PROBAN PROPERTIES

DURABILITY

Entrapped within the fibre.

Since it was first developed in the 1950's, the PROBANŽ process has been subject to continuous improvement by Albright & Wilson. During treatment, the PROBANŽ chemical is implanted deep inside the cotton fibres. It is then processed to form an inert cross-linked polymer which is physically entrapped within the cotton itself. It is this PROBANŽ polymer that gives the the fabric its flame retardant performance; and as PROBANŽ does not react chemically with the cotton fibres, the natural and physical properties of the fabric remain unaffected.

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The PROBANŽ polymer trapped inside the cotton fibres cannot be removed by washing or dry cleaning, but flame retardant performance may be masked by excessive soiling or soap deposits. Recommended care instructions should be followed to ensure the flame retardant performance lasts for the life of the garment. Chlorine bleaches should never be used during the cleaning process.

NON-COMBUSTIVE BEHAVIOUR

The self-extinguishing solution.

When flame comes into contact with PROBANŽ treated cotton, an insulating char is formed and there is no melting, smouldering or after glow. Unlike synthetics, cotton does not melt away from a flame to form a hole, nor does it form a hot sticky residue which can adhere to the skin of the wearer causing burn injury. In foundry and furnace operations, appropriately constructed PROBANŽ garments, help to protect the wearer against burn injuries arising from splash by most molten metals (except aluminium and magnesium). PROBANŽ cotton eliminates the risk of ignition from sparks or flame in welding or cutting operations. The flame retardant properties of PROBANŽ knitted cotton make it the most appropriate fabric in industries where there is a risk of spillage and ignition of flammable liquids.

QUALITY CONTROL

Albright & Wilson world best practise

The PROBANŽ quality control function is ISO 9002 and EN 45001 accredited. The Albright & Wilson testing laboratory is one of the most sophisticated in the industry. Flamesafe, as the liscensed PROBANŽ finisher is required to submit samples of all PROBANŽ production batches to the designated laboratory of Albright & Wilson Limited.

Here they are assessed for flame retardant performance against the appropriate standard. Only when a batch meets the standard, is a test certificate issued together with a supply of the appropriate number of sew-in PROBANŽ labels which state the flammability performance standard of the fabric. PROBANŽ workwear fabrics are manufactured to meet all internationally recognised standards for protection against flame spread and the PROBANŽ label is the wearer's assurance of PROBANŽ protection.

LAUNDERING

Total care for the long life of your garments.

To maintain quality and performance levels of your flame retardant garments, it is imperative the manufacturer's care instructions are adhered to. This will ensure PROBANŽ protection for the life of the garment.

Durable flame retardant finish,

Washable and dry cleanable,

Do not use soap,

Do not use chlorine bleach,

Wash in synthetic detergents.

Recommended synthetic detergents are;

Castle, Surf, Cold Power, Dynamo, Gows, Radiant, Drive, Fab and Omo.

For further advice on laudering contact F L A M E S A F E.

SKIN SAFE

Ongoing testing ensures your comfort and safety.

Since the introduction of the PROBANŽ process, Albright & Wilson have commissioned extensive testing of PROBANŽ finished fabrics to make sure they meet the ever increasing health and safety demands of society. Following is a detailed look at the program of testing to which PROBANŽ fabrics have been subjected, by both independant testing organisations and Albright & Wilson Limited.

1952 Leeds University conducted the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test on 256 volunteers wearing PROBANŽ finished fabrics. This test subjects human volunteers to direct contact with fabrics for various lengths of time. No single case of skin irritation was found.

1965 Doctor Martin Scott used PROBANŽ finished fabric to perform the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test on 100 children. He also tested children having a typical infantile eczema, where an external contact was suspected as the cause. Both studies gave a result of no adverse skin reaction.

1975 Huntington Research Centre conducted a Dermal Irritation Study on PROBANŽ finished fabrics. All tests indicated the fabrics were non-irritant to the skin.

1982 Albright & Wilson subjected 38 volunteers to the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test for fabrics both before and after laundering. No case of skin irritation was recorded.

PROBANŽ finished fabrics were also evaluated using the Kawai S.U.M.P. test on human volunteers. This test was devised as a more searching examination of dermal effects from materials that are shown to be non-irritant in conventional tests. An independant test by the Japanese Society of Cutaneous Health reported PROBANŽ finished fabrics are non-irritant to the skin.

Continuous testing helps to ensure that up-to-date information is always available. The most recent studies concerning delayed type skin hypersensitivity were conducted in 1993 by Safepharm Laboratories in Derby. PROBANŽ finished fabrics produced a 0% sensitisation rate. This allows the fabrics to be classified as non-sensitiser, according to EEC regulations. To date, there have been no published reports of PROBANŽ attributing to either skin irritaiton or sensitisation.

NON-TOXIC

As harmless as common table salt.

Although PROBANŽ finished fabric is unlikely to be taken internally, Albright & Wilson have taken the precaution of testing for the toxicological and environmental impact of PROBANŽ polymer. The results of tests carried out by the Huntington Research Centre on PROBANŽ polymer extracted from finished fabric are displayed in the following table.

SUMMARY OF TOXICITY TESTING
COMPOUND	LD 50mg / kg Body-weight	ROUTE
PROBANŽ Polymer	3200 - 5000	Oral
Sodium Bicarbonate	4220	Oral
Sodium Chloride	3000	Oral

The toxicity levels in the table demonstrate that if a 70kg person ingested 1.5 metres of PROBANŽ treated fabric, it would prove as harmless as an equivalent dose of common table salt. The PROBANŽ polymer present in the fabric is insoluble in all common solvents and does not present any hazard to the eyes or by ingestion.

Chemical analysis undertaken by the Medical Research Centre in Britain discovered that the fumes from charring PROBANŽ fabrics were of no greater toxicity than fumes produced by burning untreated cotton fabric.

A further independant study by the Lambeg Industrial Research Association concluded that the combustion products produced by PROBANŽ fabrics were not significantly different from those produced by untreated fabrics. PROBANŽ fabrics produced fewer combustion by-products than untreated fabrics purely by PROBAN'SŽ self-extinguishing nature.

OPTIMUM PROTECTION KNITTED COTTON COMFORT PEACE OF MIND