Highly stable alcohol foams and methods of forming and using such foams

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
A method of forming a highly stable foam containing alcohol comprising the steps of: combining a foam-forming surfactant with a liquid selected from the group consisting of one or more alcohols and aqueous solutions thereof, said foam-forming surfactant being a nonionic surfactant or mixture of nonionic surfactants selected from the group represented by the formula: ##STR5## wherein: x is an integer from 2-12 or an integer or fractional integer representing an average value of from 2-12; y and z are each individually an integer from 0-20 or an integer or fractional integer representing an average value of from 0-20; R and R.
sub.
1 are each individually hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1-4 carbon atoms; and R.
sub.
2 is hydrogen or an ester group of the formula ##STR6## wherein R.
sub.
3 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1-4 carbon atoms; and combining a gas or mixture of gases with the resulting liquid-surfactant mixture to form a foam therefrom.
2.
The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more alcohols are lower alcohols selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol and mixtures of two or more such alcohols.
3.
The method of claim 1 wherein said foam-forming surfactant is combined with said liquid in an amount in the range of from about 0.
1% to about 2.
0% by weight of the resulting liquid-surfactant mixture.
4.
The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid is an aqueous alcohol solution containing one or more lower alcohols in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 99% by weight of said solution.
5.
The method of claim 1 which is further characterized to include the step of combining a viscosity increasing agent with said liquid-surfactant mixture prior to combining said gas or mixture of gases therewith.
6.
The method of claim 5 wherein said viscosity increasing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxyethylcellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone