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Alexium’s burning desire to douse fires

The growing disquiet over the use of highly flammable cladding in building exteriors is of intense interest to the Perth-based Alexium International, which is vying for lucrative contracts to supply flame-resistant uniforms to the US military machine.
Alexium executive chairman Gavin Rezos said the furore surrounding the cause of last November’s fire at a high-rise Melbourne apartment block highlighted the global problem of fire-resistant glass fibres being replaced by cheaper material as the core of aluminium cladding.
Sub-standard imported Chinese cladding was blamed for the fire at the Lacrosse tower in Melbourne’s Docklands, which spread to nine floors in less than six minutes. Similar cladding is the suspected cause in seven other high-rise conflagrations, including a French blaze that killed 18 people.
Mr Rezos said a portion of Alexium’s recent $8.5 million capital raising would be used to further the use of its patented coating technology in building materials, including cladding.
“We are doing work to put other textiles in there which costs five times less than glass fibres but are just as effective.’’
The dodgy cladding highlights a broader problem of the use of bromines, a halogen, as a universal fire retardant.
The pungent reddish-brown liquid is the suspected cause of a range of health problems, including thyroid cancer, memory loss and impaired motor skills in children.
“I’m not sure if the cladding had a bromine in there but if it did it might not have been very effective,’’ Mr Rezos said.
Bromines have already been outlawed in Europe. And following an Erin Brokovich-style campaign against what has been dubbed the “new asbestos”, the US Congress will soon debate a bill that would ban the use of bromines, as well as other hazardous substances.
Mr Rezos said even the powerful National Bromine Association accepts the “writing is on the wall’’ for bromine usage.
The likely bromine ban has been a focal point for the Pentagon’s procurement heavies, who spend $US240m a year on uniforms for combat personnel.
Alexium is in the final stages of demonstrating how a cheaper uniform with a 50-50 cotton-nylon mix would be more durable and more fire retardant than the current standard issue.
Initially developed as a protection against chemical and biological warfare agents, Alexium’s reactive surface treatment technology is based on changing the surface properties of materials.
“Our key attribute is making nylon fire retardant, in a non-leaching durable solution.
“Our environmentally friendly products are independently certified, are bromine, chlorine and halogen free, with no heavy metals or antimony.’’
Mr Rezos said 20 other countries were eyeing 50/50 blend uniforms for their armies.
Under US regulations, local suppliers are preferred over foreigners, which puts Alexium at a disadvantage. But the company has draped itself in the red, white and blue by channelling its research activities through an entity based in South Carolina.
Alexium also accrued an impressive arsenal of military firepower around its boardroom.
Stephen Cheney, deputy executive secretary to former defence secretary Dick Cheney (no relation), recently became a director. The board also includes Craig Smith-Gander, a former Australian Army colonel.
“I’m the only one around the table without a military rank,’’ Mr Rezos said. “People who sit on armed services committees are familiar with the company.’’
While a military deal would validate its technology, Alexium sees the greater prize as contracts for industrial applications.
On Friday, Alexium announced a deal with an unnamed customer in the home furnishing market that is expected to generate revenue of up to $10m a year.
Alexium shares closed 1.5c lower at 65c, valuing the company at $160m.
The author participated in a sponsored visit to WA-based technology companies, including Alexium.