We show high-speed video of fire impacted by drops of water and water-plus-additive. At only 0.1% (by weight), the additive dramatically changes the flow properties of the water, making it a non-Newtonian “yield-stress” fluid. This complex fluid can flow and spread on impact, yet still stick and accumulate on a surface, whereas water may splash away. This coating behavior can be advantageous for both extinguishing and preventing fires, each of which we demonstrate using high-speed imaging. These videos highlight the interesting properties of this non-Newtonian yield-stress fluid, made from 99.9% water and 0.1% by weight Carbopol microgel particles.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Any reuse must credit the author(s) and provide a link back to this page.