Not a Foam.
Wetting agents are specifically designed concentrates to enhance water by reducing the surface tension, but are not designed to make foam (bubbles).
Wetting agents were the original Class A water enhancement products before Class A Foam concentrate was introduced.
Wetting agents aid in wetting fuels, but there is no other added enhancement or benefit to heat absorption.
Wetting agents also provide no protective barriers.
Many concentrate products originally designed for Class B fuels are currently being marketed for Class A fuels only because they also double as a wetting agent.
Wetting agents are surfactants. Anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants ionize when mixed with water. Anionic has a negative chaarge. Cationic has a positive charge. Amphoteric can act as either anionic or cationic depending on the acidity of the solution. Nonionic do not ionize.
Wetting agents sold in the fireservice market are surfactants that do not bubble – while they are surfactants (lower surface tension) they do not create foam and they might be carbon loving or not. Remember, Class A fuels are carbon.
