GB2071690A

GB2071690A - Kindling Means Comprising Expanded Perlite

Info

Publication number: GB2071690A
Application number: GB8100891A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TILCON Ltd
Current assignee: TILCON Ltd
Priority date: 1980-02-02
Filing date: 1981-01-13
Publication date: 1981-09-23
Also published as: GB2071690B

Abstract

The invention relates to kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes an addition of between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite, which perlite may have been pre-treated with a sealing substance to reduce the porosity thereof. In one example, the perlite was coated with a solvent- refined lubricating oil.

Description

SPECIFICATION Kindling Means The invention relates to kindling means, for example fire-lighters comprising a carrier and a combustible compound.

The invention provides kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes an addition of between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite.

Conveniently, the addition of perlite may be between 10% and 35%, and a preferred range may be between 15% and 25% by volume of the carrier material. In a preferred example described hereinafter, the addition of perlite is 20% by volume.

An advantage of employing the present invention is that the amount of fuel absorbed by a carrier block of given size is reduced by an amount relative to the percentage of periite present. This saving is of considerable importance from the point of view of economy of fuel used.

The invention further provides kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes an addition of between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite, said perlite having been pretreated with a sealing substance to reduce the porosity thereof.

The sealing substance may be a suitable substance compatible with the volatile fuel, which may be kerosene, but care must be excercised to ensure that the presence of the coating of the selected substance upon the perlite does not adversely affect the other firelighter constituents, nor impede their admixture or emulsification.

Many substances, particularly those of an acidic nature, while effective in sealing the perlite to reduce its porosity can only be tolerated in the manufacture of firelighters in small quantities at the lower end of the above mentioned range, since their presence in large quantities may cause undue thickening before mixing is complete and also exudation of the fuel. The use of the sealing substance reduced the absorbency of expanded perlite from approximately 95% of its own volume down to, say, 50%-S 5%. This reduced absorbency further lessens the amount of fuel required for the product, and a further advantage accruing from the use of the sealing substance is the suppression of free dust, which makes the product better for handling.

In examples of the manufacture of firelighters according to the invention, a suitable sealing substance for use as a coating agent may be selected from the so-called soluble oils, which are based on mineral oils with additives to enhance their use for example as cutting oils or the like.

The example to be described below employs one such soluble oil and it is to be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

Example A conventional emulsion was prepared for the production of firelighters, comprising 80% by weight of kerosene 8% by weight of ureaformaldehyde resin 11.5% by weight of water 0.5% by weight of emulsifier Although such an emulsion may be prepared at room temperature, its production rate on a plant scale is improved if the emulsion is produced at temperature in the region of 400 C, at which temperature this example was carried out.

Perlite was added to the emulsion in the form of granules having a non-acid coating of a soluLa oil with additives, in the present example, a solvent-refined mineral lubricating oil containing cresol, suitable plasticisers and soaps of fatty acids. The perlite addition was followed by an addition of catalyst, the amounts being as follows: 93.5% by weight of emulsion 5% by weight of coated perlite 1.5% by weight of acid catalyst The coated perlite was stirred into the emulsion and the acid catalyst was then added.

The mixture was immediately poured into a mould. After ten seconds gelation commenced, and after ten minutes the firelighter block was de moulded and cut into manageably sized portions, in the present example, 63 x32 x23 mm, ready for packaging and use.

The product was tested and found to give 25 minutes burning time. A firelighter of the same dimensions prepared from an identical emulsion without perlite addition, was found to burn for only 21 minutes although it contained 25% by weight more kerosene than the firelighter manufactured in the present example. It will be appreciated that a 5% by weight perlite addition represents 20% by volume, because of the low particle density of expanded perlite.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following

claims.

Claims 1. Kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite.

2. Kindling means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier material includes between 10% and 35% by volume of expanded perlite.

3. Kindling means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carrier material includes between 15% and 25% by volume of expanded perlite.

4. Kindling means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carrier material includes 20% by volume of expanded perlite.

5. Kindling means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the expanded perlite is coated with a sealing substance to reduce the porosity thereof.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Kindling Means The invention relates to kindling means, for example fire-lighters comprising a carrier and a combustible compound. The invention provides kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes an addition of between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite. Conveniently, the addition of perlite may be between 10% and 35%, and a preferred range may be between 15% and 25% by volume of the carrier material. In a preferred example described hereinafter, the addition of perlite is 20% by volume. An advantage of employing the present invention is that the amount of fuel absorbed by a carrier block of given size is reduced by an amount relative to the percentage of periite present. This saving is of considerable importance from the point of view of economy of fuel used. The invention further provides kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes an addition of between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite, said perlite having been pretreated with a sealing substance to reduce the porosity thereof. The sealing substance may be a suitable substance compatible with the volatile fuel, which may be kerosene, but care must be excercised to ensure that the presence of the coating of the selected substance upon the perlite does not adversely affect the other firelighter constituents, nor impede their admixture or emulsification. Many substances, particularly those of an acidic nature, while effective in sealing the perlite to reduce its porosity can only be tolerated in the manufacture of firelighters in small quantities at the lower end of the above mentioned range, since their presence in large quantities may cause undue thickening before mixing is complete and also exudation of the fuel. The use of the sealing substance reduced the absorbency of expanded perlite from approximately 95% of its own volume down to, say, 50%-S 5%. This reduced absorbency further lessens the amount of fuel required for the product, and a further advantage accruing from the use of the sealing substance is the suppression of free dust, which makes the product better for handling. In examples of the manufacture of firelighters according to the invention, a suitable sealing substance for use as a coating agent may be selected from the so-called soluble oils, which are based on mineral oils with additives to enhance their use for example as cutting oils or the like. The example to be described below employs one such soluble oil and it is to be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Example A conventional emulsion was prepared for the production of firelighters, comprising 80% by weight of kerosene 8% by weight of ureaformaldehyde resin 11.5% by weight of water 0.5% by weight of emulsifier Although such an emulsion may be prepared at room temperature, its production rate on a plant scale is improved if the emulsion is produced at temperature in the region of 400 C, at which temperature this example was carried out. Perlite was added to the emulsion in the form of granules having a non-acid coating of a soluLa oil with additives, in the present example, a solvent-refined mineral lubricating oil containing cresol, suitable plasticisers and soaps of fatty acids. The perlite addition was followed by an addition of catalyst, the amounts being as follows: 93.5% by weight of emulsion 5% by weight of coated perlite 1.5% by weight of acid catalyst The coated perlite was stirred into the emulsion and the acid catalyst was then added. The mixture was immediately poured into a mould. After ten seconds gelation commenced, and after ten minutes the firelighter block was de moulded and cut into manageably sized portions, in the present example, 63 x32 x23 mm, ready for packaging and use. The product was tested and found to give 25 minutes burning time. A firelighter of the same dimensions prepared from an identical emulsion without perlite addition, was found to burn for only 21 minutes although it contained 25% by weight more kerosene than the firelighter manufactured in the present example. It will be appreciated that a 5% by weight perlite addition represents 20% by volume, because of the low particle density of expanded perlite. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. Claims

1. Kindling means comprising a carrier material impregnated with a volatile fuel, wherein the carrier material includes between 10% and 40% by volume of expanded perlite.

6. Kindling means as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sealing substance is non-acidic.

7. Kindling means as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sealing substance is soluble oil as herein defined.

8. Kindling means as claimed in claim 7 wherein the soluble oil is a solvent-refined, mineral lubricating oil containing cresol.

9. Kindling means as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soluble oil contains plasticisers and fatty acid soaps.

10. Kindling means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the balance of the carrier material is ureaformaldehyde resin.

11. Kindling means as claimed in claim 10 wherein the volatile fuel is kerosene.

12. A method of producing kindling means as claimed in claim 11, comprising the steps of preparing an emulsion of kerosene with ureaformaldehyde resin and water in the presence of an emulsifier, adding thereto expanded perlite having a coating of a sealing substance in the form of a non-acid soluble oil, and allowing the mixture to solidify in a moulding device.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the emulsion is prepared at a temperature in the region of 400C.

14. A method of producing kindling means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the example.