Fabrication of High Nano-ZnO Doped with Boric Acid Assembled on Cotton Fabric with Flame Retardant Properties

Abstract

In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the flame retardancy of cotton fabrics coated with a high nano-ZnO content. Via a simply method in situ, a novel ZnO/cotton composite can be fabricated with a high proportion of nano-ZnO assembled on cotton fabric, where the finished cotton fabric has a certain property of flame retardancy. Discussed herein is the effect of the processed liquid concentration, ammonia-smoking time, and curing temperature on fabric properties such as flame retardancy and hand feeling. Performed were also tests of doping boric acid using the vertical burning method. The finished cotton fabrics were analysed using X-Ray Diffrcation (XRD) and a field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM), which indicated that between the fibres, and inside the lumen and mesopores of the cotton fibres are assembled with nano-ZnO. The results show that the nano-ZnO content on cotton fabrics can reach up to 15.63 wt%, with the finished cotton fabric having excellent flame retardancy, despite the long after-glow time; however, doping with 0.8 wt% boric acid on the cotton fabric can markedly reduce this. Therefore, a high amount of nano-ZnO doped with boric acid assembled on cotton fabric has great potential in the future.