===Fire and flame===
The use of flame treatment is regulated by the provisions of building codes or other provisions for fire safety, such as for clothes for work where they can be exposed to fire and heat. Even for upholstery and curtains there is a need to provide flame treatment. In principle, all fibers of organic origin can be ignited at high temperatures, but the most important is to prevent local fires from spreading. Frequently used textile fibers, such as cotton, can have fire retardant properties by various treatments. The most common way to provide fire protection on standard textile fibers is by impregnation with chemicals which contain nitrogen and phosphorus or a combination of halogenated hydrocarbons and antimony. Phosphorus-nitrogen compounds can be wash-resistant to cellulose fibers and is also available in flame-washable polyester fibers. Halogenated hydrocarbons and antimony usually provides poor wash ability and are therefore used mainly in materials that are not going to be washed. Another relatively frequent treatment for fire protection of wool fiber and its protein is to use salts from metals such as titanium and zirconium. There are also synthetic high temperature fibers to choose as an alternative to chemical treatment.<br/>Some flame retardants release hydrogen cyanide when set afire and can be deadlier than carbon monoxide.8 Flame retardant chemicals can be toxic, and some are suspected carcinogens.9 In the European Union the use of certain flame retardants are banned or restricted.10 ====Innovation opportunities====• Investigate non-toxic flame retardant applications.<br/>• Investigate the use of halogen-free flame retardants, such as from InnoSense LLC: www.innosense.us.<br/>• Investigate using polyester as an alternative to textiles with a flame retardant coating. Polyester is inherently flameretardant.
===Water, oil and stain repellency===
Another important issue is the appearance of purity - especially on white fabrics where every little smudge is visible and remaining traces of dirt are visible even after washing. To make the fabric resistant to dirt, the same type of treatment is used as for water and oil-repellent treatment. These treatments means that dirt often get stuck in the form of aqueous or oily film on the fibers and cannot wet the fibers so it will instead “purl off”. This is where the expression stain repellent has its origin. There are also treatments that will facilitate the cleaning of laundry. This makes the fiber materials more easily can release dirt. Treatment is done with substances that make the fiber surfaces hydrophilic and easier to wet (soil loosening). Examples of such substances are carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid or ethoxylates.
===Environmental Facts - treatment for appearance and feel===