Flame Resistant Cotton Fabric Containing Casein and Inorganic Materials Using an Environmentally-Friendly Microwave Assisted Technique

Abstract

New methods for formulating flame retardant cotton fabrics have been achieved by applying a microwave-assisted technique with low amounts of solvent. Trials using cotton fabrics treated with casein from bovine milk and eco-friendly inorganic materials, urea and diammonium phosphate, were completed successfully. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), 45 ° angle (clothing textiles test), and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests were carried out for the treated cotton fabrics. When the treated fabrics were tested using the 45 ° angle flame, the ignited fabrics self-extinguished and left behind a streak of char. Treated higher add-on fabrics were neither consumed by flame, nor produced glowing embers upon self-extinguishing. All untreated cotton fabrics showed limiting oxygen index (LOI) values of about 18 % oxygen in nitrogen. For formulations with casein, urea and diammonium phosphate, LOI values of treated fabrics were 32.0–44.0 % oxygen in nitrogen when add-on values for the formulation were 9.71–23.5 wt%. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to characterize the chemical structure on the treated fabrics, as well as, the surface morphology of char areas of treated and untreated fabrics.