Synthesis of a novel P-N reactive ammonium phosphate-based flame retardant for durable finishing of cotton fabric

Smart Janus cotton fabrics prepared via mist polymerization for moisture and thermal management

The construction of Janus structures on cotton fabrics can endow the fabrics with dynamic multifunctional properties. However, because of the large pores between fabric fibers, the formation of Janus structures by grafting different functional coatings on the double surfaces of cotton fabrics via dipping technology is difficult. To construct Janus structures on cotton fabrics, mist polymerization and "grafting-through" polymerization technologies were used to graft polylauryl methacrylate and a heat-shrinkable thermosensitive antibacterial polymer on the inside and outside surfaces of the cotton fabric, respectively. The as-formed Janus cotton fabric demonstrated excellent antibacterial durability. Even after subjecting the Janus fabric to 70 laundering cycles, its bacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were > 93.0 %. Compared with the pristine cotton fabric, when the ambient temperature is high or low, the Janus fabric can adjust the skin temperature within 5 min by approximately ±3.0 °C. Additionally, the fabric exhibited excellent waterproof and moisture permeability properties. The Janus cotton fabrics prepared by the proposed strategy possess significant potential for applications in the field of wearable textiles.

Synthesis and evaluation of an eco-friendly and durable flame-retardant cotton fabrics based on a high-phosphorous-content

Cotton fabrics are extremely flammable. Therefore, ammonium salt of dipentaerythritol hexaphosphoric acid (ADPHPA), a novel reactive phosphorus flame retardant without halogen and formaldehyde, was synthesized by solvent-free synthesis method. Surface chemical graft modification was chosen to introduce flame retardant, imparting its flame retardancy and washability. SEM indicated that ADPHPA entered the interior of cotton fiber, which was grafted with OH of control cotton fabrics (CCF) by forming POC covalent bonds to obtain treated cotton fabrics (TCF). There were no apparent differences in the fiber morphology and crystal structure after treatment according to SEM and XRD analysis. TG analysis demonstrated that the decomposition process of TCF was changed compared with CCF, while lower heat release rate and total heat release of TCF indicated its combustion efficiency was also reduced based on cone calorimetry test. Meanwhile, in the durability test, TCF had undergone 50 laundering cycles (LCs) in accordance with AATCC-61-2013 3A standard and had a short vertical combustion charcoal length, which were able to be regard as durable flame-retardant fabrics. The mechanical properties of TCF decreased to a degree, but did not affect the actual use of cotton fabrics. Taken as a whole, ADPHPA has research significance and development potential as a durable phosphorus-based flame retardant.