Mechanisms and Performance of Ionic Liquid-Based Nano-Wetting Materials for Combustion Inhibition

Abstract Coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) poses significant hazards to the energy industry. In this study, a nano-moistening ionic liquid material (G-Liq) was developed based on in situ inhibition technology for CSC suppression. The inhibitory effects of G-Liq on CSC were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature-programmed experiments. Additionally, proximate analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to examine changes in microscopic components. The results demonstrated that: (1) oxygen adsorption and mass gain reactions were suppressed, and the critical temperature of CSC increased significantly after treatment; (2) moisture content increased while active functional groups decreased; and (3) combustible components decomposed and volatilized postinhibition. Consequently, the heat generation of residual coal was reduced, effectively mitigating CSC in the goaf. This study successfully applied nano-moistening materials and ionic liquid inhibitors in fire prevention, demonstrating their high practical efficacy.