HOW FLAME RETARDANT FABRICS XM FIRELINE™ ARE TREATED WITH THPC TO ENDURE 100 WASH CYCLES AND RESIST HEAT, FLAME & ELECTRIC ARC.

XM FireLine™ designs and manufactures flame retardant fabrics for Protective and FR-clothing
All our FR fabrics resists 50/100 wash cycles and certified to ISO 11612, ISO 11611 or NFPA 2112.
Our fabrics are treated with a flame retardant chemical compound, which is named THPC, in compliance with all technological standards, ensuring a high level of safety of Protective workwear.

What is THPC?
Chemical THPC C4H12ClO4P (tetra (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride) is internationally recognized as one of the best fire retardants for processing cotton and cotton blends (CVC) fabrics. Besides this chemical compound (THPC), a sophisticated technological process is used to let flame retardant properties formed in the very structure of a treated fabric.
Thus, THPC chemical deeply penetrates into the fibers of fabric and gridlockes in its very molecular structure adding flame retardancy to the fabric. These flame retardant properties are maintained during long-term storage, many wash cycles and dry cleaning.
Our company carefully monitors compliance with all technological process requirements, to ensure that fr-treated fabrics keep high quality of flame retardant proprieties.

THPC – fabric processing technology
After the stage of fabric dyeing XM FireLine fabrics pass the following stages of the process to make it flame retardant.
1. The fabric is passed through a container with a chemical solution THPC.
2. The fabric is dried on drying machine.
3. Next step, the fabric passes through a sealed tank where ammonia gas under the influence of the polymerization process occurs.
4. The fabric passes through a bath with an oxidizing agent, where the surplus ammonia neutralized.
5. The fabric passes through a series of wash baths, where residues are removed.
6. The fabric final drying stage and it is ready for use.
XM FireLine flame retardant fabrics pass a visual inspection and check for the key parameters.

XM FireLine flame retardant fabrics characteristics
Fabric XM FireLine, held at THPC processing technology, has the following properties:
• no residual heating and melting;
• residual decay time after stopping of the flame is not more than 2 seconds;
• molten metal splash protection;
• High durability guarantees maintenance of flame retardant fabrics properties for a long fabric lifetime:
• maintaining of high mechanical properties of the original fabric;
• maintaining of flame retardant properties after 100 washes;
To maintain the flame retardant properties of the XM FireLine fabrics you must always follow the care instructions (see. Appendix 1)

XM FireLine fabrics Applications
Nowadays the flame retardant fabrics are widely used for protective work wear manufacturing around the world. This is due to the fact that the requirements of international standards for the safety of workers become stricter. XM FireLine follows the world trends and every year try to develop new variants of fabrics for protection not only from fire and flame but also from electric arc, static electricity, acids, alkalis and other risks.
XM FireLine fabrics recommended for the producing of protective and flame retardant work wear at work associated with short-term exposure to an open flame, heat radiation (metallurgists, firemen), and the possibility of welding sparks and molten metal splash, high heat or electric arc.
P.S. Be sure to consult with a technician for the safety of your production, to choose fireproof fabric XM FireLine appropriate level of protection.

Appendix 1

Flame Retardant Fabric Care Requirements
XM FireLine flame retardant fabrics are allowed for domestic wash at 600C (ISO 6330) or Industrial wash at 750C (ISO 15797).
Soft water is recommended. Hard water precipitates soaps and contains calcium and magnesium salts. These can build up on the fiber surfaces, coating the fabric and masking luminescent or FR properties.
Do not use natural soaps (anionic or tallow soap).
Magnesium and calcium deposits can be removed in a commercial laundry with acetic acid during followed by rinsing with the alkaline neutralization.
Do not use chlorine-based bleaches because they are chemically weaken polymeric compounds that provide flame retardant properties of the fabric.

Appendix 2
ISO 11612:2008 Protective clothing – Clothing to protect against heat and flame
ISO 11612:2008 specifies performance requirements for garments made from flexible materials, which are designed to protect the wearer’s body, except the hands, from heat and/or flame. For protection of the wearer’s head and feet, the only items of protective clothing falling within the scope of this International Standard are gaiters, hoods and overboots. However, concerning hoods, requirements for visors and respiratory equipment are not given.

ISO 11611:2015 Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
ISO 11611:2015 specifies minimum basic safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing including hoods, aprons, sleeves, and gaiters that are designed to protect the wearer’s body including head (hoods) and feet (gaiters) and that are to be worn during welding and allied processes with comparable risks. For the protection of the wearer’s head and feet, this International Standard is only applicable to hoods and gaiters. This International Standard does not cover requirements for feet, hand, face, and/or eye protectors.
This type of protective clothing is intended to protect the wearer against spatter (small splashes of molten metal), short contact time with flame, radiant heat from an electric arc used for welding and allied processes, and minimizes the possibility of electrical shock by short-term, accidental contact with live electrical conductors at voltages up to approximately 100 V d. c. in normal conditions of welding. Sweat, soiling, or other contaminants can affect the level of protection provided against short-term accidental contact with live electric conductors at these voltages.