Australian team develops spray to make clothes more fire-resistant

Designed with everyday materials in mind, like shirts or bedding that most people have at home, this new formula could offer vital protection to those living in bushfire-prone areas, or in emergency situations.

The water-based spray coats fabric with a virtually invisible layer of protection without altering the fabric’s softness or breathability, a common challenge when applying coating on textiles, a release from the university said.

Guan Yeoh and his team from the university’s mechanical and manufacturing engineering department have spent the last two years working on the formula. It was funded through a $5-million grant from the Australian government through the ARC Research Hub for Fire Resilience Infrastructure, Assets and Safety Advancements (FRIASA).

“What we’ve achieved is a solution that doesn’t smell and doesn’t change the softness of the cotton once it’s sprayed on. So, the item of clothing still feels the same as before,” Yeoh said.

The formula uses non-toxic ingredients consisting of phosphorous and nitrogen elements, which act as the binder, and a water-soluble cellulose extract—a plant-derived organic compound rich in carbon that can be found in cotton, wood pulp or other plant biomass.

When combined, they form a thin protective coating that binds firmly to natural fibres like cotton. The phosphorus tightens the carbon layer which repels the heat.

“In the final formulation, we only use a concentration of about 10 to 15 per cent to make it easier to spray onto surfaces—and dries instantaneous too,” said Yeoh, director of the ARC Research Hub for FRIASA at the university.

“This results in a fabric that resists burning and significantly reduces heat transfer, without stiffening or any noticeable colour changes. And since the bottle is completely sealed to prevent oxidation, it has a very long shelf life. If the bottle is kept tightly sealed, we can expect it will last more than a year,” he added.

One of the key advantages of the spray is the durability of the solution: it is strong enough to withstand light contact with water, but will completely dissolve in a rigorous wash.

Partnering with artificial intelligence solutions company N2N AI, Yeoh said he expects to see this product available commercially within the next year.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)