TetraKO: Cornstarch-Based Fire Suppressant for Firefighters

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around TetraKO, a cornstarch-based fire suppressant used by firefighters, exploring its properties, formulation, and potential challenges in replicating it. The scope includes practical experimentation and inquiries about safety data and proprietary information.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes TetraKO as superior to water for firefighting due to its ability to adhere to surfaces like burning ceilings.
  • Another participant suggests checking for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to aid in the formulation process.
  • A participant mentions receiving an MSDS but notes that important details were marked as proprietary, limiting the information available for replication.
  • There is a suggestion to search for a patent related to TetraKO, which could provide more insights into its formulation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the formulation of TetraKO, with ongoing questions about its ingredients and proprietary aspects. Multiple viewpoints regarding the availability of information and methods for replication are presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in accessing detailed formulation information due to proprietary restrictions and the potential presence of carcinogenic substances in the mixture.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in fire safety, firefighting techniques, or the formulation of fire suppressants may find this discussion relevant.

mishima
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TetraKO is a cornstarch based fire suppressant used by firefighters. It can do things like stick to burning ceilings making it superior to normal water. It was featured on a recent NOVA episode "making things safer" I think.

I've been playing with cornstarch and water for the last few hours and can't quite get the right consistency. Anyone ever made this stuff? I am sure there is more to it than just cornstarch and water, but don't know what that is.
 
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Have you looked to see if there is an MSDS for the mixture? Maybe that would help in fabricating it.
 
Yes, I called a number and they emailed it to me in no time. However, the juicy details were hidden under the "proprietary" label, other than the carcinogenic substances. I guess it is just a trade secret, would have been fun to demonstrate.
 
You could try searching for their patent if they have patented their product.
 

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