F-500 EA immediately reduces the surface tension of the water. This makes the water droplets smaller creating more surface area to absorb heat and better penetrate into the pores of solid fuels. F-500 EA is a large molecule and is amphipathic, meaning it has a hydrophilic polar head and a hydrophobic nonpolar tail. As the tails of the large F-500 EA molecules try to get away from the water, they protrude from the surface of the water droplets with the F-500 EA molecules forming a protective shell around the water droplets. These protected F-500 EA water droplets absorb the heat, reducing the amount of steam released.
F-500 EA tails have an affinity for hydrocarbons and attach themselves to the fuel, whether it is liquid or vapor. These protected droplets form a micelle or chemical cocoon around the hydrocarbon molecules rendering the fuel nonflammable and nonignitable. The heat is absorbed through the nonpolar tails into the water drops. Unprotected, these droplets would convert to steam, but they are surrounded by F-500 EA and simply absorb the heat.
In fact, tests show these molecules absorb 6-10 times more heat than plain water droplets.
The cooling of the fuel is rapid. The chart shows the testing of two steel plates heated to 1200ºF. Notice within seconds, the F-500 EA reduced the temperature to 127ºF. The foam traps in the heat and remains above the autoignition temperature of the fuel throughout the test.
The F-500 EA reduced the surface tension of the water increasing the penetration into the fuel. F-500 EA reduces the temperature, preventing burnback, and encapsulates the fuel rendering it nonflammable. The final step is the interruption of the free radical chain reaction. This reduces smoke and soot, reducing toxins and improving visibility for firefighters.