Flame Retardant Properties of Plasma Pretreated/Metallic Salt Loaded Cotton Fabric Before and After Direct Dyeing

In this research work, cotton fabrics were pretreated with low temperature plasma (LTP) and then inoculated in various metallic salts and flame retardancy of cotton fabric was investigated. More polar functional groups were present on the substrate surface after LTP pretreatment. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), lead (II) acetate [Pb(C2H3O2)(2)], aluminium sulfate [Al-2(SO4)(3)] and silver nitrate (AgNo3) were used as metallic salts. The flame retardancy of the samples was characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and char yield. Good flame retardant activity for Al-2(SO4)(3) and AgNo3 treated fabrics were achieved, however, the effect of TiO2 and ZnSO4 on flame retardany of cotton fabrics was moderate. It was concluded that, nitrogen plasma pretreatment, improve the flame retardant properties of cotton samples. The plasma treated and Aluminium sulfate loaded cotton fabric sample has a LOI value of 23.3. It shows that, nitrogen plasma pretreatment has synergistic effect on metallic salts for improving the flame retardant properties of cotton samples. In this research work, the dyeability of samples after loading with metallic salts was investigated. Also effect of dyeing on flame retardant properties was studied. The cotton fabrics treated with metallic salts demonstrate an excellent dyeability property. Color intensities of the dyed fabrics were measured by using a UV VIS-NIR Reflective Spectrophotometer, over the range of 200-800 nm. The results showed that, by using silver nitrate as mordant before dying, the relative color strength (K/S values) of the dyed fabrics has been increased. Water drop test and wash fastness determination (ISO 105-C01) were conducted. Also Electronic Crock meter/Rubbing Fastness Tester AATCC 8 was used to determine the color fastness of textiles. We also concluded that dyeing the plasma treated and inoculated cotton fabrics do not have any negative effect on flame retardancy of cotton fabric.