Enhancing the Flame Retardancy of Polyester/Cotton Blend Fabrics Using Biobased Urea-Phytate Salt

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 6; p. 1346
• Main Authors: Dong, Shuang, Huang, Yi-Ting, Zhang, Xin, Cheng, Shan-Shan, Cheng, Xian-Wei, Guan, Jin-Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14-03-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: biomass; Cellulose fibers; Cotton; Fabrics; Fireproofing agents; flame retardant; Flame retardants; Flammability; Fourier transforms; functional modification; Interior design; Nitrogen; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Phosphates; phytate; Phytate salts; Phytic acid; polyester/cotton; Polyesters; Spectrum analysis; Surface stability; Textile composites; Textiles; Thermal stability; Thermogravimetric analysis; Urea; Ureas; United Kingdom; China; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; polyester/cotton; biomass; flame retardant; phytate; functional modification
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17061346

The use of biobased flame-retardant (FR) agents for reducing the flammability of polyester/cotton (T/C) blend fabrics is highly desirable. In this study, a novel and sustainable phosphorus/nitrogen-containing FR, namely, phytic acid-urea (PA-UR) salt, was synthesized. The PA-UR salt was further used to enhance the FR performance of T/C fabric through surface modification. We further explored the potential chemical structure of PA-UR and the surface morphology, thermal stability, heat release capacity, FR properties, and mode of action of the coated fabric. The coated fabric achieved self-extinguishing and exhibited an increased limiting oxygen index of 31.8%. Moreover, the coated T/C blend fabric demonstrated a significantly reduced heat release capacity, indicating a decreased fire hazard. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the anticipated decomposition of the coated T/C blend fabric and a subsequent increase in thermal stability. The burned char residues also maintained their fiber shape structures, suggesting the presence of condensed FR actions in the PA-UR-coated T/C blend fabric.