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There was a mad stampede. If the chairs, carpets and curtains in that theatre were to be made out of the flame retardant fibre, there would have been no casualties. Further at higher temperature reached in a major fire, this fibre being a polyester, will melt @ 240 Deg C , and then could burn and produce smoke - this smoke is not toxic, so it is a safe fibre to use. This fibre satisfies standards for flammability / limiting oxygen index / non-toxicity if it burns in different countries. Test conditions vary from country to country; also depends upon the end use. Fabrics meant for aviation use have the strictest conditions. Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan - these countries have laws which state that all textile materials used in public places - restaurants, theatres, halls, buses, trains, passenger ships, aircrafts must be made out of flame retardant fibres only. (Flame retardant finishes are also available. These are fast to only 4 to 5 washes and nil to dry cleanings as the flame retardant finishes are soluble in dry cleaning medias.). Several countries including India still have yet to pass such a law.
The end users: Furnishings, curtains carpets, interior fabrics used in halls, theatres, lounges, cars, buses, trains, air crafts etc. Also for work wears in industries where high temperatures are common and there is danger of fire. Also recommended for night dresses / bed sheets (for those who smoke in bed) and children's night wear.
The coarser denier range 6 to 15 is for non - woven - carpets, mats, partition felts etc.
(v) UV Block Fibre: This is a sheath and core fibre. The sheath is normal polyester polymer and the core contains very fine ceramic powder. This fibre is available in 1.7D and 2.2 D in 38 / 51 / 69 mm cut lengths. The fibre reflects both, UV A and B rays and infrared rays so the wearer is fully protected from the ill effects of UV rays on skin- wrinkles and pre - mature aging (Australia has the world's fiercest Sun and prolonged exposure to Sunlight has even caused skin cancer there.). The ceramic powder also makes the fibre totally opaque and increases the density of the fibre; thereby improves its drape and fall.
End use for the fibre will be - Dress Materials - particularly for persons with delicate skin and in countries where sun is fierce- Middle East, deserts and, umbrellas, curtains to reflect UV and curtains for dark rooms / theatres etc. This is another niche market waiting to be explored.
Also the use of fabrics made out of this fibre will not need a wearer to use costly sun screen lotions. Further as this fibre blocks IR rays, a wearer will feel 'cool' in hot sun.
(vi) High Drape Fibres: This fibre is similar to UV Block Fibre except that it is a normal fibre where ceramic powder is added during polymerization. So the friction with this fibre will be high and may pose minor problems in actual spinning. Also friction at ring / traveller could release ceramic powder, so spinners may see ring rail etc. full of white powder. This is cheaper than the UV block fibre. Is available in 1.2/ 1.4 D in 38 mm cut lengths. While the manufacturers do not claim blocking of UV etc. the ceramic powder inside the fibre will contribute. The main advantage of this fibre is basically higher fibre density, which in turn will improve drape and fall.
It should therefore allow mills to make lighter suiting and lighter curtains to give good drapes. If a mill makes a lighter suiting - say 125 grams / sq m out of normal fibre then it will not behave as a suiting but more as a pajama, but if the same fabric is made with this High Drape Fibre, it should be okay.
This fibre opens a field for real lightweight suiting, which will have good drape and fall.
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