Fire-Fighting Fabric7 ]3 N$ L) w4 b+ n6 `9 d! G$ C
Each year thousands of people worldwide are killed or seriously injured by fires started in mattresses. 46 . To help prevent fires in crowded public spaces, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. recently invented a fireresistant fabric(防火织物). The company claims that this fabric significantly reduces the combustibility(易燃性) of mattresses and upholstered(装有套子或垫子的)furniture. In tests conducted by a Boston-based hotel chain, the material has proved very efficient in preventing or delaying the combustion of mattresses and furniture after fires have been started. 47 . California and several other states are considering new regulations that would require the use of fire-resistant furniture in public places (defined as area where 10 or more people gather). 48 . American laws require hotels to buy fire-resistant mattress covers, though covers made of fiber glass(纤维玻璃) and cotton do exist and are used by some companies. 49 .
* B, b$ ?( W" y B The Du Pont fabric will sell for less than $5 a yard and it is believed that the market will develop over the next two years. 50 .3 t7 Y) e, l! x/ [2 N- x2 M' r
A The development of the material is timely' k( q& t: \3 Y0 r9 T6 n
B And last year, England passed a law requiring that all furniture contain fineresistant material7 _4 h" F4 d }& I' k5 S5 M
C The company expects that the competition will be very strong in the market because right now, its product is just one option
) W3 `' R- P* _7 V' |9 y, d D And there are some expects
+ f* f9 N: C, z E Often the fires occur in hotels, and are caused by people smoking in bed
& @ e( K! I. } F However, the cotton covers wash out over time and the fiber glass is not very comfortable |
发表于 2012-8-16 00:07:50
