B/P/N flame retardant based on diboraspiro rings groups for improving the flame retardancy, char formation properties and thermal stability of cotton fabrics

Hongfei Chen; Gongze Ji; Fengying Lan; Zheng Wang; Chen Chen; Jiaxi Luan; Chaohong Dong; Zhou Lu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132330

B/P/N flame retardant based on diboraspiro rings groups for improving the flame retardancy, char formation properties and thermal stability of cotton fabrics

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 May 13;270(Pt 1):132330. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132330. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hongfei Chen¹, Gongze Ji¹, Fengying Lan¹, Zheng Wang¹, Chen Chen¹, Jiaxi Luan¹, Chaohong Dong², Zhou Lu³

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China.
² Institute of Functional Textiles and Advanced Materials, College of Textile and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-fibers and Eco-textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China. Electronic address: dongzhh11@163.com.
³ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China. Electronic address: yudija@163.com.

PMID: 38750840
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132330

Abstract

Developing flame retardant cotton fabrics (CF) is crucial for minimizing the harm caused by fires to people. To improve the flame retardancy of CF, this paper has synthesized a novel flame retardant called diboraspiro tetra phosphonate ammonium salt (N-PDBDN). The structure of N-PDBDN has been analyzed using FT-IR and NMR. Treating CF with N-PDBDN can increase the limiting oxygen index (LOI) to 36.2 % with a weight gain of 10.1 %. Moreover, even after undergoing 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the LOI remains at 27.1 %, indicating good flame retardancy and durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the presence of P and N elements on N-PDBDN treated CF, suggesting successful bonding between N-PDBDN and cellulose. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrate that the addition of N-PDBDN significantly enhances the thermal stability and carbon formation ability of CF. Furthermore, cone calorimetry tests reveal reduced heat release rates (HRR), prolonged time to ignition (TTI), and 38 % lower total heat release (THR) in CF treated with N-PDBDN compared with pure cotton. Finally, a potential flame retardant mechanism involving N-PDBDN is proposed. These findings indicate that incorporating an ammonium phosphate group into CF can effectively improve the flame retardancy and durability.

Keywords: B/P/N; Cotton fabric; Durability; Flame retardant.