About Kermel® Fabric

Kermel® fibre is used in heat and fire protective clothing dedicated to fire brigades, military, police and industrial workers worldwide. In our clothing, Kermel® 70% meta aramid is blended with 30% FR Viscose (Kermel® V70 fabric) for enhanced fire resistance and wearer comfort, while Kermel® 50% meta aramid is blended with 50% FR Viscose (Kermel® V50 fabric) to provide unparalleled protection against the risks and hazards associated with electric arcs.

Kermel®/FR Viscose - At a Glance

• Protection - inherent round-the-clock protection, not just against heat and fire, but also against many acids and chemicals. Kermel® fibre will not melt or form molten droplets.
• Non-Flammable - the Kermel®/FR Viscose fabric itself is inherently non-flammable.
• Thermostable - protective fabrics manufactured from Kermel® remain physically intact upon flame exposure with no hole or break-open.
• Anti static - because FR Viscose absorbs moisture, it gives the fabric good anti static properties.
• Durability - protective work wear using Kermel®/FR Viscose is hard wearing and stands up well to abrasion.
• Non-fade - because the fibre itself is dyed, colours will stand up well to sunlight and repeated laundering.
• Easy-care - protective fabrics manufactured from Kermel® are washable in normal commercial machines and do not require ironing.
• Comfort - blended with FR Viscose, Kermel® provides outstanding comfort and softness.

Fabric Features

Kermel® is a high technological polyamide-imide, part of the aramid family. It is naturally non-flammable, which is a permanent characteristic thanks to its chemical structure including a high proportion of aromatic structures and combined double bonds.

The fibre has a very high resistance to abrasion, a thermal conductivity twice as low as any other aramid fibre. It also has an excellent resistance to chemicals. In addition, Kermel® is relatively strong against acid attacks, which makes it particularly useful in plants where acid splashing is a major hazard. When heated to very high temperatures, the fibre chars without melting or dripping, whilst retaining its structure and discharging very few fumes.

Kermel® is a smooth-surfaced fibre with an almost circular cross-section. This shape, as well as its modulus, makes it comfortable and very pleasant to the touch. When blended with FR Viscose, Kermel® makes possible the manufacture of truly FR uniforms. The blend is anti static (to prevent ignition due to sparks) and since Kermel® is doped dyed there is no carrier used to dye the fabric (carriers are highly inflammable and can persist as a residue on the fabrics). The blend is durable (to last about three times longer than a FR treated garment) and easy to maintain. As Kermel® fibre is doped-dyed and non-pilling (the only aramid fibre to have this characteristic) it results in garments with exceptional durable aesthetics. Test results indicate that Kermel®/FR Viscose is perfectly adapted to the requirements of end users for FR workwear.

Flame Retardant

Fabrics made from Kermel® fibre are permanently non-flammable and give excellent thermal protection against flame and radiant heat. They give an effective answer to safety requirements by giving the wearer extra time to fight or escape from the fire without suffering injury. Kermel has a limiting oxygen index of 32%. This means that a minimum of 32% of oxygen would be required to maintain the combustion of a Kermel® sample when exposed to flame in a vertical plane. As atmospheric air contains 21% of oxygen, any material with a greater value of limiting oxygen index can be considered as non-flammable. This property prevents combustion and therefore the propagation of fire to a wider environment.

Kermel® fibre does not melt, nor form molten droplets, and therefore will not stick to the skin. Instead, it will slowly carbonise. If Kermel® fabric remains in a flame, it will blacken and become slightly more rigid, without shrinking or forming droplets. The textile structure loses its mechanical properties but maintains its structure, which is an essential point for use in protective clothing. These characteristics allow Kermel to ensure a high level of protection, even after exposure to an intense heat flux.

Kermel® fibre maintains its mechanical characteristics well beyond the melting point of most synthetic fibres. It is necessary to reach a very high temperature to notice a complete degradation of the fibre. At 400ºC, only a 5% loss of weight can be registered with a thermogravimetric analysis at 5ºC per minute.

Resistance to Chemicals

Kermel® gives good resistance to cold acids, even when concentrated, and good resistance to low concentrations of cold alkalis. It also resists most solvents (except phenols and solvents that are very polar), chlorine bleach, detergents and water vapour. These characteristics make Kermel® the fibre of choice in chemical plants where acid splash risks are important considerations.

Kermel® V50 260gsm (7.67oz)
Twill Blend Fabric

Kermel® V50 260gsm Twill (7.67 oz/sq.yd²) is a blend of 50% Kermel® and 50% Viscose FR, specifically designed to provide unparalleled protection against the risk and hazards associated with electric arcs. The blend is inherently non-flammable and its high level of performance against heat and fire will last for the lifetime of the garment. The fabric will not burn or melt and will maintain its mechanical characteristics.

The blend has a moisture regain comparable to that of 100% cotton and with its very soft touch, can be worn against the skin permanently and comfortably. Independent Arc Thermal Performance Value tests carried out on Kermel® V50 calculated an ATPV rating of 9 when compared to comparable weight Nomex® III (7) and Indura® (cotton traité 6.7). Under US standards, a minimum ATPV rating of 8 is required for Shirting and Pant/Coverall fabrics to meet the requirements of NFPA 70E hazard risk category 2. The above ratings refer to single layer fabrics only and demonstrate that much higher ATPV, HAF and Ebt ratings would be attained if Kermel® V50 were used in a multi-layer system.

The following graph demonstrates the excellent ATPV rating of Kermel® V50 when compared to other comparable weight fabrics.

Notes:

1. Kermel® V50 - the commencing 6.1 cal/cm² rating (ATPV) applies to 180 g/m² Plain Weave ascending to a 9 cal/cm² rating for 260 g/m² Twill.
2. Nomex® III - the commencing 6.1 cal/cm² rating (ATPV) applies to 210 g/m² Plain Weave ascending to a 7 cal/cm² rating for 260 g/m² Twill.
3. Indura® (cotton traité) - the commencing 6.7 cal/cm² rating (ATPV) applies to 260 g/m² ascending to a 7.9 cal/cm² rating for 325 g/m².

To go to our products click here. To learn more about electrical arc click here.

Usage Guide

The table below is intended as a guide only for Kermel® Industrial Protective Wear fabric and its suitability for nominated industry sectors.

Garment	Kermel® Products
Industry
Smelting
Fire Fighting
Emergency Services
Airport Refuelling
Petrochemical
Electric Utilities

Care Instructions

Washing Instructions

Suggested washing instructions are given below:

• Do not use soap.
• Wash in hot water using synthetic detergent.
• Rinse in warm water.
• Do not boil.
• Do not use chlorine bleach.
• Tumble dry on warm setting.
• Warm iron - no steam.
• Avoid over-drying.

Normal dry cleaning is acceptable.
 

To go to our Electric Arc Flash Protection Technical Section, click here.

To go to our Kermel® V50 Twill Blend Fabric Products Section, click here.