Search

It is highly desirable to construct a sustainable hybrid silica coating to enhance the flame-retardant (FR) properties of polyester/cotton (T/C) blend fabrics. In this study, a novel urea phytate salt was synthesized and used to prepare a phosphorus/nitrogen-doped hybrid silica sol system. The hybrid silica coating was then applied to a T/C fabric to develop a highly efficient FR-coated T/C fabric with improved washing durability. The surface morphology, size distribution and condensation degree of the hybrid silica sol particles were characterized. The thermal stability, heat release, flame retardancy and mode of action of the coated T/C fabrics were also investigated. The coated T/C fabrics exhibited self-extinguishing performance, with the damaged length decreasing from 30 to 8.5 cm and the limiting oxygen index increasing from 17.1 to 30%. The desirable flame retardancy of the coated T/C fabric was well maintained even after ten washing cycles. The remarkably inhibited heat release ability suggested a decreased fire hazard. A potential condensed-phase flame retardancy mechanism was proposed based on thermogravimetric and char residue analyses. This study presents an eco-friendly and efficient hybrid silica coating that effectively reduces the fire hazard of T/C fabrics.

In the present study, phytic acid was used as an environmentally sustainable phosphorus-containing flame retardant (FR) to improve the flammability of cotton fabric. The facilely prepared approach is adequate to offer an intumescent FR system for cotton as phytic acid and triethanolamine could serve as the acid source and blowing agent and cellulose substrate may functional as a carbon source. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, heat and smoke generation and mechanical performance of cotton fabrics were evaluated. The cotton fabrics coated with phytic acid with 70 g/L at pH 5 had a weight gain of 15.1%, and self-extinguished via an intumescent charring mechanism in vertical burning test, and the textile structures of burned portion were well preserved. The intumescent FR coating also greatly reduced the heat and smoke generation ability of cotton, and enhanced its thermal stability at high temperature, but suffered from poor washing resistance. The present intumescent FR system based on phytic acid is an eco-friendly and sustainable production approach compared to the synthetically engineered chemicals.

ABSTRACTThe present study facilely prepared the hydrophobic and flame-retardant (FR) multifunctional coating on silk textile through ferric ion chelation route, and focused on multifunctional abilities and mechanisms of ferric salt on silk. Morphology and structure properties of the modified silk were characterised by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. The functional abilities, mechanisms and durability were also studied. The multifunctional silk with self-extinguishing ability (char length: 10.1 cm) and hydrophobic effect (water contact angle (WCA): 126.1°) could be obtained using only 0.25 g L−1ferric salt. The modified silk still had desirable functionalities after five robust launderings. The hydrophobic ability is mainly dependent on the increased surface roughness. Thermal stability and char residue analyses indicated the condensed phase FR mechanism of functional silk. The present study provides a cleaner and cost-effective process to develop hydrophobic and FR multifunctional coating on silk surface by ferric metal salt modification.

The present study facilely prepared the hydrophobic and flame-retardant (FR) multifunctional coating on silk textile through ferric ion chelation route, and focused on multifunctional abilities and mechanisms of ferric salt on silk. Morphology and structure properties of the modified silk were characterised by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. The functional abilities, mechanisms and durability were also studied. The multifunctional silk with self-extinguishing ability (char length: 10.1 cm) and hydrophobic effect (water contact angle (WCA): 126.1°) could be obtained using only 0.25 g L-1ferric salt. The modified silk still had desirable functionalities after five robust launderings. The hydrophobic ability is mainly dependent on the increased surface roughness. Thermal stability and char residue analyses indicated the condensed phase FR mechanism of functional silk. The present study provides a cleaner and cost-effective process to develop hydrophobic and FR multifunctional coating on silk surface by ferric metal salt modification.

The fabrication of long-lasting flame retardant wool textiles through an eco-friendly scheme is still an urgent task. In the present study, an eco-friendly and innovative hybrid silica sol with core-shell structure was prepared by using phytic acid (PA) as catalyst and dopant for tetraethoxysilane. PA/silica organic-inorganic hybrid sol (PA/silica sol) was then employed to produce durable flame retardant wool fabric using a combined nanoparticle adsorption and pad-dry-cure procedure. The treated wool had enhanced thermal stability and greatly suppressed smoke production capacity. It could still be self-extinguishing after 30 washing cycles. The present approach brought no great negative influence on the handle and mechanical performance of wool fabric. The PA/silica sol network was found to participate in the degradation of the treated wool in the solid phase. The formation of highly inflated char during burning also revealed the flame retarding activity of the PA/silica sol on wool by a condensed charring action.