Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #277700
Title: Anti-flammable properties of capable phosphorus-nitrogen containing triazine derivatives on cotton

Author
item Chang, Sechin
item Condon, Brian

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2012
Publication Date: 3/26/2012
Citation: Chang, S., Condon, B.D. 2012. Anti-flammable properties of capable phosphorus-nitrogen containing triazine derivatives on cotton [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting. Poster No. 141.

Interpretive Summary: The series of phosphorus-nitrogen containing environmentally friendly flame retardant compounds were prepared by organic reactions using cyanuric chloride and phosphonates. In characterization, micro-scale combustion calorimetry has been used in this paper. Micro-scale combustion calorimetry is a quantitative analytical technique and is able to provide the vital information for evaluating a textile material’s flammabilities. And micro-scale combustion calorimetry can be applied to all textiles whereas the other flammability test such as limiting index test and vertical burning test on those fibers are extremely difficult. Therefore, micro-scale combustion calorimetry has a great potentials for applications to the research and development of new flame retardant textiles.

Technical Abstract: Most of new phosphorus-nitrogen containing compounds were prepared by organic reactions of cyanuric chloride and phosphonates. They were characterized by analytical tools such as proton (1H), carbon (13C), and phosphorus (31P) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis (EA). Cotton twill fabrics were soaked in 10-20% aqueous sodium hydroxide and then treated with organophosphorus or P, N- containing compounds in various organic solvent mixtures. The compounds were grafted onto the fabric by traditional pad, dry, cure methods to produce semi-durable flame resistance. Structural characterizations of treated fabrics were studied by an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), elemental analysis (EA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nitrogen is known to have a synergistic effect when combined with phosphorus, resulting in further improvements in char yield. As flame retardant formulations become more complex accurate thermal analysis becomes increasingly important in evaluating and improving new systems. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) will provide degradation and char content information of all materials by measuring the change in mass as a function of rising temperature. Treated fabrics were tested for flammability by such methods as modified methenamine pill test, vertical flame test (ASTM D6413-99) and 45 degree angle flame test (ASTM D1230). The limiting oxygen index (LOI, ASTM D2863) test also was used to evaluate flame resistance.