company news about Flame retardant knitted cotton: the perfect combination of softness and safety

When Cotton Wears Fireproof Armour

Part I: Four core advantages of flame retardant knitted cotton fabrics

1. Flame retardant: the ‘quick-freezing agent’ of flame

- Technical principle:
• Fibre modification: cotton fibre is embedded with phosphorus-nitrogen environmentally friendly flame retardant, which rapidly carbonises and blocks oxygen when it meets fire.
• Measurement data: GB/T 5455 vertical combustion test, the length of damage ≤ 10cm, the time of continuation of combustion 0 seconds (the length of damage of ordinary cotton > 30cm).
- Comparison advantage:
• vs Flame retardant coated cloth: no risk of coating peeling off, flame retardant performance retained ≥90% after 50 times of water washing.

2. Comfort: Safety ≠ Sacrifice Experience

- Breathability and perspiration: Knitted structure with breathability >4000g/m²/24h (close to ordinary cotton), slowing down the rise of firefighter's body temperature by 35% in continuous operation.
- Soft and skin-friendly: yarn count 40S-60S, instantaneous skin contact friction coefficient <0.3 (close to high-end underwear fabrics).

3. Durability: the friend of time

- Strength retention: After 50 washes, the breaking strength retention rate is >85%.
- Chemical resistance: resistant to sweat stains, seawater corrosion, pH 3-11 environment without attenuation of strength.

4. Environmental friendliness: green and safe double standard

- Halogen-free formula: adopting silicone-based flame retardant, the toxicity is 90% lower than traditional bromine-based.
- Recyclable design: the blended version with polyester can be physically recycled, reducing textile waste pollution.

Part II: Four application scenarios and real cases

Scenario 1: fire protection - the ‘second skin’ in the fire scene

- Case: a city fire service combat clothing upgrade project
• Pain point: the traditional flame retardant canvas is heavy (> 500g/m²), resulting in heat stroke rate of firefighters up to 25%. o Solution: 280g/m² flame retardant canvas is used.
• Solution: Adopt 280g/m² flame retardant knitted cotton (88% cotton/12% flame retardant fibre).
• Results:

   Weight reduction of 40% and summer heat stroke rate down to 8%;
   EN 469:2020 certified, 1000°C flame contact 12 seconds inner layer temperature rise <24°C.

Scene 2: home security - invisible "firewall"

- Case: High-end hotel flame retardant curtain procurement project
• Requirements: Comply with GB 8624 B1 level standard, while maintaining the silk-like drape and printing clarity.
• Programme: 210g/m² flame retardant knitted cotton fabric + digital printing process.
• Results:
  Burning Smoke Density Rating <15;

  Customer repurchase rate increased by 60% and became the designated supplier of Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Scenario 3: Public transport - guarding journey safety

- Case: High-speed railway seat fabric upgrade
• Challenge: Need to meet EN 45545-2 R22 fire rating and 100,000 times abrasion resistance test at the same time.
• Innovation: 320g/m² flame retardant cotton/polyester (70/30) knitted fabric + micro elastic treatment.
• Effect:
  Heat release from combustion <5MJ/m² (standard requirement <15);
  Abrasion resistance up to 120,000 times, seat cover replacement cycle extended by 2 years.

Scenario 4: Industrial protection - "Flexible armour" in hazardous environments

- Case: Petrochemical enterprise workwear customisation
• Pain points: static sparks caused by the risk of combustion and explosion, the traditional anti-static clothing poor comfort.
• Programme: conductive silk embedded flame retardant knitted cotton (surface resistance 10⁶-10⁹Ω).
• Value:
  Workwear complaint rate decreased by 70%, and employees' willingness to wear it increased;
  Passed ATEX explosion-proof certification, customer's safety accident rate went to zero.

Part 3: How to choose a quality flame retardant knitted cotton fabric?--A Practical Guide for Purchasers

1. List of key indicators

- Flame retardant grade: GB/T 5455, EN 11611/11612, NFPA 2112, etc;
- Environmental certification: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, REACH, GB 18401;
- Physical properties: grammage error ±3%, shrinkage rate <2%, colour fastness ≥4 levels.
2. Guide to avoid the pit
- Be alert to "pseudo-flame retardant": some products use temporary coating, which fails after 5 washes;
- Cost traps: low-priced products may use polyester to pretend to be cotton and release toxic smoke (hydrogen cyanide) when burning.
3. Customisation
- Function overlay: anti-bacterial, UV protection, anti-static and other functions are optional;
- Process adaptation: support for deep processing such as digital printing, wrinkle pressing, composite TPU film, and so on.

Conclusion: Bringing Safety and Comfort Together in Harmony