At AX® Materials, our goal is to create the most innovative, protective, and high-performance materials on the market. That’s why AX® Medora FR, our latest synthetic fire-resistant material, is revolutionizing the industry.
With a strong focus on creating an environmentally safe product while meeting varying fire resistance requirements, we developed Medora FR: A durable, robust, and fire-resistant material with remarkable high dexterity.
Medora FR emerged from our knowledge and awareness of the challenges faced in fire-resistant materials by other glove brands. AX® Materials President Matt Pennington states, “Medora has exceptional fire and flame resistance due to the combination of Bio-PU, regular PU, and fire-resistant chemicals.”
Unmatched Fire Resistance
The creation process of Medora FR involved five years of product iterations and extensive field testing. Pennington explains, “With leather overall, whether it’s known as FR or non-FR, the first biggest challenge for brands using the material is inconsistent performance. This ranges from durability, abrasion, tear, and tensile because you’re working with a natural hide that has variation from hide to hide.”
Carefully pondering base materials, synthetic compounds, and burning temperatures, we successfully created a reliable, high-quality, fire-resistant material. Field testing of Medora FR has generated positive feedback regarding its durability and abrasion resistance, showcasing its ability to rival other synthetic and FR leather materials.
Medora FR offers protection equal to or even better than the sought-after FR leather combined with Kevlar. The natural cotton base of Medora FR contains permanent fire chemistry, making it a consistent fire-resistant material. Unlike traditional leather, cotton does not melt under high temperatures, leading Medora FR to pass necessary flame tests such as the ASTM D6413 vertical flame test.
Medora FR is not only highly protective but also durable and lightweight. The material maintains high dexterity while increasing the palm’s overall tear property, a rare combination in the glove industry. Unlike leather gloves that become dense and stiff over time, Medora FR prevents workers from enduring discomfort caused by heat-trapping leather; instead, they experience long-lasting comfort without compromising flexibility.
Meeting Global Chemical Compliance
Pennington continues, “The second big challenge for these brands using leather is ongoing chemical compliance. And obviously, it’s getting more severe and challenging even for synthetic suppliers. But if you’re a leather supplier, you need to improve chemistry because you have to treat a hide in order to create leather.”
With 4% of the composition derived from bio-based polyurethane, Medora FR uses proven plant-based chemistry which makes it more challenging to burn and catch fire. Medora FR is also PFC-free and meets all global fluorine regulations, keeping brands and end-consumers away from the typical fluorine content that surfaces in fire-fighting products.
Added Features and Functions
Medora FR also offers touchscreen compatibility, allowing workers to use tablets or phones without removing their gloves. This feature provides added convenience and protection for workers, ensuring they can perform tasks efficiently while guaranteeing customers that they are using safe products.
The Bottom Line
With our extensive experience and dedication to creating reliable and safe products, Medora FR has become a trusted, high-quality material for fire-resistant gloves.
“With improved chemistry and overall knowledge of the FR market, we knew AX® Materials could create something better,” Pennington remarks.
By using Medora FR in your gloves, you can enhance your brand’s credibility, reduce fire-related injuries, and decrease the frequency of glove replacements. Medora FR establishes a new benchmark in fire protection, offering a safer and more effective solution for workers worldwide.
Medora’s FR performance has been validated at third-party labs for the following tests:
- ASTM D6413 Vertical Flame Test & ISO 15025:2000 B Method
- Melt/drip (occurrence of debris): none
- Afterflame time (seconds): 0
- Afterglow time (seconds): 0
- Char Length
- Length: (3.5 inches) 89 mm avg
- Width: (4.25 inches) 108mm avg
- Burn Distance:
- Length: (2.44 inches) 62mm avg
- Width: (3.11 inches) 79mm avg
- EN 407:2004 6.3
- Burning Behavior: Level 4 = Afterflame time ≤ 2 seconds, Afterglow ≤ 5 seconds
- Contact Heat: Level 1 (≥15 seconds at 100°C)
*Please contact AX® Materials for additional testing information.
**Please note: Medora FR was developed for fire/flame resistance, meaning the material will not burn when exposed to a flame or excessive heat. However, the PU surface may melt if in direct contact with extreme temperatures above 200C/392F.