Reliance Industries enhances polyester textiles with FRX Nofia technology

FRX Innovations (Boston, Mass., U.S.) a company offering eco-friendly flame retardant solutions, announces that Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL, Mumbia, India), a producer of polyester staple fibers and filament yarns, will use FRX Innovations’ Nofia technology to enhance the sustainable edge of its well-established Recron FS fire-resistant polyester for polyester textile applications.

According to FRX Innovations, Nofia retains a distinctive polymeric phosphorus-based chemistry. Nofia additives are certified by Oeko-Tex (Zürich, Switzerland) Standard 100 for textile applications and other sustainability certifications — such as ChemForward, Green Screen and TCO — accrediting that the technology meets these global standards of safety and sustainability.

“Recron FS is manufactured at state-of-the-art facilities, having one of the most environment-friendly conditions and is a part of the responsible care products offering from RIL,” Hemant D. Sharma, sector head – Polyester Business, RIL, says. “We are committed to deliver exceptional fire safety without compromising health, environment and aesthetics.”

FRX Innovations’ Nofia polymeric phosphorus additives deliver improved tenacity in RIL’s polyester textiles and is claimed to be the only flame-retardant technology that allows the use of recycled polyester as a feedstock to contents above 60%, with the capability of reaching above 90%; this ability to use it with recycled polyester makes it a sustainable technology. The new technology also enables adjustable flame retardancy from levels of 7,000 ppm to 25,000 ppm of phosphorus, depending on end-user needs.

Recron FS has been incorporated by transportation, hospitality and home décor customers. Recron FS-based fabrics are used by Indian railways in seats and curtains. Another application, the Charles de Gaulle terminal 2 airport, recently unveiled its interior refurbishment featuring Recron FS polyester in its new airport furniture. And a Spain-based furniture designers, Happers, has specified Recron FS yarns in the company’s new collection of lounge chairs citing its beauty, safety and sustainability attributes.

RIL says it is seeing increasing interest from leading global textile companies for more sustainable, eco-friendly, fire-retardant technologies. Recron FS is a part of RIL’s extensive R&D achievements in attaining its commitment to launch new products that are completely sustainable throughout their lifecycle and responsibly using natural resources.

Furthermore, Reliance conducts sustainability due diligence and audits of its suppliers, which entails a rigorous screening and assessment process in both the pre-award and post-award stages to ensure adherence of standard processes across the value chain.