Design and preparation of flame-retardant cellulose fabric with low strength loss using polycarboxylic acid as crosslinker

To decrease strength loss of flame-retardant cotton fabric using polycarboxylic acid as the crosslinker, a series of multi-amino phosphoramide (BPEI/DPn) was synthesized using branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) and dimethyl phosphite (DP). The flame retardant coating was fabricated on cotton fabric with the assist of 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). The optimum multi-amino phosphoramide was obtained by investigate the effect of different BPEI/DPn on washing durability and flame retardancy of modified cotton fabrics. The results found that BPEI/DP4 (mole ratio of BPEI and DP was 1:4) coated cotton fabric presented superior flame retardancy with self-extinguishing action and 27.9% of LOI value. Also, this flame-retardant cotton fabric can withstand a certain number of standard washing cycles. The heat and smoke release of cotton fabric during the combustion were significantly inhibited after modification with BPEI/DP4, and HRR value decreased by 35.0% compared with the unmodified cotton. Additionally, BPEI/DP4 can greatly improve the mechanical capability of cotton fabric modified with BTCA, and almost 80% of breaking force can be remained owning to partially neutralizing the acidic circumstance of BTCA solution, which might provide an efficient method to prepare functional cotton fabric with high performance.

Automated summary

The use of multi-amino phosphoramide for modifying flame-retardant cotton fabric can decrease strength loss. The study found that cotton fabric coated with BPEI/DP4 showed excellent flame retardancy and washing durability, and significantly inhibited the heat and smoke release during combustion.