Alexium International Group has announced the completion of a process of expanding its database on vertical burn performance of its Ascalon technology by independent certification of Flame Retardance (FR) performance. The aim of the independent testing is to provide guides for variable production set ups and to widen the potential product applications of this innovative nylon FR technology.

The testing was undertaken at four different testing facilities by Magill Services of Conway, South Carolina, USA, an ISO17025 approved textile and apparel testing laboratory, (Accreditation No 67822) with over 20 years experience as a US Department of Defense, QLL certified testing facility (#18030). Magill Services also hold a USA/Canada Joint Certification (#0066762).

Testing

“The key test for FR performance, the vertical burn, is a notoriously variable test and the results can be highly dependent on the particular production setup used,” explained Dirk Van Hyning, Alexium’s Head of Product Development and Commercial Transfer. “This reality, combined with Alexium’s constant drive to satisfy the performance and quality needs of our customers, led us to undertake the independent tests to provide benchmark performance for quality control for different set ups and for wider product applications.”

The results from the four different test facility set ups said to show a high 75% correlation and performance that exceeds product requirements with the remainder showing higher results, typical of the variability seen in the vertical burn test using different set ups.

Improved performance

Van Hyning said: “Although we were certainly pleased with the solid performance from Ascalon through independent testing, we also saw the data as an opportunity to take the quality of the product to a new level for the benefit of our current, as well as our potential, manufacturing partners.”

Using the data from the study and insight gained from the testing community, Alexium was able to make small changes to the technology which, according to the company, improved key FR performance measures by 44% and reduced variability in those measures by 58%. “Importantly, we are now able to provide confidence from independent tests for our future manufacturing partners, for important manufacturing mileposts such as percentage first quality and on-time delivery,” added Van Hyning.

Alexium

Alexium International Group holds proprietary patent applications for a process developed initially by the US Department of Defense , which allows for the surface modification and attachment of nano-particles or multiple chemical functional groups to surfaces or substrates to provide functions such as water proofing, oil proofing, anti-microbial, non-stick and UV protection.

Applications under development include textiles, paints, packaging, glass and building materials. Alexium products range feature a fire retardant treatment for 95% Nylon based products Ascalon and a fire retardant treatment for nylon blended materials such as nylon/cotton Nycolon.

www.alexiuminternational.com