The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is looking for a business partner to license a new product that can be applied to wool fabrics and wool-rich blends to make them more flame-resistant.

Adding flame and extreme heat resistance is of particular interest to the Department of Defense (DoD), which is seeking ways to have uniforms that are comfortable, washable and that will not melt and form hard beads that can drip into open wounds, exacerbating injuries the way polyester fabrics do.

Wool already has some natural resistance to burning, but the DoD would like to have even more flame retardancy in its uniforms.

Other potential uses include uniforms for people who are exposed to fire-hazardous situations, woollen underwear and sleepwear. Current technologies to add heat resistance employ metals or chemicals that are considered environmentally unfriendly.

In contrast, the new ARS technology was designed to be applied as a finish to ARS-developed enzyme-polished, machine-washable wool. The compound can be applied to yarn, fabric and finished garments, according to ARS research chemist Jeanette M. Cardamone, with the ARS Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit of the Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, Penn. Cardamone developed the new technology.

ARS is the US Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.