SOL FR blends other fibres for high performance fabrics

Blending SOL FR with polyimide

SOL FR (FR cellulose fibre) is featured with outstanding thermal protection performance, good flame resistance, inherent FR, low smoke which is toxin-free, excellent wear comfort, and environment-friendly. However, it has relatively low strength compared with synthetic fibre. At the same time, new synthetic fibre material – polyimide – distinguishes itself in high and low temperature resistance, good flame resistance, smoke-free and non-toxic, antimicrobial property and other excellent features.

After conducting several tests in blending SOL FR, polyimide and modacrylic, SOL has found the optimal proportion for three fibres, and has developed a FR fabric with the features of FR, good moisture management, neatness and smoothness, and great wear comfort. The fabric excels in FR and heat protection, with TPP as high as 726 kw s/m2, far greater than national standard of 126 kw s/m2, 32% of LOI, less than 3.5% of heat resistance, 0 second in afterflame and afterglow time and a char length of 31mm. In conclusion, the flame resistance of the fabric has reached Level A of Chinese national standard.

The fabrics are now used to make high-end FR blanket, advanced leisure wear at home, and FR business suit, which will soon be available commercially. In the future, the fabrics can also be used for making thermal underwear, lining of protective garment and other FR products. SOL hopes to explore much wider application areas in the near future.

Blending SOL FR with FR polyester fibre

Polyester fibre has the properties of high strength, good elasticity, smoothness, heat-resistance, and lightfast. With its economic benefits, it is consumed most in civil textile market. However, polyester has poor moisture absorption, and is likely to create feeling of stuffiness for wearer and take on dust. Based on polyester, FR polyester fibre adds the FR property, but releases heavy smoke in burning and the melting drip problem has long been an issue troubling the application market.

After conducting several tests by blending SOL FR, FR polyester fibre and modacrylic, researchers at SOL were able to completely solve the melting drip problem and reduce the smoke greatly, improving the wear comfort and hand feeling immensely. The blended fabric has a test result of more than 33% of LOI, 0 second of afterglow time and less than 2 seconds of afterflame time, with very short char length.

This fabric can be made into FR curtain, FR table cloth, FR bed sheet, sofa fabric, FR blanket and other home furnishings. Besides, it can also be applied to make interiors of transportation vehicles, industrial and personal protective garments. Currently, a SOL customer is making advanced interiors of FR textiles for a nursing home.   

Blending SOL FR with polysulfonamide (PSA)

PSA is a new type of high performance fibre providing maximum protection against high temperature. It has outstanding heat resistance and thermal protection performance. It also excels in properties of light resistance, gamma ray resistance and electric insulation. Meanwhile, PSA has excellent dyeability and colourfastness, and inherent flame resistance, with no melting drip, emitting a little smoke during combustion.

After blending SOL FR, PSA and modacrylic with an optimal proportion of each fibre, a fabric with superior FR performance has been achieved. This fabric has excellent TPP, soft hand feeling, and good moisture management. More importantly, it produces little smoke during combustion, and a barrier layer in shape of the fabric remains against high temperature. This fabric is mainly applied in industrial personal protective areas. The certified test results shows that the fabric has a LOI of 32%, char length of below 50mm, 0 second of afterglow time and less than 2 seconds of afterflame time—which prove that it reaches Level A of Chinese national standards. Therefore, it is best suited for making anti-splash and arc preventive clothing.

Thus, blending high performance fibres will result in multi-win scenario for fibre enterprises. SOL is now open to research with other fibre material to make new breakthrough.

At the 94th China International Occupational Safety & Health Goods Expo, which opens in Shanghai on April 6, SOL will present a ‘Highly Flame Resistant Fibers and Textile Products Joint Show’, in association with Jiangsu Aoshen Hi-tech Materials Co Ltd, Sichuan Dongfang Insulating Material Co Ltd, Shanghai Tanlon Fiber Co Ltd, and Zhengzhou No.4 Cotton Textile Co Ltd. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – China