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Byline: Xialing Wu (Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA); Charles Q. Yang (Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors The University of Georgia, [...]

Multifunctional carboxylic acids, such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), have been used as durable press finishing agents to produce wrinkle-resistant cotton. In our previous research, we used BTCA as a nonformaldehyde bonding agent in the flame retardant finishing system based on a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer (HFPO) for cotton. In this research, we investigate the application of HFPO to the 65%/35% Nomex/cotton blend fabric using BTCA as a bonding agent and triethanolamine (TEA) as a co-reactant. We found that the addition of TEA in the flame retardant finishing system improves the hydrolysis resistance of the HFPO bound to the Nomex/ cotton blend and enhances the flame retardant performance of HFPO by means of phosphorus-nitrogen synergism. Moreover, TEA reduces the deposit of calcium salt on the treated fabric during laundering by esterifying the free carboxylic acid groups on cotton. The Nomex/cotton blend fabric treated with the HFPO/BTCA/TEA system shows high flame retardant performance at relatively low add-on levels. It is a completely nonformaldehyde flame retardant finishing system. KEY WORDS: BTCA, cotton, flame retardants, multifunctional carboxylic acid, Nomex, organophosphorus chemicals, triethanolamine., INTRODUCTION NOMEX, A REGISTERED trademark of Dupont for poly(m-phenylene isophthamide) fiber, has been commonly used to make fire-resistant protective clothing [1]. The high cost of Nomex, however, limits its wider [...]

Blending Nomex® with cotton improves its affordability and serviceability. Because cotton is a highly flammable fiber, Nomex®/cotton blend fabrics containing more than 20% cotton require flame-retardant treatment. In this research, combination of a hydroxyl functional organophosphorus oligmer (HFPO) and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) was used for flame retardant finishing of the 65/35 Nomex®/cotton blend woven fabric. The system contains HFPO as a flame retardant, BTCA as a bonding agent, and triethenolamine (TEA) as a reactive additive used to enhance the performance of HFPO/BTCA. Addition of TEA improves the hydrolysis resistance of the HFPO/BTCA crosslinked polymeric network on the blend fabric. Additionally, TEA enhances HFPO's flame retardant performance by reducing formation of calcium salts and also by providing synergistic nitrogen to the treated blend fabric. The Nomex®/cotton blend fabric treated with the HFPO/BTCA/TEA system shows high flame resistance and high laundering durability at a relatively low HFPO concentration of 8% (w/w). The heat release properties of the treated Nomex®/cotton blend fabric were measured using microscale combustion calorimetry. The functions of BTCA; HFPO and TEA on the Nomex®/cotton blend fabric were elucidated based on the heat release properties, char formation, and fire performance of the treated blend fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]