SURFACE AND BULK PROPERTIES OF FLAME-RETARDANT COTTON FABRICS - 3. EFFECT OF LAUNDERING.

Cotton fabrics that had been made flame retardant (FR) by treatments with formulations based on tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium compounds and nitrogenous compounds were subjected to launderings in the presence and absence of hypochlorite bleach. Differences in surface and bulk analyses after laundering cycles were followed by induced electron emission spectroscopy (ESCA). The effects of the hypochlorite bleach on the FR polymers and the FR fabrics were monitored by analyses of the electron spin resonance (ESR) signals and changes in oxygen concentrations produced during these reactions. Techniques of chemiluminescence (CL) were also used to study adverse effects of light in the UV-visible range on FR fabrics.