The partners, of College Station, USA, and Oceanside, California, USA, respectively, say that they plan to create skin-safe textile coatings that remain flame-retardant even after repeated use and laundering. They plan to deploy the coatings in firefighting gear and industrial textiles, where durability and safety are critical, and believe that they could also be used for home furnishings and consumer products.
The coatings being developed by the partners comprise water-based polymers that form a thin, durable layer on fabric. When exposed to heat or flame, that layer reacts by expanding and forming a protective intumescent shield that slows the spread of the fire and insulates the materials beneath.
Unlike conventional treatments, these coatings are free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and halogenated compounds. The do not change the hand, or water- and vapour-permeability of the fabric, or add significant weight, and can be applied using standard pad-dry processes.
As part of the initiative, CitroTech is funding dedicated research at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the official research agency of the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, including graduate-level work and advanced testing, creating a direct link between early-stage research and product development.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CitroTech, Andrew Hotsko, says: “CitroTech has built its reputation on delivering fire-resilience in some of the most demanding environments, from construction materials and utility infrastructure to roadside and vegetation management. This partnership is about extending that foundation into textiles.”
A Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, Jaime Grunlan, concludes: “Flame-retardancy has long required trade-offs between safety, durability and practicality, particularly in textiles that are washed, worn and exposed to the elements. What makes this work meaningful is the ability to move beyond those limitations. We are moving toward solutions that can perform consistently outside the laboratory and at scale, which is ultimately what is needed to better protect homes, first responders and the communities they serve.”