Nov 15 2010
The efforts of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lately have gone towards developing nanomaterial-based fire retardants that are a safer and less toxic replacement.
Their research has shown that nano-based flame retardants use 30% less chemicals by weight, while still being as effective as the traditional flame retardants. Traditional flame retardants are currently used in a wide variety of consumer products, including furniture, curtains, automobiles, and even children's sleepwear. As house fires cause between $1-$3 billion a year in damage in the U.S. alone, these flame retardants are vital to protecting property, and more importantly, human lives. This research is leading to new ways to protect homes and families, while decreasing unnecessary risks related to exposure to harmful chemicals. The video includes b-roll of two fires in the lab, from the safety briefing, ignition, burn, and eventual suppression of the fires, along with interviews from the various experts and participants at the facility.
Source: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/