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Fire Resistant 'Nano' Clothing Gets Spotlight At Chemist Convention

DENVER (CBS4) - Scientists have found a way to use the same technology that protects buildings from fire on clothing. 'Nano' fabric was being shown off at this week's chemist convention in Denver.

It happens year after year -- Halloween costumes going up in flames in seconds. Although they're required to meet certain flammability standards, it doesn't mean they won't burn.

At a meeting of the American Chemical Society, research was presented for a new, environmentally-friendly, low-toxic flame retardant that could be used for, among other things, children's cotton sleepwear and the foam in children's car seats.

Leading the research team for ACS, Dr. Jaime Grunlan explained a water-based nano technique was modeled after the technology used in fire paint used to coat and protect a structure's steel beams.

"When a fire hits that skyscraper, that millimeters-thick coating turns to centimeters thick. It foams out. And we decided we would try to use that on a nano scale," Grunlan said. "We put these hundred nano-meter coatings, and they actually have the same effect. They bubble out and stop the fabric. And in this case, we did this on cotton fabric and it prevented it from catching fire."

A simple vertical flame test showed the effect on cotton.

"Uncoated cotton fabric, our model fabric, just burst into flame and it's completely gone. With our coating, you see a black mark but it basically just stops. It won't catch fire," Grunlan said.

The chemists also explained why they are looking at using panda poop as a biofuel. (Read the story: Panda Poop Could Be Key To Producing Biofuels)

On Wednesday they were talking about the role potatoes can play in lowering blood pressure.

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