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It is well described in the literature that whey proteins are able to form coatings, which exhibit high mechanical and oxygen barrier properties, notwithstanding a great water vapour adsorption. These peculiarities have been exploited for applying a novel protein-based finishing treatment to cotton and for assessing the protein effect on the thermal and thermo-oxidative stability and on the flame retardant properties of the cellulosic fabric. Indeed, the deposited whey protein coatings have turned out to significantly affect the thermal degradation of cotton in inert and oxidative atmosphere, and to somehow modify its combustion when a flame has been applied. Furthermore, the influence of the secondary and tertiary structure of these proteins on the morphology of the deposited coating, and thus on the thermal and flame retardant properties of the treated fabrics, has been evaluated by performing a denaturation thermal treatment before the protein application.

Silica-based assemblies have been deposited on cotton fibres through Layer by Layer technique in order to enhance their flame retardant properties. To this aim, three different deposition procedures (namely, dipping, vertical and horizontal sprays) have been considered and compared. The resulting morphologies of the deposited assemblies have been thoroughly investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis. SEM observations have demonstrated that only the horizontal spray allows obtaining the deposition of a very homogeneous silica coating when compared to vertical spray or dipping. As a consequence, horizontal spray has proved to ensure the best flame resistance, promoting a substantial increase of the total burning time and final residue, as assessed by flammability tests. Furthermore, cone calorimetry measurements have shown a remarkable increase of the time to ignition, and a significant decrease of heat release rate and total heat release for the fabrics treated by horizontal spray.

Sol–gel treatments have been performed on cotton fabrics in order to promote the formation of a surface silica insulating barrier, able to enhance their thermo-oxidative stability and flame retardancy. In particular, the role of several silica precursors, which differ as far as their structure (number and type of hydrolysable groups, presence of aromatic rings) is concerned, has been thoroughly investigated. The level of silica distribution and dispersion on and within the fabrics was found to depend on the type of precursor employed, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis. All the precursors were able to favour the char formation in air below 360 °C, as stated by thermogravimetric analysis: in particular, the highest thermal stability was achieved in the presence of precursors bearing aromatic rings. Indeed, both flammability resistance and combustion behaviour of the treated fabrics were remarkably enhanced.