Navy Announces New Extinguishing Chemical
A new chemical agent for combating gasoline and jet fuel fires has resulted from the crash fire research program at the Naval Research Laboratory, sponsored by the Bureau of Aeronautics.
The new agent, called “Purple K Powder,” consists of dense-white clouds of very finely powdered potassium bicarbonate. The cheap, nontoxic and easily obtained material will be used in conventional fire extinguishers. It was given the name “Purple K Powder” because of its ability to change hot yellow flames to a cool lavender color during fire extinguishment. It is said to have double the efficiency of sodium bicarbonate powders.
One of the uses of the new powder will be in BUAER’s forthcoming “Air Lift” fire extinguisher. This unit weighing approximately 700 pounds and carrying 400 pounds of the new agent is capable of being air-lifted by helicopter.
