A novel halogen-free and formaldehyde-free flame retardant for cotton fabrics

A novel halogen-free and formaldehyde-free flame retardant (FR), which contains phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicon, was synthesized for cotton fabrics considering the synergistic effect of phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicon. The structure of the new FR was characterized by Fourier-trans-form infrared spectroscopy, and the surface morphology of the treated fibre was observed using scanning electron microscope. The thermal property of the FR treated cotton fabric was studied through thermal gravimetric analysis. The TG results indicate that the FR can protect cotton fabric from fire to a certain degree. The vertical flammability test and limiting oxygen index results further indicate that the FR has excellent FR properties. Finally, the durability and other performance properties of the treated fabric were studied and the results show that the new materials can be used as a semi-durable FR for cellulosic fibres. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.