Eco Friendly FR Finish

8/10/2019 Eco Friendly FR Finish

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7thInternational Conference - TEXSCI 2010 September 6-8, Liberec, Czech Republic

A STUDY OF ECO-FRIENDLY FLAME RETARDANT FINISH

FOR FURNITURE FABRICS

Yoliswa SIDLOYI1, Miroslav PRIL1 , Lenka MARTNKOV2, Jakub WIENER11Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Textile Engineering, Department of Textile Chemistry, Liberec,

Czech Republic2INOTEX spol. s r.o. , Dvr Krlov nad Labem, Czech Republic

E-mail : [email protected]

Abstract

The aim of this work was flameproof finishing of two types of upholstery fabrics (100% polyester PES and blendPES/cotton) with a similar square weight and construction by different application techniques impregnation andback coating. The impregnation of these textiles was done by two flameproof agents (permanent andsemipermanent), the back-coatings were applied from paste and foam using conventional (Sb/Br-based) and eco-friendly (Sb and halogen-free) flame retardant (FR) agents. Finished textile have been evaluated and compared interms of flammability and physiological parameters (air permeability, breathability).Key words: flame retardant finish, eco-friendly agents

1. Introduction

The purpose of flame retardant is to impart resistence on the substrate to flame and protecthuman lives from injuries. There has been some developments in flame retardant finishes forpolyester fabric and its blends [1]. Flame retardant finishes for synthetic fibres should eitherpromote char formation by reducing the thermoplasticity or enhance melt dripping so that thedrops can be extinguish away from the igniting flame.Flame retardation of polyester/cellulosic blends is still a complex problem owing to the

differential thermal behaviour of polyester and cellulosic components. Most of the approacheshave limitations because of toxicity or difficulty in mantaining desirable aesthetic andperformance properties [2].

Environmental interests continue to question the usefulness of some systems in particular,antimonybromine-based formulations [3]. Most textile products come in intimate contact tohuman body or remain in nerby location. The risk assessment associated with textile processesand products, in terms of volatile and gaseous emmission, is based on seriousness of theeffects on environment, ecology and living beings. A mojor concern is the health and safety ofhuman lives [4].In textile, brominated fire retadants are widely used mainly in back coating formulation. Westudied also a new eco-friendly product and compared in terms of flammability, physiologicalparameters (air permeability, breathability) and resulting colour shade [5].

2. Experimental2.1 Materials

Material used in the experiment 100% polyester twill weave, the square weight 441 g/m2andblended 65% polyester/35% cotton twill weave with the square weight of 458 g/m2. Theimages of the used textiles are in the figures 1 4.


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Fig. 1: Structure of 100 % polyester twill Fig. 2:Structure of 100 % polyester twillweave (face) weave (back)

Fig. 3: Structure of 65% PES / 35% CO twill Fig. 4:Structure of 65% PES / 35% CO twillweave (face) weave (back)

2.2 Used Fire Retardant Products

In this work, the following products used were produced by INOTEX (CZ), which ischaracterized by:

Texaflam PE Concentrated: Wash permanent fire retardant applied by impregnation. It isthe mixture of phosphonate complexes, viscous liquid and non-ionic. Texaflam PEconcentrated is also an agent for permanent flameproof finish on 100 % polyester applied byThermosol process. It is also suitable for treatment clothing and technical fabrics, decorative


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curtain fabrics. FR effect is resistant to water, shampooing, dry-cleaning, and washing up to25 x 40C.

Texaflam BS: Agent for semi permanent flameproof finishing of cellulosic and syntheticmaterials (PES, PA, PAN) and blends. It is suitable especially for furniture and upholstery

fabrics. Semi permanent FR-effect is ensured by polymeric film-forming agent resulting inadhesivity of FR component on the fibre. FR effect is resistant to water, shampooing, anddrycleaning.

Texaflam XPE: Coating agent for semi-permanent flameproof finish of cellulosic (cotton,viscose) and synthetic materials (PES, PA, PAN) and blends. Especially for furniture andupholstery fabrics: woven textiles and knits. Synthetic polymers emulsion containingSb2O3/Br. Application by back coating (foam or paste).

Texaflam XPE ECO (Sb/Br free) paste: Ecofriendly phosphate-based halogen free,

antimony free and and formaldehyde free FR back-coating system determined mainly forfabrics from natural fibers and their blends with synthetics. It is suitable mainly for upholsteryfabric for domestic and automotive applications. It is application by a paste technique - backcoating.

2.3 Procedure for the experiment

The laboratory machine Werner Mathis CH 8155 (Fig. 5) was used for the coatingapplication and impregnation. Impregnated baths were prepared after technical information ofINOTEX (CZ). Then the samples were dried and cured according to product and substrate.E.g. 100% polyester and 65% PES/ 35% cotton twill weave strips were impregnated in a bath

containing 500 g/l Texaflam BS, 1g/l Texapal AA (wetting agent) and wet pick-up was aminimum of 53% on 100% polyester twill weave and on 65% PES/ 35% cotton twill weavewet pick-up was a minimum of 60%. The speed of the fabric was 0.38 m s -1and dried for2 minutes at 100C, in a Werner Mathis CH 8155. Curing was done at 150C for 3 minutes.

Fig. 5: Fabric in a Werner Mathis CH 8155


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3. Results and Discussion

Fire-retardant properties of original and finished fabrics with different agents were estimatedby using LOI-value and flammability and physiological parameters (air permeability,breathability) tests determinations. The test results of 100% polyester twill weave studies

(tab.1) are compared with the results of 65% polyester/35% cotton twill weave studies (tab2.).

Table 1: Experimental results of 100% polyester twill weave

SampleLOI /%/

warp / weftSquare Weight(g/m2)

Air Permeability(mm/s)

Breathability(g/m2.Pa.h)

Original 21.9 / 19.8 441 343.2 0.18PE Conc. 34.0 / 30.8 593 (+34.47%) 266.4 0.23

BS 27.0 / 27.1 555 (+25.85%) 275.6 0.28XPE 250 g/l 28.7 / 28.7 522 (+18.37%) 306.4 0.22

XPE 500 g/l 28.1 / 28.4 539 (+22.22%) 268.9 0.22XPE ECO 1x 24.6 / 24.7 576 (+30.61%) 151.1 0.15XPE ECO 2x 26.5 / 25.8 648 (+46.94%) 72.7 0.10

Fig. 6: Limiting Oxygen Index Values of polyester twill weave

Table 2:Experimental results of 65% polyester / 35% cotton twill weave

SampleLOI /%/

warp / weftSquare Weight(g/m2)

Air Permeability(mm/s)

Breathability(g/m2.Pa.h)

Original 18.8 / 18.9 458 273.9 0.23PE Conc. 29.2 / 27.3 548 (+19.654%) 152.8 0.23

BS 27.0 / 28.7 585 (+27.23%) 192.1 0.21XPE 250 g/l 26.9 / 26.7 569 (+24.24%) 197.1 0.22XPE 500 g/l 25.1 / 25.2 620 (+35.37%) 58.5 0.14XPE ECO 1x 26.5 / 26.8 679 (+48.25%) 22.5 0.09XPE ECO 2x 26.9 / 27.1 590 (+28.82%) 118.6 0.21


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Fig. 7: Limiting Oxygen Index Values of 65% polyester / 35% cotton twill weave

When samples were tested according to standards, the sample meets the requirements(smouldering cigarette and match equivalent) pass. All samples, the coated and impregnatedsamples did not ignite when subjected to flame and all the untreated samples burned whenexposed to flame.100% polyester twill weave impregnated with 200g/l Texaflam PE Concentrated had the best

results, it can be seen by looking at limiting oxygen index of 34.0 % warp and 30.8 % weftfollowed by same concentration on 65% PES/ 35% cotton twill weave and gave limitingoxygen index of warp 29.2 % and weft 27.3 % (Fig.6 and 7).

Air permeability was tested according to EN ISO 9237, breathability according to EN ISO15496. Coating with 250 g/l Texaflam XPE offered high air permeability compared to otherimpregnated and coated samples. Coating twice makes the textile to be more fireproof but lessair permeable.Breathability depends on coating thickness, more coating the more waterproof of materialcausing the material to be less breathable.Coating twice with Texaflam XPE ECO on 100%polyester twill weave gave the higher pick-up than on 65% PES/35% cotton twill weavewhich was 28.8 % and that made polyester to have low water vapor permeability and blendedpolyester/cotton with higher water vapor permeability. Results are showing that, waterproofness and breathability depended on the concentration of the paste and the structure of the

textile.

4. Conclusion

Demand for functional flameretarded textiles is continuously increasing in many branches technical, building, automotive and interior textiles, and protective apparel. According to usedtextile substrates and end-use applications, suitable flameretarders and application techniquesare to be selected to pass appropriate standards of flammability, incl. relevant stability of FReffect in use and maintenance cycles. Application of new ecofriendly FR systems (halogen-,antimony- and VOCs incl. formaldehyde-free) are nowadays more and more frequentlyrequired from end-users and also textile finishers. Comparison of available FR systems withthe aim to find the optimum solution from the point of view of FR efficiency, influence onother parameters of treated textiles, ecofriendliness and price, incl. possibilities to find new


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solutions is therefore very topical and important from a scientific and mainly practical point ofview.

5. References1. Schindler,W.D.- Hauser,P.J.: Chemical Finishes of Textiles, Woodhead Publishing

Limited,20042. Horrocks, A.R. - Price,D..: Fire retardant materials, Woodhead Publishing Limited,

20013. Holme,I. : International Dyer, March 20074. Uddin,F. : Industrial Fabrics Bulletin, 3/20035. Sidloyi,Y.: Dipolma project, TU Liberec, 2010

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