SCIENTISTS’ VIEWS ON INFLAMMABLE DRESS MATERIALS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 31, 29 August 1949, Page 7

SCIENTISTS’ VIEWS ON INFLAMMABLE DRESS MATERIALS

Commenting on statements appearing recently on nylon and the fire hazards of textile materials, Mr C. W. Brandt, Chemist in charge of the Organic Chemistry Section of the Dominion Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said that in fairness to nylon and other textile materials the new facts recently published regarding 'the inflammability of textiles should be amplified, particularly as there had also recently appeared erroneous statements that showed apparent misconceptions. On the other hand it was desirable that the public should be warned of certain highly inflammable fabrics on sale in New Zealand. Dresses—Serious Fires

He had examined and tested the materials that had been worn as evening dresses and which had been responsible for three recent serious fire accidents—one of which was fatal. In the fatal accident and in one of the others, the frocks were ignited by contact with hot electric radiators; in the third case it was not clear how the frock was ignited. In all these accidents, the fabric consisted of net made from rayon treated in a manner that made it much more inflammable than natural cotton net—with which it would normally compare in flammability. Tests made at the Dominion Laboratory revealed that this net had been coated with clear cellulose nitrate lacquer in ord&er to stiffen the material. In addition, a fairly heavy floral pattern had been printed upon it with a similar but pigmented lacquer. The highly inflammable cellulose nitrate is a common lacquer base, and it is also well known, in admixture with camphor, as celluloid. It is therefore evident, said Mr Brandt, that this material, which contains no nylon whatever, is much more inflammable than any textile not so treated. Indeed, it would be difficult to imagine a method of stiffening or applying a pattern to a fabric that would result in a greater fire hazard to the wearer. Plain untreated rayon or cotton net is highly inflammable, but if ignited it can be extinguished by very prompt action. The lacquered type of net, however, ignites so readily and burns with such rapidity and fierceness that it is almost impossible to extinguish it under any ordinary circumstances. Nylon Exception

Almost all textiles are to some extent inflammable, said Mr Brandt, the only exceptions being fabrics made from glass or asbestos, arid these are not in common use for apparel. r Nylon is definitely not classed as highly inflammable. It is possible to ignite nylon fabric in a flame or in contact with an electric radiator; the material first melts and then burns, the burning melt drips away and is usually extinguished when it reaches a cool surface. The nylon fabric when removed from the sourse of heat burns slowly or ceases burning altogether. Wool and natural silk, too, are not (readily ignited; they also are readily extinguished, and sometimes go out if removed from the source of heat. Cotton is classed as highly combustible, and is the most inflammable of the common natural fibres. Unless in the form of a fluffy material, flannelette, or an open net fabric, it will not, however, propogate a flame very rapidly. An example of the danger of fluffy cotton is instanced in yet another recent fatal case following the ignition of a cotton wool fancy dress. The common rayon silks—that is, viscose silk and acetate silk—possess about the same inflammability as cotton.