ARS | Publication request: Thermal and flame retardant behaviors of cotton fiber treated with phosphoramidate derivatives

Submitted to: Fiber Society Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 29, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: In this research, two phosphoramidate derivatives EHP Diethyl 3-hydroxypropylphos phoramidate and MHP Dimethyl 3-hydroxypropylphos phoramidate were prepared in very high yield and purity by one step procedure and the cotton fabrics treated with them at different levels of add-on (5 - 20 wt %) were characterized. The results of vertical flammability showed that MHP samples displayed shorter char length and slower rate of flame spread. Almost all MHP samples had higher average Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) values as compared to EHP ones. Tests performed on Thermalgravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Micro Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) showed that MHP fabrics displayed higher char yield and better reduction in heat of combustion. Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) data revealed different binding modes between the two compounds and cotton fabric. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis-fourier transform infrared (TGA-FTIR) data of the EHP fabric showed more processes that took place during the thermal decomposition as compared to MHP one. The difference in flame retardant action of the two compounds on the treated fabrics is consistent with the catalytic thermal decomposition of their structures causing EHP to form an early acidic intermediate without binding with cellulose and MHP to bind with cellulose covalently. The superior action of MHP could be attributed to the ability to form covalent bond with cellulose arising from the smaller size of O-alkyl group.