Microwave Assisted Preparation of Self-extinguishing Cotton Fabrics by Small Molecules Containing Phosphorous and Nitrogen

Introduction: New methods for preparing surface modification of flame retardant cotton fabrics were employed by applying a microwave-assisted technique with a minimum amount of co-solvent. Efforts at flame retardant cotton fabrics treated with economic and environmentally friendly flame retardant compounds based on the small molecules piperazine, PN and PNN, were done successfully. Methods and Results: The evidence of flame retardant chemical penetrations or surface modification of cotton fabrics was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and the treated cotton fabrics were evaluated by flammability tests, such as 45 degrees angle (clothing textiles test) and limiting Oxygen Index (LOI). Thermogravimetric analysis of all treated cotton fabrics in a nitrogen atmosphere showed high thermal stability, as decomposition occurred between 276.9 similar to 291.2 degrees C with 30.5 similar to 35.7% residue weight char yield at 600 degrees C. Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and the 45 degrees angle flammability test were used to determine the efficiency of the flame-retardant treatments on the fabrics. LOI values for control twill fabric showed similar to 18 vol% oxygen in nitrogen, whereas the highest treatment level had 32 vol%. High add-on treatments with flame retardants also readily passed the 45 degrees angle flammability test. Conclusion: In the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) tests, a decline in heat of combustion was shown through the smaller values acquired for THR, HRC and T-max for all PN and PNN samples.