L2M – Fire-retardant elastic textiles

Fire-retardant fabrics are textiles engineered to self-extinguish when exposed to fire or extreme heat without ignition or burning. They serve as the main component of protective clothing for firefighters and industrial workers. The current garment design can provide excellent fire-resistant performance by using inherently fire-resistant fabrics with multi-layer designs; however, they suffer from bulkiness and discomfort due to fabric inflexibility and design constraints. This discomfort can significantly affect firefighters’ performance. Addressing this discomfort issue, imparting fire-retardancy on highly elastic fabrics is proposed. These elastane-containing fabrics, often used in combination with another synthetic textile, provide ultimate comfort level to users but pose a significant fire hazard due to their high flammability. These fabrics can melt and drip onto the skin when exposed to fire and cause severe injuries. Therefore, it is imperative to impart fire retardancy into these textiles to ensure they not only can provide comfort but also protection against heat and flame to enable safe use in various applications. The partner organization would be able to benefit student with the business aspects of product commercialization by providing various trainings and deliverables to achieve.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hyun-Joong Chung

Student:

Partner:

Edmonton Unlimited

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Public administration

University:

University of Alberta

Program: