Textile finishing lab report (11)
Title: Application of flame retardant finish
Submitted by
M.Abu Bakar Zafar 06-NTU-001
M. Afzaal Sadiq 06-NTU-077
Adnan Latif 06-NTU-103
Asad Jamil 06-NTU-107
Farooq Zia 06-NTU-121
Kashif Hayat 06-NTU-123
Submitted to
Sir. Kashif Iqbal
NATIONAL TEXTILE UNIVERSITY FAISALABAD
Abstract
In this experiment flame retardant finish was applied to cotton fabric through continuous
method then its evaluation was done by burning test which is proposed by ISO 6940/6941. It
was observed that our flame retardant finished fabric didn’t show good control over fire after
washing.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………
…2
1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………4
1.1. Background
…………………………………………………………………………4
1.2. Objectives.
……………………………………………………………..……………4
1.3. Theory
…………………………………………………………………………….…4
2. Equipments and materials ………………....…………………………………….…………4
2.1. Chemicals
…………………………………………………………….………………5
3. Procedure……….……………………...……………………………………………………5
4. Results………………………………………………………………………………………5
5. Conclusion…………………………………..………………………………………………6
6. Samples ……………………..………………………………………………………………6
7. References …………………………………………………………………………….……6
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1 Introduction
1.1. Background:
Flame retardant finishes provide textiles with an important performance characteristic.
Protection of consumer from unsafe apparel is only area where flame retardency is
needed. Fire fighters and emergency personnel require protection from flames as they go
about their duties. Floor coverings, upholstery and drapery also need protection,
especially when used in public buildings. The military and the airline industry have
multiple needs for flame-retardant textiles. Progress is continuing in this field and recent
reviews have highlighted advances in the understanding and the chemistry of flame
retardants, but progress has been relatively slow and the advances quite minor and
specialized.
1.2. Objective:
To apply flame retardant finish on cotton fabric
To do evaluation of finish by flame burning method
1.3. Theory:
Combustion is an exothermic process that requires three components, heat, oxygen
and a suitable fuel. When left unchecked, combustion becomes self catalyzing and will
continue until the oxygen, the fuel supply or the excess heat is depleted. By keeping this
mechanism in mind, flame retardants are prepared accordingly. There are several
approaches to prepare flame retardants. Some of them are as follows:-
One method is to provide a heat sink on or in the fiber by use of materials that
thermally decompose through strongly endothermic reactions. If enough heat can be
absorbed by these reactions, the pyrolysis temperature of the fiber is not reached and
no combustion takes place.
Another approach is to apply a material that forms an insulating layer around the
fiber at temperature below the fiber pyrolysis temperature.
A third way to achieve flame retardancy is to influence the pyrolysis reaction to
produce less flammable volatiles and more residual char.
2. Equipment and Materials
Plastic beakers
Stirrers
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Weighing balance
Padder
Stenter
100 % Cotton fabric (woven)
2.1. Chemicals used
Flame retardant finish = 300 g/L
Phosphoric acid = 5% o.w.f
Application Method
Pad Dry Cure
Conditions
Drying = 120oC for 90 sec.
Curing = 160oC for 100 sec.
3. Procedure
i. A beaker was taken and in that measured amount of flame retardant finish was poured.
ii. After that 100 ml of water was added and stirred.
iii. Fabric was weighed and amount of phosphoric acid was calculated.
iv. Then measured amount of phosphoric acid was added and again stirred.
v. Beaker was filled up to 500ml.
vi. Then that fabric was padded on padder followed by drying and curing according to
conditions given recipe.
vii. After this evaluation of fabric was done by hanging the strip of flame retardant fabric
vertically over the flame for 12 sec then behavior of flame was observed.
Phosphoric acid amonut
Weight of fabric = 23.70 g
Phosphoric acid = (5 × 23.70) / 100
= 1.185 g
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4. Results
Fabric shows retardency against flame but after single wash its retardancy ends
5. Conclusion
Finish can not be consider as a durable finish. It could not sustain single wash as washing is
necessary to neutralize fabric due to presence of phosphoric acid.
6. Samples
7. Reference
Chemical finishing of textiles by W.D. Schindler and P.J. Hauser
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