Development of Eco-friendly Flame-retardant Cotton Fabric using Chitosan Nanoparticles and Phosphate: Characterization and Process Optimization by Taguchi Method

Abstract

Textile manufacturers have recognized the growing importance of health and environmental regulation, focusing on developing policies for manufacturing cost-effective and eco-friendly flame-retardant textiles. They were corresponding to these objectives, this study aimed to optimize the Flame Retardant (FR) properties of cotton woven fabrics through the application of Chitosan Nanoparticles (CNPs) and Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) by the Taguchi Method (TM). An L9 orthogonal array design was employed to conduct the experiments, consisting of nine experiments with three runs each. The study successfully identified the optimal conditions for the treatment process as a DAP concentration of 6%, CNPs concentration of 5g/L, and curing temperature of 160 ℃. Subsequently, the treated fabric samples were investigated to assess flame spread times and various mechanical characteristics, namely, tensile strength and material stiffness. The chemical characterization of the finished fabrics was carried out further using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The attachment of CNPs and DAP to the hydroxyl groups of the fabric sample surfaces was also confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Finally, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were done to measure the size of the nanoparticles and the percentage of weight loss of the fabric samples, respectively.