Synthesis of a Novel Highly Efficient Flame-Retardant Coating for Cotton Fabrics With Low Combustion Toxicity and Antibacterial Properties

Synthesis of multi-function flame retardants is widely increasing to fulfil industrial and economic goals. In this work, a novel flame retardant, melamine salt of tannic phosphate (MTP) was prepared and characterized. MTP was mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution and used as a coating for cotton fabrics. In addition, tannic acid (TA) and melamine phosphate (MP) were mixed with PVA solution and applied as a coating for cotton fabrics. Vertical and horizontal flammability tests showed that the flame did not propagate in samples treated with PVA/MTP. In contrast, samples treated with PVA/TA/MP burnt completely. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) data indicated that samples treated with PVA/30%MTP reached LOI value 68.4%, while control sample had LOI value 17.1%. Smoke density results presented that PVA/MTP succeeded in reducing the maximum specific optical density (Ds max) of cotton fabrics. FTIR gas analyzer results manifested that addition of PVA/MTP to cotton fabrics decreased the emission of CO, CO2, C3H8, C2H6, C6H14 and formaldehyde in the gas phase. Fractional effective dose (FED) and lethal toxic potency (LC50) showed that samples coated with PVA/MTP are less toxic than blank. In addition, these fabrics exhibited a remarkable antibacterial property against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Combustion toxicity regulations for construction products

Research literature comparing room-scale combustion toxicity performance of construction products is compared to bench-scale results. It is demonstrated that it is inappropriate the regulate construction products on the basis of performance in bench-scale toxicity tests, while it is economically unsound to suggest requiring room-scale testing for assessing combustion toxicity hazards. Instead, it is demonstrated that the combustion toxicity hazards of construction products are best addressed by regulating their heat release rate characteristics.