Flame Retardant Textiles in Industries: The new-age Fabric

August 1, 2022

Industrial flame retardant textile processing

The term flame retardant refers to fabrics that do not support combustion and are self-extinguishing. Fabric of this type would not contribute to the spread of flames in the event of an accidental fire. Other terms, such as flame proof, fire resistant, and flameproof, are either meaningless or misleading. Almost all fabrics are combustible to some extent. The rate of burning varies from guncotton (nitrocellulose), which burns so quickly that it explodes, to asbestos, which is virtually unaffected by the fire.

There are two methods for producing flame retardant fabrics.

By utilizing non-combustible fibers

By chemically treating the fibers to achieve the desired result

Originally, such materials could only be produced through the use of a chemical finish. However, this can frequently lead to issues with the process’s durability and environmental impact. Strict controls are required to achieve consistency, and issues arise with the final appearance of the material. Even if the flame-retardant quality is guaranteed over a certain number of washes, there is no guarantee of the procedure’s effectiveness because it is practically impossible to monitor the number of washes in practice.

All of these issues are avoided by using chemical fibers that have been permanently modified. Polymers were invented in 1974. In 1976-1979, staple fibers and filament were developed. It was first introduced in the United States in 1979 and in Europe in 1980. The organic phosphorous compound incorporated into the polymer chain provided permanent flame retardant properties. Because it was a low-level modification, the polymer’s textile properties remained unchanged. Hoechst AG, Germany introduced fire retardant polyester fiber to India under the brand name Trevira CS (CS stands for Comfort and Safety).

Fire retardant polyester fiber

Home textiles played an important role from the start, and are now Trevira’s most important industry. The product line includes drapes, decorative and upholstery fabric, as well as carpet fibers. However, in this case, as well, the portfolio began to shift toward specialization early on. Trevira CS, a flame retardant fiber introduced in 1980, has seen exponential growth since its introduction and is now the company’s flagship product.

Trevira is the market leader in this segment, with over 1000 flame retardant Trevira CS fabric collections for the home textiles sector worldwide. Since then, there has been a steady flow of changes and innovations in the range of flame-retardant fibers and yarns. Reliance reached another milestone in its polyester journey in 2004 when it acquired Trevira GmbH, a former division of the German conglomerate Hoechst AG, a leading producer of branded polyester fibers in Europe.

Trevira CS fabric is made of flame retardant fibers and are used in the home textile and contract furnishing industries. They meet all applicable fire protection requirements and emit only minor amounts of smoke fumes. For the first time, flame-retardant properties are combined with bioactive properties to provide microbe protection. These characteristics are not diminished by cleaning, aging, or wear. Trevira CS is simple to use, light, fast, comfortable, and gentle on the skin. Trevira CS is commonly used in hotels, hospitals, offices, and meeting rooms, as well as on airplanes, buses, trains, and ships.

The following are some of the benefits of using Trevira:

Outstanding spinning and twisting running properties.

Excellent processability, uniformity, and tenacity for weaving, circular, and warp knitting.
Excellent dyeability using a variety of methods, and environmentally friendly finishing processes, resulting in crease-resistant fabrics with good shape retention.
Excellent wear resistance.
Easy-care.
Lightfastness is exceptional.