Citation

Yang CQ, Wu WD. Fire Mater. 2003; 27(5): 239-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Multifunctional carboxylic acids, such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), were used to bond a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer (FR) to cotton fabric in the presence of a catalyst, such as sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO2). Previously, it was found that the cotton fabric treated with FR and BTCA showed a high level of phosphorus retention after one home laundering cycle. However, the flame retardant properties quickly deteriorated as the number of home laundering cycles was increased. In this research, it was found that the free carboxylic acid groups bound to the cotton fabric form an insoluble calcium salt during home laundering, thus diminishing the flame retardant properties of the treated cotton fabric. It was also found that the free carboxylic acid groups on the treated cotton fabric were esterified by triethanolamine (TEA), and that the formation of calcium salt on the fabric was suppressed by the esterification of the free carboxylic acid groups by TEA. The cotton fabric treated with BTCA and the hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer significantly improved its flame retardance when a new catalyst system consisting of hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2) and TEA was used in the system.