Development of a flame retardant chemical for finishing of cotton, polyester, and CO/PET blends

A novel polymeric flame retardant with phosphorous–nitrogen synergism (PVP (PR)-P-DCDA) was synthesized by polyvinyl alcohol, hydrophilic polyester resin, phosphoric acid, and dicyandiamide. 100% polyester, 100% cotton, and 50/50% cotton–polyester blended fabrics were treated with PVP (PR)-P-DCDA by impregnation method. Flammability characteristics, thermal decomposition, surface morphology, and chemical structure of treated and untreated fabrics were investigated by vertical flammability test, limiting oxygen index, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared, respectively. Results showed that PVP (PR)-P-DCDA is an eco-friendly flame retardant system, a good char-forming flame retardant agent with superior ease of application for cotton, polyester, and cotton/polyester blends. At the industrial scale, the flame retardant agent PVP (PR)-PDCDA has been commercialized under the name Fire-off EBR.