An amino trimethylene phosphonic acid‐based chelated boric acid complex that works as a synergistic flame retardant for enhancing the flame retardancy of cotton fabrics

• Published in: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society (Taipei) Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 159 - 170
• Main Authors: Zhu, Wenju, Yang, Mingyang, Wang, Qing, Zhang, Xiaohan, Li, Dongxiang, Xu, Zelong, Liu, Shuixia, Dai, Zhao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01.02.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: ATMP; chelating coordination; Chelation; Chemical bonds; composite flame retardant; Cone calorimeters; cotton; Cotton fibers; Curing; Durability; Fabrics; Fire damage; Flame retardants; Infrared analysis; Phosphonates; Phosphonic acids; Tensile strength; Vapor phases
• ISSN: 0009-4536; 2192-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/jccs.202200525

The chelating ligands of boric acid and amino trimethyl phosphonate prepared a novel flame retardant (BAP) for the cotton fabric. A stable chemical and coordination bond was formed on the surface of the cotton fibers by a simple three‐curing finishing process to make the fabric exhibits excellent durable flame retardancy. Cotton fabrics' tensile strength and whiteness got substantially retained after BAP treatment. 90 g/L BAP‐treated samples (3 curing times, 50 laundry cycles) showed good flame retardancy and durability, holding the largest limit oxygen index, 29.7%, and the shortest damage length, 61 mm. A condensed phase and gas phase synergistic flame retardant mechanism was concluded by thermogravimetric, cone calorimeter tests, and thermogravimetric infrared analysis. BAP was synthesized by urea, boric acid, pentaerythrotol and ATMP with a one pot synthesis method. BAP solution finished cotton fiber was shown the best flame retardancy and durability, the LOI data up to 25%, and the damaged length was 61 mm, after 50 launderings.