engleski

The Improvement of Cotton Flame Retardancy with Aluminosilicate Application by Synergism

The cellulosic textiles, as the most commonly used textile materials, have to be treated with those flame retardants (FR) that increase char or non-combustible products, usually organic phosphorous-based FR. Recently, the application of silicone based compounds has been investigated in order to lower/eliminate the use of toxic FR. Silicone-based compounds have an excellent thermal stability and high heat resistance with very limited release of toxic gases during the thermal decomposition. For this purpose, dyed cotton fabric has been treated with natural zeolite added to the bath with conventional FR. Natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) was applied in three different concentrations, whilst the conventional FR based on organophosphonate, and crosslinking agent based on melamine resin were applied in full and a half concentration. Such finished cotton fabrics were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared - Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy ; thermal properties were determined by using Micro Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) ; and burning behaviour vertically oriented specimens was determined by the bottom edge ignition according ASTM D6413-13, and the candle-like ignition according to ISO 4589:1996 in Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) Chamber (Dynisco). Additionally, the fabric hand (subjective and objective evaluated), strength (breaking load, elongation), and aesthetic (colour difference) appearance were investigated. The aluminosilicates added to the bath contributed to flame retardancy of fabrics. Furthermore, treated cotton fabrics show high protective properties after 3 washing cycles. However, the high concentrations of activated zeolite affected other fabric properties.

Cotton; flame retardancy; organophosphate; zeolite; LOI; TGA; MCC

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