Mining Polyethylene Glycol-Based Thermosensitive Hydrogel Materials: Preparation and Flame Retardant Properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Mining Engineering

Background:

• Existing anti-extinguishing technologies for coal spontaneous combustion have short activity cycles.
• There is a need for efficient and stable materials to prevent coal fires.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel AB-type mining thermosensitive hydrogel for inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion.
• To optimize the composition and evaluate the performance of the hydrogel under simulated mining conditions.

Main Methods:

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a monomer to synthesize a thermoresponsive hydrogel.
• Orthogonal and controlling variable experiments were employed to determine optimal component ratios.
• Thermal stability, flame-retardant properties, and temperature responsiveness were analyzed.
• The hydrogel's performance was tested on coal samples, measuring weight loss and CO reduction.

Main Results:

• The optimal ratio for component A (PEG, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum) was 6:6:1.2:1.5, and for component B (bentonite, kaolin, Mg(OH)2) was 2:1:1.
• The best flame retardant properties were achieved with a 1:2 ratio of component A to component B.
• Application to coal samples resulted in only 6% weight loss and a 72.6% reduction in CO.
• The hydrogel exhibited excellent fluidity at low temperatures and formed a high-viscosity solid (11x room temperature viscosity) upon heating, effectively plugging pores and extinguishing fires.

Conclusions:

• The developed AB-type thermosensitive hydrogel is a low-cost, stable, and efficient anti-spontaneous combustion material for coal mines.
• Its unique thermoresponsive phase transition provides effective pore plugging and fire suppression capabilities.
• This hydrogel represents a significant advancement in mining safety and material science.