Flame-retardant fabric systems based on electrospun polyamide/boric acid nanocomposite fibers

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 126; no. 2; pp. 614 - 619
• Main Authors: Selvakumar, N., Azhagurajan, A., Natarajan, T. S., Mohideen Abdul Khadir, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.10.2012; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Boric acids; Composites; Electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrics; Fibers; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Materials science; Nanocomposites; nanofiber; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Polyamide resins; polyamides; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Technology of polymers; Synthetic fiber; Thermooxidative degradation; Electrospinning; Plant fiber; Nanofiber; Cotton; nanocomposites; Composite material; Thermal stability; Boric acid; Additive; polyamides; Natural fiber; Aliphatic polymer; Nanocomposite; Flame retardant; Experimental study; Thermal properties; Amide 6 polymer; Solvent spinning; Morphology; Concentration effect; Coated fabric; Flammability; Woven material; Textile finishing
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.36640

To examine the feasibility of developing flame‐retardant‐textile coated fabric systems with electrospun polyamide/boric acid nanocomposites, fiber webs coated on cotton substrates were developed to impart‐fire retardant properties. The morphology of the polyamide/boric acid nanocomposite fibers was examined with scanning electron microscopy. The flame‐retardant properties of coated fabric systems with different nanoparticle contents were assessed. The flame retardancy of the boric acid coated fabric systems was evaluated quantitatively with a flammability test apparatus fabricated on the basis of Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 Code of Federal Regulations part 1610 standard and also by thermogravimetric analysis. The 0.05 wt % boric acid nanocomposite fiber web coated on pure cotton fabric exhibited an increment in flame‐spreading time of greater than 80%, and this indicated excellent fire protection. Also, the coated fabric systems with 0.05% boric acid nanocomposite fiber webs exhibited a distinct shift in the peak value in the thermal degradation profile and a 75% increase in char formation in the thermooxidative degradation profile, as indicated by the results of thermogravimetric analysis. The results show the feasibility of successfully imparting flame‐retardant properties to cotton fabrics through the electrospinning of the polymer material with boric acid nanoparticles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012