Project: Development of Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Polyacrylonitrile Based Textiles

Acrylic fibers find major application in the manufacturing of knitted apparel in outerwear application because of their warm and soft handle. Their poor flammability characteristics prevent them from being used in manufacturing of home, protective, transportation and other industrial textiles which need to pass fire regulations. Modified acrylics are available in the market but they contain halogen based co-monomers like vinyl- and vinylidine chloride. These fibers although fire safe, create problems like corrosion of the processing equipment in fiber spinning and release of additional toxic gasses like hydrochloric acid in fire. _x000D__x000D_Flame-retardant materials are a major business for the chemical industry and can be found practically everywhere in modern society. However, many additives have detrimental effects on the environment and human health and thus should be limited in use. Some Brominated Flame Retardants have in effect been banned via the RoHS directive (2002/95/EC), but this does not imply that all other flame retardants are free from health and environmental concerns._x000D__x000D_The overall goal of this project is to develop cost effective halogen free flame retardant acrylic fiber based textiles for application in home furnishing and transportation textiles. To achieve this goal we will develop novel halogen free flame retardant additives which will be incorporated in the acrylic fibers to produce inherently flame retardant fibers. Furthermore these flame retardant acrylic fibers thus developed will then be spun into 100 % acrylic yarns and blends of linen (10-40% : 90-60% Linen: Acrylic) and finally woven into flame retardant home and transportation textiles. In development of such fabrics our focus will also be to develop blended textiles which are sustainable. _x000D_The above mentioned goals will be fulfilled by close collaboration of the following project Ps:_x000D_1. Krems Chemie Chemical Services AG (KCCS), Austria: KCCS is a SME and the CO applicant for this project. Their role in this project is to develop and scale-up the novel halogen free flame retardant additives developed by them and EMPA. _x000D_2. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology (EMPA), Switzerland: EMPA is the CO scientific research P in this project. EMPA has been actively involved in development of halogen free flame retardants for polymers in the past 10 years. The CO role of EMPA in this consortium is to develop novel halogen free-flame retardant chemistry and evaluate the flammability characteristics of the new fibers and textiles. _x000D_3. AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayi Anonim Sirketi (AKSA), Turkey: They are the world’s largest producer of acrylic fibers and are involved as a large enterprise in this project. The CO activity of AKSA in this consortium is to develop acrylic fibers containing the novel halogen free flame retardant additives._x000D_4. Penelope Dokuma Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd Sti. (Penelope, PT), Turkey: Penelope is a SME involved in manufacturing home furnishing textiles. The CO role of PT in the consortium would be to spin the flame retardant fibers into yarns and then weave textile fabrics for application in home furnishing and transportation textiles. _x000D_

Acronym AKFLAM (Reference Number: 7693)
Duration 01/05/2013 - 30/04/2015
Project Topic The overall goal of this project is to develop halogen free flame retardant textiles from polyacrylonitrile (acrylic) fibers. We would develop novel halogen free flame retardant additives, incorporate them in acrylic fiber and finally convert these fibers into flame retardant textiles
Network Eurostars
Call Eurostars Cut-Off 9

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
4 AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayi Anonim Sirketi Partner Türkiye
4 Krems Chemie Chemical Services AG Coordinator Austria
4 Penelope Dokuma Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd Sti. Partner Türkiye
4 Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology Partner Switzerland