“Consumers and industry are looking for a better, cleaner alternative. Since our novel FR chemistry does not contain bromine or any other halogens, we feel very confident that we will find commercial traction, especially for customer and applications that want to play it safe,” chief operating officer Stefan Susta said.

“We anticipate carrying the market momentum into our recent discussions with potential licensees in Europe, Australia, and Asia – and will extend future applications beyond the textile industry. The timing for introducing a new, bromine/halogen-free, FR solution is ideal,” he added.

Alexium is currently finalising a full licence agreement for its treatments for nylon with Duro Textiles, one of the United States’ largest finishers and dyers that covers more than 3.66 million linear metres of nylon fabric.

Alexium chief technology officer Dr. Bob Brookins said that while commercial organo-bromine compounds inhibited combustion, they were coming under increasing public criticism and increasing scrutiny of consumer protection agencies.

Brominated flame retardants are lipophilic and bio-accumulative, and several brominated flame retardants have been labeled carcinogens and neurological toxins.

This has led some European countries to ban some or all hazardous brominated flame retardants while in the United States legislative efforts are underway in some states and at the federal level to phase out brominated flame retardants.

California is moving forward with plans to scrap old laws and replace them with new standards that can be met without the use of toxic chemicals while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is carrying out a high priority review of organobromine-based ingredients, citing widespread exposure and potential health risks.

Alexium’s flame retardant treatments do not contain organobromine or any other halogenated compounds.

Besides’ commercial fabric applications, the company is also focusing on entering new product areas, such as carpet, furnishings, polyurethane foam padding, insulation, plastics, and aerospace interiors.