Development of Biopolymer Self-Healing Gel for Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Based on Mussel Mucin
摘要
To address the critical safety hazard of spontaneous coal combustion in green mining, a novel biodegradable fire prevention gel (AA-AM-MAP-CS) was synthesized using mussel mucin (MAP), chitosan (CS), acrylamide (AM), and acrylic acid (AA). The composite gel, optimized at a mass ratio of 5:6:6:5 with 7.2% cross-linking agent and 0.8% initiator, exhibited superior water retention and a 200-fold water absorption capacity. Structural analyses via FTIR, XRD, and SEM confirmed the formation of a uniform amorphous graft copolymer. Experimental evaluations of flame retardancy and anti-oxidant properties demonstrated that the gel effectively mitigates heat accumulation and harmful gas generation during coal oxidation. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the microscopic inhibition mechanisms, while infrared thermography indicated significantly reduced temperatures in gel-treated coal compared to raw coal after 600 s. Combined with its distinct wind-plugging and self-healing characteristics, the AA-AM-MAP-CS gel presents an effective, eco-friendly solution for inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion.