Facile synthesis of a high efficiency and durability L-citrulline flame retardant for cotton

Bio-based phytic acid/amino acid complex coating for antimicrobial and flame-retardant cotton fabrics

Here, a novel multifunctional coating containing bio-based phytic acid (PA), L-glutamic acid (L-Glu), and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) is constructed by a simple soaking strategy, giving cotton fabrics excellent flame retardancy, washability, and antibacterial properties. The coating layer on the cotton surface was prepared via the electrostatic and hydrogen bonding between PA and L-Glu, accompanied by the interface polymerization between PA, L-Glu, and TMC. Among them, the limiting oxygen index value of the treated cotton fabrics (C2 and C2-TMC) was as high as 40 %. During the vertical flammability test, both C2 and C2-TMC cotton showed self-extinguished behavior with a short damaged length (≤50 mm). Remarkably, the LOI of C2-TMC sustained a high value (30 %) even after 300 laundering cycles, maintaining its self-extinguishing behavior in the vertical combustion test. Additionally, in the cone calorimetry test, peak heat release rate and total heat release of treated cotton were lower than control cotton. Surprisingly, after 30 or 60 laundering cycles, the C2-TMC cotton exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans due to the continuous exposure of PA and L-Glu. Moreover, the coating layer on the cotton surface had little impact on the mechanical properties and feel of the fabric.

A P/N flame retardant for polyester-cotton fabrics: Flame retardancy, mechanical properties and antibacterial property

A phosphorus‑nitrogen synergistic flame retardant (named POI) was obtained by the chemical reaction between phenylphosphonic acid (PPOA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), and used to give the flame retardancy of PTCO. The effects of PPOA and POI on various properties of PTCO were investigated. PPOA obviously improved the flame retardancy of PTCO/PPOA, while the breaking force of PTCO/PPOA was greatly reduced. However, the introduction of PEI made the surface of fabrics smoother. PTCO/POI had better flame retardancy than PTCO/PPOA did, and the limiting oxygen index value of PTCO/POI reached to 29.8 %. POI had a good effect on reducing the Rmax of both cotton and polyester components. The phosphoric acid groups in POI can promote the dehydration and carbonization reactions of PTCO, which protects the inner fabrics, and POI can release incombustible gases such as NH3 and N2 during burning, which can dilute the oxygen concentration. The flame-retardant mechanism of PTCO/POI was mainly the condensed phase. At the same time, there were no changes in whiteness and mechanical properties compared with those of PTCO, and it also had antibacterial property. This work provides a simple and effective method to prepare flame-retardant and antibacterial PTCO.

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.

High-efficiency durable flame retardant with ammonium phosphate ester and phosphine oxide groups for cotton cellulose biomacromolecule

Cotton fibers mainly consist of cellulose biological macromolecule, and its exceedingly flammable nature has severely restricted its application in the fields requiring flame retardancy. To endow cotton fabric with excellent flame retardancy and superior durability, a high-efficiency durable flame retardant (THPO-P) with ammonium phosphate ester and phosphine oxide groups was synthesized and chemically bonded to cotton fabric through padding-baking method. THPO-P showed high flame-retardant efficiency, and the add-on of 5.9% was sufficient to prepare cotton fabric with self-extinguished feature. With the add-on of 19.9%, treated fabric possessed excellent fire safety and durability. The total heat release and peak heat release rate values reduced by 77.1% and 91.8% in contrast to pristine fabric, respectively. Its LOI value still reached up to 33.4% even after 50 laundering cycles, which was far beyond the flame-retardant standard. THPO-P played flame-retardant role by restraining the release of flammable volatiles, liberating nonflammable gases and promoting the char formation during combustion. The flame-retardant treatment deteriorated the tensile strength, whiteness and softness of cotton fabric.