Flame Retardancy Of Cotton Fabrics Research Articles

An amino trimethylene phosphonic acid‐based chelated boric acid complex that works as a synergistic flame retardant for enhancing the flame retardancy of cotton fabrics

AbstractThe chelating ligands of boric acid and amino trimethyl phosphonate prepared a novel flame retardant (BAP) for the cotton fabric. A stable chemical and coordination bond was formed on the surface of the cotton fibers by a simple three‐curing finishing process to make the fabric exhibits excellent durable flame retardancy. Cotton fabrics' tensile strength and whiteness got substantially retained after BAP treatment. 90 g/L BAP‐treated samples (3 curing times, 50 laundry cycles) showed good flame retardancy and durability, holding the largest limit oxygen index, 29.7%, and the shortest damage length, 61 mm. A condensed phase and gas phase synergistic flame retardant mechanism was concluded by thermogravimetric, cone calorimeter tests, and thermogravimetric infrared analysis.

High-Efficient Flame-Retardant Finishing of Cotton Fabrics Based on Phytic Acid.

In this study, an efficient phosphorus-containing flame retardant, PAPBTCA, was synthesized from phytic acid, pentaerythritol, and 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid, and its structure was characterized. PAPBTCA was finished on cotton fabrics by the pad-dry-curing process, and the flame retardancy, flame-retardant durability, and wrinkle resistance of the obtained flame-retardant fabrics were investigated. It should be noted that the heat release rate value of the flame-retardant cotton fabrics treated with 200 g/L PAPBTCA decreased by 90% and its excellent flame retardancy was maintained after 5 washing cycles. Meanwhile, the wrinkle resistance of flame-retardant cotton fabrics has been significantly improved. In addition, compared with the control, the breaking force loss of PAPBTCA-200 in the warp and weft directions was 24% and 21%, respectively. This study provides a new way to utilize natural phosphorus-based flame retardants to establish multifunctional finishing for cotton fabrics.

Efficient, durable, and breathable flame retardant cotton fabric via a feasible surface finishing

Flame retardant cotton fabric has attracted extensive attention and research with the increase of public safe awareness. However, it still remained a great challenge to balance the performances of high flame retardancy, durability, mechanical strength, as well as formaldehyde-free, comfort, green and feasible process. Herein, efficient, durable and breathable flame retardant cotton fabrics were fabricated through a one-pot approach based on a synergetic system combining phytic acid (PA) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The modified cotton fabrics displayed high-efficiency fire resistance, self-extinguishing and excellent washing resistance due to the formation of surface hybrid network architectures from multiple covalent bonds (SiOC, CN, POC) and electrostatic assembly. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) could retain at 27.1% after 50 laundering cycles (LCs). Moreover, the peak of heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSP) declined by 85.89%, 52.72% and 47.22% compared with neat fabric, indicating boosted flame retardance and excellent smoke suppression ability. In addition, the proposed surface finishing process substantially retained the mechanical properties and moisture permeability, providing a simpleand feasible approach for high-efficiency, durable and breathable flame retardant cotton fabric.

Facile Preparation of Superhydrophobic and Flame-Retardant Cotton Fabrics

The cotton textiles with superhydrophobic and flame-retardant properties used in this study were manufactured by combining nano APP@SiO2 with silicone oil. To generate nano APP@SiO2 particles, the APP is coated with nano SiO2. The nano APP@SiO2 improves the flame retardancy of cotton textiles while altering the surface roughness of cotton fabrics, making them superhydrophobic after being treated with silicone oil. Cotton fabrics’ surface topography, chemical components, crystalline structure, thermal stability, flame-retardant, and superhydrophobic properties were investigated. The modified cotton fabric demonstrated not only exceptional superhydrophobicity with a WCA of 151.28°, but also good flame-retardant property. This multifunctional cotton fabric offers a wide range of commercial applications.

Multifunctional MXene-coated cotton fabric with enhanced thermopower for smart fire protection

Titanium carbide (MXene) nanosheet is one of the most promising early fire-warning materials but limited by its relatively low thermopower. Doping modification is an effective method to improve its thermoelectric efficiency. Herein, a novel enhanced thermopower flame-retardant cotton fabric ([email protected]) was fabricated by dip-coating of MXene, tannic acid (TA), and calcium chloride (CaCl2) via layer-by-layer assembly. It was found that [email protected] exhibited high thermopower. When the temperature difference was 120 °C, its maximum thermoelectric voltage was as high as 3.72 mV, and the Seebeck coefficient was more than 39.4 μV/K, which was about 900% higher than those of MXene/[email protected] [email protected] displayed accurate temperature response and sensitive fire-warning performance. When being burned, it quickly triggered the fire-warning system within 3 s. More importantly, [email protected] exhibited outstanding flame retardancy. Its limiting oxygen index (LOI) was as high as 35.3%, and its structure remained stable when exposed to the flame for 60 s. Furthermore, due to the high conductivity of MXene and CaCl2, [email protected] showed good piezoresistive sensing capability. Our work provides new insights for the preparation of multifunctional and smart fire protection cotton fabrics.

Development and demonstration of highly potent flame-retardant cotton fabric

We have demonstrated that the flame retardant (FR) efficiency of cotton fabric was increased with the stoichiometric ratio of phosphorous functionality.

Reactive P/S/N-containing synergistic flame retardant towards eco-friendly durable flame-retardant cotton fabric: Flame-retardant property, durability and mechanism

Developing eco-friendly durable flame-retardant cotton fabric not only expands its application area, but also caters to the healthy and environmentally friendly concept of consumers. Herein, a reactive P/S/N-containing synergistic flame retardant (PSN) was synthesized to prepare eco-friendly durable flame-retardant cotton fabric through chemical modifying method. Flame-retardant finishing deteriorated the softness, whiteness, tensile strength and air permeability of cotton fabric. PSN conferred outstanding flame retardancy, fire safety and durability to cotton fabric. For treated fabric with the add-on of 14.2%, it achieved an LOI value of 36.5% and extinguished spontaneously even after 50 laundering cycles. Its peak heat release rate, total heat release and fire growth rate index values decreased sharply than those of the control fabric. PSN exhibited high-efficiency flame-retardant behavior, and the synergy between P, S and N elements facilitated the formation of intumescent barrier on the fiber surface during combustion. The hydrolysis of covalent bond and formation of phosphate/sulphonate during laundering both accounted for the decrease in flame retardancy of treated fabric.

Environmentally benign flame-retardant cotton fabric with superior anti-wrinkle performance and restorable flame retardancy

Flammability and wrinkling are major defects that enormously restrict its application of cotton fabric in daily life. Herein, a N-heterocyclic compound with ammonium phosphate ester groups (PNH) was synthesized and served as a cross-linking agent to simultaneously enhance the flame-retardant and anti-wrinkle properties of cotton fabric. Fabric treated by 20 wt% PNH solution (CT/PNH20) possessed a wrinkle recovery angle of 234.8° and an LOI value of 42.7 %. It still self-extinguished during combustion even after 50 washing times, and the deterioration in flame retardancy mainly resulted from the formation of sodium phosphates during washing. Its LOI value after 50 washing times restored to 37.8 % from 27.5 % by a facile ion exchange strategy, revealing remarkable flame-retardant restorability. This work provides new insights into simultaneously enhancing the flame-retardant, anti-wrinkle performances of cotton fabric and restoring the flame retardancy of treated fabric after washing via facile and eco-friendly approaches. • A N-heterocyclic compound with multiple reactive groups (PNH) was synthesized. • PNH conferred superior flame-retardant and anti-wrinkle properties to cotton fabric. • Treated cotton fabric showed remarkable flame-retardant durability and restorability.

Fabrication of an Eco-Friendly Clay-Based Coating for Enhancing Flame Retardant and Mechanical Properties of Cotton Fabrics via LbL Assembly.

An eco-friendly clay-based synergistic flame-retardant coating was established on cotton fabrics via facile layer-by-layer assembly derived from polyethyleneimine (PEI), attapulgite clay (ATP), and phytic acid (PA). The fabricated flame-retardant (FR) cotton fabrics demonstrated improved thermal stability. Compared to untreated cotton fabrics, the limiting oxygen index of Cotton-8TL was improved to 27.0%. The peak heat release rates of the prepared FR cotton fabrics were lower than that of the pristine cotton fabrics, showing a maximum reduction of 41%. The deposition coating system improved the amount of char residue effectively. The intumescent flame-retardant mechanism was proposed through the analysis of char residue and the suppression properties of volatile gases. Furthermore, compared with those of the untreated cotton fabrics, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the FR cotton fabrics in the warp direction were improved by 20% and 47% remarkably, respectively. A feasible surface modification strategy was provided for the flame-retardant treatment of cotton fabrics with the improvement of mechanical properties.

Bio-inspired and facile fabrication strategy of bio-based, halogen-free and superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with multi-functionality and durability

To satisfy the needs of cotton fabrics in the aspect of multi-functionality and durability, a layer-by-layer (LBL) decomposition technique was exploited, inspired by natural superhydrophobicity. Significantly, an intumescent flame retardant system consisting of bio-based phytic acid (PA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used to improve the flame retardancy of cotton fabrics. Then, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was deposited to reduce the surface energy of cotton fabrics, which endows the superhydrophobic properties of cotton fabrics with low adhesion. The results have shown that the water contact angle and sliding angle of as-prepared cotton fabrics reach 154° and 8°, respectively. Most of all, the multifunctional cotton fabrics have also achieved excellent self-cleaning and oil-water separation function with excellent durability and stability, which can maintain the superhydrophobicity after 24 h strong acid and alkali corrosion tests, 360 cm abrasion distance, 5 times oxygen plasma etching-restoration cycles, 5 times laundry tests, 22 times tape adhesive-peel tests and knife cutting tests. Moreover, superhydrophobic cotton fabrics exhibited good flame retardancy with self-extinguishing ability. Therefore, the superhydrophobic cotton fabrics have exhibited the characteristics of robust, environmental protection, environmental friendliness, low cost and easy preparation, which provided a feasible strategy for all-weather superhydrophobic needs in extreme environments, especially in firefighting uniforms and scenarios with high fire safety requirements.

Reactive Flame-Retardant Cotton Fabric Coating: Combustion Behavior, Durability, and Enhanced Retardant Mechanism with Ion Transfer.

In recent years, we have witnessed numerous indoor fires caused by the flammable properties of cotton. Flame-retardant cotton deserves our attention. A novel boric acid and diethylenetriaminepenta (methylene-phosphonic acid) (DTPMPA) ammonium salt-based chelating coordination flame retardant (BDA) was successfully prepared for cotton fabrics, and a related retardant mechanism with ion transfer was investigated. BDA can form a stable chemical and coordination bond on the surface of cotton fibers by a simple three-curing finishing process. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of BDA-90 increased to 36.1%, and the LOI value of cotton fabric became 30.3% after 50 laundering cycles (LCs) and exhibited excellent durable flame retardancy. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods were used to observe the bonding mode and morphology of BDA on cotton fibers. A synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of condensed and gas phases was concluded from thermogravimetry (TG), cone calorimeter tests, and TG-FTIR. The test results of whiteness and tensile strength showed that the physical properties of BDA-treated cotton fabric were well maintained.

A novel polymer reactive flame retardant for the preparation of highly durable cotton fabrics

A novel polymer ammonium salt of polyethyleneimine phosphate phosphonic acid (APEMPPA) flame retardant for cotton fabrics was synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), in which some ammonium phosphoric acid groups were replaced by phosphate ester groups to decrease the phenomena that the ammonium ions in flame retardant would exchange with metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ in washing water to keep flame retardance well after washing. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results, and durability of treated cotton fabrics suggested that APEMPPA was grafted onto the cellulose. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 40 wt% APEMPPA-treated cotton fabric was 44.5 %, which was still 34.7 % after 50 LCs according to AATCC 61-2013 3A standard. Cone calorimetric and thermogravimetric (TG) results showed the treated cotton fabrics had excellent flame retardancy. TG-FTIR and Raman test results proposed that APEMPPA mainly played a condensed phase flame retardant. EDX results indicated that replacing some ammonium phosphate groups with phosphate ester groups was effective in maintaining flame retardancy during washing. All results showed that increasing the molecular weight and introducing phosphonate group in ammonium phosphorus acid flame retardant can effectively improve flame retardancy and durability. APEMPPA-treated cotton fabrics maintained good tensile strength.

Ultra washing durable flame retardant coating for cotton fabric by the covalent bonding and interface polymerization

Due to fire hazards and environmental concerns, considerable attention has been paid to the design of durable flame retardant fabrics. In this work, a formaldehyde-free flame retardant cotton fabric (Cotton-PEI/APP-TMC) with ultra washing durability was prepared via covalent bonding of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) followed by the interface polymerization between PEI and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The prepared fabric exhibited excellent flame retardancy with a limiting oxygen index value (LOI) of 42.0 % and a damaged length of less than 40 mm in the vertical flammability test (VFT). Besides, the cotton-PEI/APP-TMC sample was not ignited in the 50 kW/m2 cone calorimeter test with a dramatic decrease in both the peak heat release rate and total heat release. Even after 300 washing cycles, the cotton-PEI/APP-TMC sample had an LOI value of 35.3 % and was still self-extinguishing in VFT. It was demonstrated that the interface polymerization between PEI and TMC stabilized the flame retardant coating and shielded the Na+ during washing cycles, which endowed the fabric with durable flame retardancy. It is expected this work paves a promising application prospect for the fabrication of bio-safe durable flame retardant cotton fabrics.

Construction of a P–N–Si flame retardant coating on the cotton fabric with the integration of biomass carbon dots and ammonium polyphosphate

In order to improve the flame retardancy of cotton fabric, a kind of biomass carbon dots (CDs) particles were interspersed in the ammonium polyphosphate (APP) layer to achieve a new efficient CDs-based APP (CDs-APP) composite flame retardant by the integration technology. Then the CDs-APP layer was coated on the surface of cotton fabric. The microstructure and thermal stability of CDs-APP particle were characterized by the Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mass ratio of CDs to APP was 15.52%, which contains the C, O, N, Si and P elements, accounting for the 28.86%, 42.29%, 19.01%, 2.58% and 6.26%, respectively. The flame-retardant mechanism of CDs-APP was investigated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical combustion, cone calorimeter, thermogravimetric and thermogravimetric-infrared analysis. The results showed that, when the content of CDs-APP was about 10%, the LOI value of cotton fabric rose to 36.1%. The burning time and damage length have reduced to 4.5 s, 5.6 cm, respectively. And the fabric achieved B1 level. The addition of CDs-APP decreased the total heat release, heat release rate, total smoke emission and smoke emission rate of cotton fabric, among the peak-heat release rate has decreased by 55.78%. By quantifying the flame-retardant modes of CDs-APP, it displayed the superposition of physical barrier effect, flame inhibition effect and catalytic charring effect, accounting for 45.96%, 8.62% and 47.85%, respectively.Graphical abstract

Flame retardant cotton fabrics with anti-UV properties based on tea polyphenol-melamine-phenylphosphonic acid

A novel, high-efficiency, phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant based on tea polyphenol-melamine-phenylphosphonic acid (named TP-MA-PPOA) for cotton fabrics was prepared successfully. TP-MA-PPOA coating gives the cotton fabrics flame retardancy and anti-UV properties. The results reveal that the TP-MA-PPOA coating enables cotton fabrics to self-extinguish, the damage length is only 7.4 cm in vertical flame test, and the limiting oxygen index increases to 28.7%. Meanwhile, Cotton/TP-MA-PPOA also performs well in cone calorimetry test, as evidenced by 88.5% reduction of peak heat release rate, and 92.9% decrease of the fire growth rate compared with that of cotton fabrics. And the risk of fire is sharply reduced. In addition, the ultraviolet protection factor value of Cotton/TP-MA-PPOA is 35.2. Encouragingly, the TP-MA-PPOA coating shows little deterioration in the handle of the cotton fabrics.

Bio-waste derived, phosphorus decorated composite for highly efficient flame retardant for cotton fabric

Bio-waste derived, phosphorus decorated composite for highly efficient flame retardant for cotton fabric

Synergistic flame retardant effect of carbon nanohorns and ammonium polyphosphate as a novel flame retardant system for cotton fabrics

The development of environmentally friendly flame retardants that can achieve high efficiency for textiles at low addition levels is of great significance to human life and environmental protection. Halogen flame retardants have long dominated in flame retardant applications. However, there are increasing calls to ban its use because of the threat they pose to human health and the environment. Herein, this work investigated the potential of a novel carbonaceous nanomaterials-single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) coating material for flame retardancy of cotton fabrics. The unique combination of SWCNHs and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) in a single halogen-free nanocoating has a synergistic effect, which endows cotton fabric with prominent fire resistance. When the addition amount of SWCNHs was 0.15 %, the limit oxygen index (LOI) could reach 27.5 ± 0.83 %, and the damage length decreased from 30 ± 0.01 % cm to 6.5 ± 0.06 % cm. SEM results showed that Cotton-APP/SWCNHs (0.15) still displayed well-preserved woven structure after the vertical flammability test. Additionally, the pHRR and THR of Cotton-APP/SWCNHs (0.15) were markedly decreased by 92.22 % and 58.44 %, respectively in the cone calorimeter test. Meanwhile, the flame retardant mechanism analysis confirmed that the incorporation of SWCNHs into the APP coatings promoted the formation of dense and stable graphitized carbon layer on the surface of the cotton fabric, and effectively prevented the generation of combustible volatiles, thus enhancing the flame retardant performance of cotton fabrics. This work provides a new insight into developing carbon nanomaterials for flame retardant polymeric materials and extending the application of SWCNHs.

Permanent P/N-rich polymeric coating capable of extinguishing flame on cotton fabrics

Although polyphosphazenes having attracted attention for use as flame-retardant coatings for textiles, nonetheless their add-on level is still far from ideal with regard to high-efficiency flame-retardant properties, wearing comfort and durability. Herein, for the first time, a cross-linkable phosphorus and nitrogen-rich polyphosphazene, poly(methoxy/allylphenoxy)phosphazene (PMAP), with mainly methoxy groups and an appropriate amount of unsaturated chemical bonds containing allylphenoxy side groups (ca. 8 %) was synthesized. Subsequently, the noncombustible, transparent, elastic crosslinked PMAP coating was coated on cotton fabrics through dipping and photoinduced cross-linking processes. The PMAP-coated cotton showed high-efficiency flame-retardant properties along with remarkably high durability. The intrinsic properties of cotton fabric, such as whiteness, gas permeability and bending rigidity, were highly reserved after being coated with PMAP. Interestingly, the flame-retardant properties of the 4.9 wt%-coated cotton increased, and the coated cotton obtained a self-extinguishing property and maintained >95 % of its initial mass after 60 rigorous laundry cycles. Moreover, the PMAP-coated cotton exhibited enhanced carbonization ability at lower temperatures, which was the key to the flame-retardant properties of cotton fabric. The PMAP-coated cotton also showed a lower peak heat release rate and total heat release values than the control cotton during combustion. Therefore, the comprehensive highly favorable properties of the PMAP coating make it a cutting-edge material for flame-retardant cotton fabrics and greatly expand its potential in practical applications.

Biobased coating derived from fish scale protein and phytic acid for flame-retardant cotton fabrics

The nitrogen-phosphorus flame-retardant coating was formed on the surface of cotton fabrics via strong electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonds with layer-by-layer coating of protein extracted from fishery waste fish scales and phytic acid (PA) derived from plant seeds. The flame retardant property of the coated cotton fabrics demonstrated a significant improvement with a limiting oxygen index of 31.1%, meeting the flame retardant requirements of commercial fire-protection suit. Especially, noteworthy, due to the synergistic smoke suppression effect of fish scale protein and phytic acid, the total smoke emission was greatly reduced by 139%. Meanwhile, the charring of the cotton fabrics treated with FSP and PA was significantly enhanced. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman results of the residual char further reveal that the treatment of the combined coating facilitates the formation of dense and regular graphitized char residue during combustion or under high temperature. This waste-sourced, biomass-derived coating paves a new way towards sustainable flame-retardant fabrics and has great significance in civil, military, and industrial fields.

Preparations, characterizations, thermal and flame retardant properties of cotton fabrics finished by boron-silica sol-gel coatings

This work aims to improve the thermal stability and flame retardancy of cotton fabrics by using sol-gel processes. A hybrid sol was prepared by using silica sol, coupling agent of γ-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570) and flame retardant of sodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) and then finished on the surface of cotton fabric. Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) and vertical burning test (VBT) were used to characterize the functional groups, surface element compositions, microscopic morphologies, thermal stability and flame retardancy of cotton fabrics, respectively. The results show that sols are successfully converted into gel coatings onto cotton fabrics. SiO2-KH570-DOT@Cotton shows the highest char residue rate (41.7%) and ΔLOI/Δm (6.0%/g) values. SiO2, KH570 and DOT coatings have shown some competitive but more synergistic effects in flame retardancy. The three-dimensional structure of SiO2 gel can provide structural support, effectively block heat transfer and transports of oxygen. KH570 has a significant coupling effect of increasing interfacial compatibility between sols and cotton fabrics. DOT is thermally decomposed to generate boric acid to accelerate the carbonization degrees of cotton fibers and thus improve the thermal stabilities of char layers.