URL: http://www.lenzing-fibers.com/fibers/en/textiles/4166.jsp
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July 04, 2008 |
FR®-Fiberstory
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| Without Lenzing FR® |  |
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With Lenzing FR® |
Natural safety. Lenzing FR® offers protection from all kinds of heat: fire, radiant heat, electric arcs, molten metals and flash fires. The most important goal of protective clothing is to prevent the skin from burns. After all, the skin is the body’s largest and most sensitive organ.
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| Fiber cross section |
Protection from burns. People in professions involving a high level of risk from burns need to wear special protective clothing. Apart from direct fire, heat, in its different forms, represents a significant danger.
Skin is our largest organ and its only form of protection is our clothing. The outcome could be fatal if as little as 15% of the human skin is destroyed. Lenzing FR®, with its incorporated flame retardant agent, protects the skin from heat like no other flame resistant High Performance Fiber.
 Fire |
 Radiant Heat |
 Electric Arcs |
 Molten Metals |
 Flash Fires |
Lenzing FR® does not only offer you safety. It offers you functionality. The performance and efficiency of the wearer improves significantly when the comfort of the protective garment is enhanced. Moisture absorption along with breathability and skin friendliness all have to be a given as all are vital components in flame resistant protective clothing. These properties make it possible for Lenzing FR® to significantlyreduce the risk of heat stress and heat stroke.
Fire test passed with flying colors. Lenzing FR® offers anyone in the emergency services excellent protection from 2nd and 3rd degree burns. And it goes one step further since its physiological properties reduce the risk of heat stress and heat stroke.
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Whenever fire is involved, safety has utmost priority. Lenzing FR® can be found wherever there is a need for flame resistance. |
Lenzing FR® upgrades aramid fibersOptimum insulation properties. The TPP values of Lenzing FR® are first rate and it considerably enhances the performance of aramid fibers. The break open behavior of protective clothing is improved following exposure to flames and heat. The skin continues to be protected.
Thermal insulation barriers are used in firemen’s jackets. One common type is comprised of three layers of spunlace fleece (each layer being 80 g/m2). The following pictures show a typical result after performing the „TPP“-Test, EN ISO 9151. This test demonstrates that the thermal insulation function is enhanced with a blend of Lenzing FR® and aramid fibers.
| 100% Aramide |  |
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50% Lenzing FR® 50% Aramide |
Radiant heat has no chance. Radiant heat can produce severe burns. Anyone working in the casting business or near a blast furnace is at particular risk.
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Lenzing FR® provides excellent protection from burns in all applications where radiant heat constitutes a risk. |
Power of performance remains intact. For special clothing which resists radiant heat, Lenzing FR® fabrics are used in an aluminized form. These offer protection from extreme radiant heat. They also improve the wear comfort and prevent heat stress and heat stroke.
What causes Heat Stress and Heat Stroke?Mental and physical exertion increases the body’s core temperature. Increased blood circulation and the production of perspiration cool the body down. This cooling down process can be disrupted due to improper heat and moisture management leading to problems with concentration, fatigue, muscle cramps, difficulties breathing and ultimately heat stroke. The excellent moisture management and breathability of Lenzing FR® lead to a reduction in the risk from this mortal danger. Parameters of Comfort. Influences: Environment, Temperature, Convective Heat, Moisture, Air movement. |
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Safe even in extreme conditions. Injuries are common in the electrical utilities sector due to electric arcs. These are caused by ionized air and constitute a risk for workers.
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Heat protection. Lenzing FR® offers protection from electric arcs, which can reach temperatures of up to 10,000°C. Metal splashes are another risk. These are produced during an electrical discharge that can cause anodes and cathodes to melt or evaporate. |
What is an Electric Arc?Those dangerous sparks. The risk of injury from an electric arc is not, as is often assumed, from an electrical rush of current. An electric arc is produced by ionized air. The spark is the aftermath of the high voltage. During this discharge an electric arc is produced with temperatures reaching up to 10,000°C. Although it is short-lived, lasting perhaps only 500 milliseconds, flammable clothing can ignite immediately as a result of the intense heat. Lenzing FR® offers protection from sparks and at the same time is skinfriendly. In blends with other fibers, Lenzing FR® demonstrates these properties to perfection.
In blends with other fibers, Lenzing FR® is a cost effective way of improving the comfort and performance of protective clothing. In addition it optimizes the dye affinity, fastness to light and is naturally anti-static. As a result, Lenzing FR® based fabrics are the real “high performers” among the flame resistant fabrics. All over the world, Lenzing FR® based fabrics have achieved the optimum balance of properties in protective apparel. Common blends include the following other high performance fibers:
The danger from „Metal Splashes“. In aluminum smelters, steel plants, casting plants and recycling companies Lenzing FR® offers protection of a special kind. Workers in these industries can be exposed to dangerous levels of radiant heat and also require protection from molten metal splashes.
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Special fabrics that offer protection from molten metal splashes are the outcome of recent innovative developments. These fabrics, which incorporate Lenzing FR®, offer protection from 800°C liquid aluminum and 1400°C molten steel. |
Lenzing FR® in special applications. In the aluminum industry, blended fabrics incorporating Lenzing FR® are in high demand as they have proven their worth in this complex application. Lenzing FR® has a special ability that makes liquid aluminum and cryolite simply shed off the fabric. Because of this property, it has become the market leader in this sector. Another advantage is that garments can be made lighter and more comfortable yet offer greater protection when Lenzing FR® is used.
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Underwear and protective hoods made of Lenzing FR® are extremely soft and pleasant to wear. Even in a danger zone, Lenzing FR® provides the optimum climate for the body. Its moisture management and skin friendly properties all mean that the concentration and performance of the workers is enhanced. |
Protection and comfort. In the petrochemical and law enforcement sectors, Lenzing FR® offers protection from heat produced by flash fires. The combination of protection and comfort is in high demand for these fields of work.
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Naturally anti-static. The natural anti-static properties of Lenzing FR® lower the risk of static build up. This, in turn, reduces the potential of initiating a flash fire due to static discharge. |
Lenzing FR® has the power to improve. Functionality depends on the properties of different fibers. Protective clothing made with blends of Lenzing FR® are more comfortable than those using 100% aramid fibers. Aramids, which are purely synthetic fibers, only absorb a small amount of moisture and the wearer starts to perspire very quickly. In contrast, Lenzing FR® is a natural, flame resistant fiber with excellent moisture absorption and breathability properties.
Protective clothing made with blends of Lenzing FR® and aramid fibers satisfies all the requirements of the wearer in terms of safety and durability, as well as comfort. Tests conducted by the Hohenstein Institute of Research in Germany confirm that blends with Lenzing FR® considerably improve the comfort and protection properties.
The water vapor penetration of a blend with 50% Lenzing FR® and 50% aramid is significantly higher than a 100% aramid fabric (both fabrics being of the same weight and construction).
| Titer/ dtex |
cutlength/ mm | make up | Tenacity cN/tex |
Elongation % |
Wet Tenacity cN/tex |
LOI % |
| 1.7 | 40 | staple fiber | 24 | 14 | 12 | 28 |
| 2.2 | 38/51 | staple fiber | 24 | 15 | 12 | 28 |
| 3.3 | 51/75/90 | staple fiber | 22.5 | 15.5 | 11 | 28 |
| 3.3 | 75+90 | tops | 22.5 | 15.5 | 11 | 28 |
| 5.5 | 60 | staple fiber | 20 | 22 | 11 | 28 |
| 8.9 | 80/120 | staple fiber | 16 | 22 | 8 | 28 |
| LENZING FR® 1.7 dtex | LENZING FR® 1.7 dtex |
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