THE FIBER

CarbonX fabrics are constructed utilizing oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers (OPF). OPF is thermally stable, does not burn, melt or ignite, is impervious to molten-metal splash and has exceptional electrical resistance.
One of numerous tests within the FR market that illustrates the incredible capabilities of OPF is that of limiting oxygen index, or LOI. Within a controlled atmosphere, the standard procedure is to ignite the top of the sample, using a gas flame which is withdrawn once ignition has occurred, and to find the lowest oxygen concentration required to support and sustain burning. The higher the LOI rating then, the more thermally stable a fiber is.
For example, since air comprises about 20.95% oxygen by volume, any material with a limiting oxygen index less than this will burn easily in air. Conversely, the burning behavior and tendency to propagate flame for a fiber with a limiting oxygen index greater than 20.95 will be reduced or even zero after removal of the igniting source. As the chart to the right illustrates, OPF-based CarbonX possesses an LOI of 55, indicating that it requires an oxygen level of nearly 3 times that of air to burn.
An equally compelling demonstration of the increased level of performance offered by oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers is its strength retention after intense exposure to heat and flame. The graph below details the amount of strength that is retained by various fibers when encountering increasing temperatures over time. At 250°F, OPF is the only fiber to still possess 100% of its original strength, and after ten minutes of exposure at temperatures of 500°F, OPF outperforms the competition and retains an astonishing 40% of its strength.
While these inherent qualities make OPF an extraordinary foundational component for the creation of non-flammable products, blending this fiber with a strengthening fiber is required to optimize fabric construction and functional performance.

THE YARN

In order to provide the highest level of persistent protection, OPF fibers are blended with strengthening fibers to enhance the strength-to-weight properties of the yarns required in the construction of CarbonX fabric. This blend improves abrasion, wash durability and cut resistance, all combining to allow CarbonX fabrics to maintain strength and flexibility during a catastrophic event involving fire, molten metal or arc flash. Further, this blend is highly customizable, enabling each resulting fabric construction to be tailored for optimized performance for specific applications and risks.

THE CONSTRUCTION

CarbonX fabrics are unsurpassed. CarbonX fabrics will not ignite, burn, melt, shrink or significantly decompose when exposed to intense flame, molten metal, or arc flash. Even after intense exposure, CarbonX maintains its integrity and continues to protect. Available in a variety of knits, wovens and non-wovens, the CarbonX family of fabrics provides the highest level of protective solutions for nearly every application in today’s most dangerous environments.

Click A Chart To Enlarge

  • LOI

  • STRENGTH RETENTION