Flame retardation of cellulosic fibers as characterized by thermal degradation behavior

Cotton fabric, one of the most flammable materials, is treated with various com pounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, halogens, and boron, individually or in combinations of two components, for a study of flame retardation from the standpoint of thermal decomposition. These samples are subjected to thermogravimetry and ther mal analysis to determine if there is any characteristic difference in the thermal deg radation behavior of flame retardant and untreated samples. The results show that flam mable samples ignite immediately or soon after the onset of thermal degradation, before the degradation rate reaches the maximum point, whereas flame retardant samples ignite considerably above the thermal degradation onset point, after the thermal degradation rate reaches the maximum. The flame retardant samples exhibit characteristic differ ences in thermal degradation behavior compared with those of combustible samples.