US EPA

1588373 

Journal Article 

EFFECT OF OXYGEN PLASMA PRETREATMENT AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE OVERLAY COATING ON FLAME RETARDANT FINISHED COTTON FABRICS 

Lam, YinL; Kan, ChiWai; Yuen, CWah 

2011 

Yes 

BioResources
ISSN: 1930-2126 

6 

2 

1454-1474 

WOS:000291559600043 

Flammability properties of plasma pretreated cotton fabrics
subjected to flame-retardant treatment were studied. Plasma pretreatment, using an atmospheric
pressure plasma jet (APPJ), was applied to cotton fabrics to enhance material properties, while
retaining inherent advantages of the substrates. An organic phosphorus compound (flame-retardant
agent, FR) together with a melamine resin (crosslinking agent, CL) and phosphoric acid (catalyst,
PA) were used. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) or nano-TiO2 was used as a co-catalyst for cotton fabrics
to improve treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects. Surface morphology of plasma
pretreated cotton specimens subjected to flame-retardant treatment showed a roughened and
wrinkled fabric surface with high deposition of the finishing agent, caused by an etching effect
of plasma and attack of acidic FR. Combustibility of FR-CL-PA-TiO2 and FR-CL-PA-Nano-TiO2 treated
fabrics was evaluated by a 45 flammability test. FR-CL-PA-treated specimens showed superior
flame-retardancy, which was further improved by plasma pretreatment and addition of metal oxide
as a co-catalyst. However, in comparison with the control sample, flame-retardant-treated cotton
specimens had lower breaking load and tearing strength, resulting from side effects of the
crosslinking agent used, while plasma pretreatment might compensate for the reduction in tensile
strength caused by flame-retardant agents. In addition, both plasma pretreatment and metal oxide
co-catalyst added in the flame-retardant finishing improved the crosslinking process between FR
and cotton fabric, minimizing formation of free formaldehyde and allowing the use of FR in
industry. 

Flame-retardant; Titanium dioxide; Plasma pretreatment; Cotton