California researchers develop advanced gel to protect homes from wildfires [Video]

STANFORD, Calif. – Researchers at California’s Stanford School of Engineering say they have developed a new firefighting gel that outperforms other products, leading to the potential for greater protection of homes and infrastructure during wildfires.

The research, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, showed that the gel’s lifespan was significantly longer than that of already available products and was more effective.

Firefighting gels are typically made of super-absorbent polymers that, when mixed with water, create a shield that can withstand extreme conditions.

“Under typical wildfire conditions, current water-enhancing gels dry out in 45 minutes,” Eric Appel, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford, said in a statement. “We’ve developed a gel that would have a broader application window – you can spray it further in advance of the fire and still get the benefit of the protection – and it will work better when the fire comes.”

The university said what …