Flame Resistant Fibers and Fabrics: The Foundation of FR Clothing

If you’re familiar with flame resistant clothing (FR), you’ve probably heard of terms such as treated fabrics and fibers or inherent fabrics and fibers. However, there are some key differences when talking about flame resistant fibers and fabrics. Failure to understand those differences could result in lapses in safety. It’s important to know how these fit in particular environments.  

In this post, we’ll touch on the history of flame resistant fibers and fabrics. We'll define the terms mentioned above. We'll talk about some of the applications that they’re found in, and address how to clean and care for each type. 

Some of this article might get a little technical...even a bit boring. But we want to break down some of the basics, no matter how dull they may seem. It's important to understand the various parts that make up flame resistant clothing.

It's also important to remember that garment care is critical with FR garments. Proper care guarantees that FR properties aren’t compromised. The goal will be to give you more information on the above so you can be safer in the workplace.

The history of flame resistant fibers and fabrics

It's widely agreed upon that flame resistant textiles were discovered in 1821. French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac first discovered that ammonium phosphates and borax were responsible for making textiles resistant to open flames. This discovery launched the flame resistant clothing industry we appreciate today.

Even as early as the mid 1600s, people in Paris were considering ways to reduce fire in theaters. At the time, they developed fireproof plaster and clay for buildings. This work encouraged others in the scientific community to work toward applying the same technology to clothing.

People viewed the development of flame resistant materials like we do today. They're used to prevent potential harm.

Fast forward to the 20th century, when scientists discovered that incorporating stannic oxide into fabrics made them resistant to flames. Stannic oxide is a powdery, off-white, product that's produced from high-grade tin metal. In time, these techniques added flame resistance to natural fibers.

This is just a brief overview of the origins of flame resistant fibers and fabrics. For more in-depth coverage, check out this article. The author does a great job walking through the history of flame resistant clothing.

Flame Resistant Fabric: What is Treated Fabric?

Fabric is a combination of fibers that, when put with other pieces of fabric, make a garment. We think of fabric as the manufacturing stage between fiber and garment. Treated fabrics are those that have a flame retardant chemical applied to make them flame resistant. The fibers used in these fabrics aren’t usually thought of as protective. They become flame resistant because of the chemical treatment.

The fibers used in these fabrics are usually 100% cotton fibers or are some combination of cotton and nylon. Regarding durability, the fabric made up of cotton fibers provides little resistance to abrasion. The fabrics with the nylon fiber added to them perform much better with resistance to abrasion. Treated fabrics work well in utility, oil and gas, chemical, and petrochemical applications.

Care for treated fabrics should take place in water with a hardness of 1.5 grains (25ppm) or less. Less hardness is ideal as hard water contains mineral salts that can leave deposits on the fabric. These deposits could negate the flame resistant properties of the garment. Deposits could even serve as fuel if the garment comes in contact with an ignition source.

Flame Resistant Fibers: What are Treated Fibers?

Treated fibers are those that have a flame retardant chemical that’s applied during the fiber forming process. As a result, it makes the fibers, flame resistant fibers. Fabrics made from treated fibers are flame resistant for the life of the garment. The flame retardant chemical can’t be removed by normal wear or laundering. The garment would no longer be flame resistant only if it becomes torn or soiled to the degree that the soil won’t wash out.

One fiber type is a treated 100% rayon. Lenzing FR® is a synthetic cellulosic fiber made by Lenzing AG.  These fibers get treated in the fiber forming process and are flame resistant forever.  

Another fiber type would be a blend of cotton and Modacrylic fibers. Fabrics made of these fiber blends are characterized to have a soft and comfortable cotton-like hand. The Modacrylic fiber that gets added has soft and strong components. It’s also resistant to chemicals and solvents. This resistance makes these fiber types ideal in flame resistant environments.

Applications for these fiber types are a bit more general. Industrial protective clothing, utilities and fire fighter work uniforms are good matches. Like treated fabrics, it’s recommended that treated fibers get washed the same way. Water that is too hard could leave deposits that could ignite if exposed to an ignition source.

The only significant difference between caring for the two types is that the Modacrylic /cotton blends should be treated in soft water. Use a non-chlorine bleach as well so you don't weaken the fabric.

What are Inherent Fabrics and Fibers?

You don't need to treat inherent fabrics and fibers  with chemicals.  The FR properties are an essential characteristic of the fiber chemistry. Once again these fibers are FR fibers, but from the point of manufacturing of the fibers. Both inherent fabrics and fibers cannot lose their flame resistant properties from normal wear or laundering. The garment will keep its flame resistant characteristics throughout its life.

Modacrylic fibers are the most popular inherent fibers. They are most often found in blends with other inherent flame resistant fibers. The modacrylic fibers are often combined with various percentages of lyocell, para-aramid or polyamide imide fibers. These combinations make a durable fabric that meets NFPA 70E CAT2 and NFPA 2112 standards.  Another popular inherent fiber is NOMEX.  In clothing applications, NOMEX comes as a stand alone fiber or often in a blend with KEVLAR.  

Inherent fabrics and fibers are found in petrochemical, electrical and utility industries. Another popular application is firefighter station wear and turn out gear. Most inherent fabrics and fibers are not recommended for use in welding operations or around molten substances. Caring for inherent fabrics and fibers is the same as the treated types. Soft water is recommended as hard water contains mineral salts that can leave insoluble deposits on the fabric. These deposits could negate the flame resistant properties of the garment. Chlorine bleach is also not recommended as it will weaken the fabric.

Bulwark provides much of this information as a leader in the flame resistant garment industry. This is also not necessarily an endorsement of Bulwark. There are other brands that manufacture high-quality flame resistant garments as well. The most important thing to understand is what fabrics and fibers build the garments that keep you safe while on the job. If you would like to schedule a demo of our private uniform store software, click the link below. We can make it easier for you to put your team in the proper safety apparel.