Intumescent Nanocoating Extinguishes Flame on Fabric Using Aqueous Polyelectrolyte Complex Deposited in Single Step

In an effort to produce a more effective and environmentally friendly flame‐retardant (FR) treatment for cotton fabric, a two‐ingredient aqueous polyelectrolyte complex was used to create a one‐step deposition system. This easy‐to‐apply nanocoating, made with nitrogen‐rich and phosphorous‐rich polyelectrolytes, maintains the fabric's weave structure by spontaneously coating individual fibers. Coating pick‐up is reproducible and is a function of both soak time and pot life of the polyelectrolyte complex. From microscale calorimetry data, cotton fabric soaked for only 1min in this “OnePot” flame‐retarding complex exhibits a 52.7% reduction in total heat release, with only 2.3 wt% coating added. A novel aqueous polyelectrolyte coacervate is investigated as a means to quickly deposit flame‐retardant nanocoatings on textiles in a single step. A 10‐minute soak produces a 23 wt% nanocoating that self‐extinguishes during a vertical burn test. This OnePot concept provides a powerful new framework for imparting flame resistance to textiles in an efficient and environmentally benign manner.