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FR®-Fiberstory
The heat protection fiber
THE HEAT PROTECTION FIBER
More comfort less heat stress. Lenzing FR® is a specialty viscose fiber. The abbreviation FR stands for „flame resistant“. Lenzing FR® is a natural fiber derived from wood. It offers protection from heat and flame in a variety of different applications. Unique thermal insulation properties combined with permanent flame resistance make Lenzing FR® a „Heat Protection Fiber“. It offers protection from all kinds of heat and its functional properties help to prevent heat stress and heat stroke.
| Without Lenzing FR® |
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With Lenzing FR® |
PERMANENT PROTECTION FROM HEAT
Natural safety. Lenzing FR® offers protection from all kinds of heat: fire, radiant heat, electric arcs, molten metals and flash fires. The most important goal of protective clothing is to prevent the skin from burns. After all, the skin is the body’s largest and most sensitive organ.
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| Fiber cross section | Permanent protection incorporated. From a technical point of view, Lenzing FR® is a work of art. The fiber, which is made of a natural raw material, has a flame retardant substance incorporated throughout the cross section of the fiber. As well as being ecofriendly, the latter also ensures permanent protection. The protective substance cannot be removed by either washing or abrasion. Flame resistant once, flame resistant forever…
- The best heat protection fiber
- Permanent flame resistance
- Outstanding comfort
- Environmentally friendly
The skin - The Body’s most important organ
Protection from burns. People in professions involving a high level of risk from burns need to wear special protective clothing. Apart from direct fire, heat, in its different forms, represents a significant danger.
Skin is our largest organ and its only form of protection is our clothing. The outcome could be fatal if as little as 15% of the human skin is destroyed. Lenzing FR®, with its incorporated flame retardant agent, protects the skin from heat like no other flame resistant High Performance Fiber.
Lenzing FR® protects the skin from all kinds of heat:
Fire |
Radiant Heat |
Electric Arcs |
Molten Metals |
Flash Fires |
Improved performance and efficiency!
Lenzing FR® does not only offer you safety. It offers you functionality. The performance and efficiency of the wearer improves significantly when the comfort of the protective garment is enhanced. Moisture absorption along with breathability and skin friendliness all have to be a given as all are vital components in flame resistant protective clothing. These properties make it possible for Lenzing FR® to significantlyreduce the risk of heat stress and heat stroke.
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HEAT SOURCE FIRE
Fire test passed with flying colors. Lenzing FR® offers anyone in the emergency services excellent protection from 2nd and 3rd degree burns. And it goes one step further since its physiological properties reduce the risk of heat stress and heat stroke.
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Whenever fire is involved, safety has utmost priority. Lenzing FR® can be found wherever there is a need for flame resistance. |
- Protection from 2nd degree and 3rd degree burns
- Improves the performance and comfort of 100% aramid garments
- Improves break open behavior
- Reduces the risk of heat stress and heat stroke
 Lenzing FR® upgrades aramid fibers
Optimum insulation properties. The TPP values of Lenzing FR® are first rate and it considerably enhances the performance of aramid fibers. The break open behavior of protective clothing is improved following exposure to flames and heat. The skin continues to be protected.
A comparison gives you the reassurance you need
Thermal insulation barriers are used in firemen’s jackets. One common type is comprised of three layers of spunlace fleece (each layer being 80 g/m2). The following pictures show a typical result after performing the „TPP“-Test, EN ISO 9151. This test demonstrates that the thermal insulation function is enhanced with a blend of Lenzing FR® and aramid fibers.
| 100% Aramide |
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50% Lenzing FR®
50% Aramide |
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HEAT SOURCE RADIANT HEAT
Radiant heat has no chance. Radiant heat can produce severe burns. Anyone working in the casting business or near a blast furnace is at particular risk.
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Lenzing FR® provides excellent protection from burns in all applications where radiant heat constitutes a risk. |
- Reduction of heat stress and heat stroke
- Optimum moisture management
- Performance remains intact
Heat Stress and Heat Stroke
Power of performance remains intact. For special clothing which resists radiant heat, Lenzing FR® fabrics are used in an aluminized form. These offer protection from extreme radiant heat. They also improve the wear comfort and prevent heat stress and heat stroke.
What causes Heat Stress and Heat Stroke?
Mental and physical exertion increases the body’s core temperature. Increased blood circulation and the production of perspiration cool the body down. This cooling down process can be disrupted due to improper heat and moisture management leading to problems with concentration, fatigue, muscle cramps, difficulties breathing and ultimately heat stroke. The excellent moisture management and breathability of Lenzing FR® lead to a reduction in the risk from this mortal danger.
Parameters of Comfort. Influences: Environment, Temperature, Convective Heat, Moisture, Air movement. |
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HEAT SOURCE ELECTRIC ARCS
Safe even in extreme conditions. Injuries are common in the electrical utilities sector due to electric arcs. These are caused by ionized air and constitute a risk for workers.
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Heat protection. Lenzing FR® offers protection from electric arcs, which can reach temperatures of up to 10,000°C. Metal splashes are another risk. These are produced during an electrical discharge that can cause anodes and cathodes to melt or evaporate. |
- Protection in high voltage areas
- Skin-friendly
- Enhanced blends
 What is an Electric Arc?
Those dangerous sparks. The risk of injury from an electric arc is not, as is often assumed, from an electrical rush of current. An electric arc is produced by ionized air. The spark is the aftermath of the high voltage. During this discharge an electric arc is produced with temperatures reaching up to 10,000°C. Although it is short-lived, lasting perhaps only 500 milliseconds, flammable clothing can ignite immediately as a result of the intense heat. Lenzing FR® offers protection from sparks and at the same time is skinfriendly. In blends with other fibers, Lenzing FR® demonstrates these properties to perfection.
Lenzing FR® makes things better
In blends with other fibers, Lenzing FR® is a cost effective way of improving the comfort and performance of protective clothing. In addition it optimizes the dye affinity, fastness to light and is naturally anti-static. As a result, Lenzing FR® based fabrics are the real “high performers” among the flame resistant fabrics. All over the world, Lenzing FR® based fabrics have achieved the optimum balance of properties in protective apparel. Common blends include the following other high performance fibers:
- KERMEL KERMEL®
- DUPONT NOMEX®/KEVLAR®
- TEIJIN CONEX®/TWARON®
- INTER-TECH GROUP PBI®
- INSPEC FIBERS P84®
- MLM BASOFIL®
- WOOL
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HEAT SOURCE MOLTEN METAL
The danger from „Metal Splashes“. In aluminum smelters, steel plants, casting plants and recycling companies Lenzing FR® offers protection of a special kind. Workers in these industries can be exposed to dangerous levels of radiant heat and also require protection from molten metal splashes.
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Special fabrics that offer protection from molten metal splashes are the outcome of recent innovative developments. These fabrics, which incorporate Lenzing FR®, offer protection from 800°C liquid aluminum and 1400°C molten steel. |
- Liquid metal runs off
- Special fabrics
- Optimum skin-sensory products
Perfect for Metal Splash Industry
Lenzing FR® in special applications. In the aluminum industry, blended fabrics incorporating Lenzing FR® are in high demand as they have proven their worth in this complex application. Lenzing FR® has a special ability that makes liquid aluminum and cryolite simply shed off the fabric. Because of this property, it has become the market leader in this sector. Another advantage is that garments can be made lighter and more comfortable yet offer greater protection when Lenzing FR® is used.
Optimum Wear Properties
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Underwear and protective hoods made of Lenzing FR® are extremely soft and pleasant to wear. Even in a danger zone, Lenzing FR® provides the optimum climate for the body. Its moisture management and skin friendly properties all mean that the concentration and performance of the workers is enhanced. |
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HEAT SOURCE FLASH FIRES
Protection and comfort. In the petrochemical and law enforcement sectors, Lenzing FR® offers protection from heat produced by flash fires. The combination of protection and comfort is in high demand for these fields of work.
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Naturally anti-static. The natural anti-static properties of Lenzing FR® lower the risk of static build up. This, in turn, reduces the potential of initiating a flash fire due to static discharge. |
- Naturally anti-static
- Good breathability
- The perfect blending partner
Increased Functionality
Lenzing FR® has the power to improve. Functionality depends on the properties of different fibers. Protective clothing made with blends of Lenzing FR® are more comfortable than those using 100% aramid fibers. Aramids, which are purely synthetic fibers, only absorb a small amount of moisture and the wearer starts to perspire very quickly. In contrast, Lenzing FR® is a natural, flame resistant fiber with excellent moisture absorption and breathability properties.
The Perfect Blend
Protective clothing made with blends of Lenzing FR® and aramid fibers satisfies all the requirements of the wearer in terms of safety and durability, as well as comfort. Tests conducted by the Hohenstein Institute of Research in Germany confirm that blends with Lenzing FR® considerably improve the comfort and protection properties.
The water vapor penetration of a blend with 50% Lenzing FR® and 50% aramid is significantly higher than a 100% aramid fabric (both fabrics being of the same weight and construction).
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LENZING FR® - THE HEAT PROTECTION FIBER
Fiber Portfolio / Fiber Characteristics
Titer/
dtex |
cutlength/
mm
| make up |
Tenacity
cN/tex |
Elongation
% |
Wet Tenacity
cN/tex |
LOI
% |
| 1.7 |
40 |
staple fiber |
24 |
14 |
12 |
28 |
| 2.2 |
38/51 |
staple fiber |
24 |
15 |
12 |
28 |
| 3.3 |
51/75/90 |
staple fiber |
22.5 |
15.5 |
11 |
28 |
| 3.3 |
75+90 |
tops |
22.5 |
15.5 |
11 |
28 |
| 5.5 |
60 |
staple fiber |
20 |
22 |
11 |
28 |
| 8.9 |
80/120 |
staple fiber |
16 |
22 |
8 |
28 |
| LENZING FR® 1.7 dtex |
LENZING FR® 1.7 dtex |
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Press releases
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July 14, 2008
The production capacity of Lenzing®FR – The Heat Protection Fiber – is being increased substantially by Lenzing AG of Austria. The capacity expansion enables TenCate to supply larger quantities of TenCate Defender™M fabric to the US military, taking effect late 3rd quarter. TenCate Protective Fabrics, based in Union City, Georgia, USA is the leading supplier of various types of flame resistant (FR) fabrics to the United States armed forces. The Lenzing Group is the leading supplier of specialty cellulose fibers in the world, with a clear focus on innovation.
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February 21, 2008
Unique Symposium, 21.2.2008 in Paris.
The cellulose fiber manufacturers, Lenzing AG, organized an Environmental Symposium in the Botanic Gardens of Paris. This event took place at the same time as the fabric fairs Texworld, Première Vision and Expofil and had as its title the Botanic Symposium.
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