Synergistic effect of phosphorus, nitrogen and silicon on flame retardancy properties of cotton fabric treated by sol-gel process

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop the flame retardancy properties of cotton fabrics with treatment of phosphorus and nitrogen containing silane-based nanosol by sol-gel process. Design/methodology/approach – Nanosols containing tetraethoxysilane or (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane as precursors, (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane as cross-linking agent and guanidine phosphate monobasic as flame retarding agent were impregnated on cotton fabrics. Flame retardancy properties of the fabric samples were determined by limited flame spread test and limited oxygen index (LOI) test. In addition, microstructural and surface morphological properties of the fabric samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. Findings – Depending on the limited flame spread test, the authors show that the coated fabric samples gain flame retardancy properties and the LOI value of the samples increased as to 45.7 per cent by the synergistic effect of phosphorus-nitrogen-silicon. Originality/value – There have some studies in flame retardancy behaviour of textiles. In this study, flame retardant cotton fabric with very low weight in grams was improved by sol-gel process. Moreover, ecological process was provided thanks to using halogen-free flame retardant.

Sol-Gel Applications in Textile Finishing Processes

“…Aksit et al [19] proved the synergistic effect of Si, P, and N on flame-retardant cotton fabrics treated with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane as N-and Si-source, (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane as Si-source, and guanidine phosphate as P-source by sol-gel technique. They determined that the fabric samples had 45.7% LOI values [19].…”

Preparation of Flame Retardant Polyacrylonitrile Fabric Based on Sol-Gel and Layer-by-Layer Assembly

“…Another effective nanotechnological approach, the sol-gel technique, is usually based on a two-step reaction (hydrolysis and condensation), starting from semimetal alkoxides to form an organic–inorganic coating. The silicon hydrogel derived from this sol-gel process may be combined with phosphorus and/or nitrogen-containing additives in order to impart flame retardancy to fabrics [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. In our previous work, an organic–inorganic hybrid silica coating doped with either polyphosphoric acid (PPA) [ 21 ] or phytic acid (PA) and urea [ 22 ] was prepared by the sol-gel process and coated on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fabrics to impart flame retardancy.…”

Combustion properties and thermal decomposition kinetics of flame retardant silk fabrics treated by phytic acid and silica sols

“…As we know, phosphorus and nitrogen are the most important elements among flame retardants [5]. In recent years, halogen-free flame retardant has been widely used in flame retardant fibers because of its low mammalian toxicity, high-flame retardant efficiency and less corrosive products during combustion [6,7]. The silica hydrogel, phosphorus-nitrogen (P-N) based compounds could catalyze the dehydration and carbonization of matrix, reduce a large number of combustible gases and improve the combustibility of the materials through forming a protective char layer [8][9][10].…”