Optimizing content of Pyrovatex CP New and Knittex FFRC in flameretardant treatment for cotton fabric

Abstract

In this study, the flame-retardant treatment for cotton fabric has been done by using the commercial organophosphoruscompounds labelled Pyrovatex CP New (PR). Knittex FFRC (K), a formaldehyde-free crosslinking agent, has been usedto enhance the link between Pyrovatex CP New and Cellulose molecules. The flame-retardant treatment process forcotton fabric has been done by the pad-dry-cure technique. The purpose of the study is to predict the optimal PyrovatexCP New and Knittex FFRC concentrations with the highest fire resistance efficiency, minimum loss for mechanicalproperties and minimum formaldehyde release for the treated fabric. To achieve this goal, the response surfacemethodology (RSM) was used to find the relationship between the controlled experimental factors and the observedresults. The central composite design type face centred (CCF) was applied as experimental design. According to thisexperimental design, 10 experiments were carried out. The chemical uptake rate, vertical flammability characteristics,LOI value, tensile strength and formaldehyde-free content of the untreated and treated samples were determined. Fourresponse models between the reagent concentrations and the add-on amount, LOI value, warp and weft tensile strengthof the treated fabric were obtained by the assistance of software Design-Expert V 10.0.8. The R-squared values of thesemodels were above 80% confirming their significances. The optimal conditions when combining three parameters (LOI,warp tensile strength and weft tensile strength) were selected as 450 g/l Pyrovatex CP New and 107,575 g/l KnittexFFRC with the assistance of Design-Expert software