zero PFAS
9 August 2024 – Large fuel fires have been extinguished with a special type of foam since the 1960’s. These foams, known as AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foams), containPFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS are unique because they enable a thin, heat-resistant layer to quickly spread over a fuel. The result? A strong, water-based shield that puts out fires effectively. However, the very essence of PFAS that makes them formidable in fire suppression—their carbon-fluorine bonds—also makes many of these chemicals hazardous. Therefore, TNO is actively developing materials to replace PFAS, including in AFFF.
