Carbon Nanofibers Cut Flammability of Upholstered Furniture
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 14:56
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Carbon, the active ingredient in charcoal, is normally not considered a fire retardant, but researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have determined that adding a small amount of carbon nanofibers to the polyurethane foams used in some upholstered furniture can reduce flammability by about 35 percent when compared to foam infused with conventional fire retardants.