Developments in the flame retardant teratment of cotton/polyester blends

Abstract

Since ancient times, man has attempted to reduce the flammability of combustible materials. For example, the Egyptians soaked wood in a solution of alum in an attempt to reduce its flammability, while the Romans dipped the material of their house and war vessels into bath of vinegar and clay. Louis XVII was also interested in the development of an effective flame retardant finish. Significant progress in the field of flame retardant of textiles was first observed during the Second World War, which saw an increasing in the commercial use of durable flame retardants. Factors affecting the flammability of a textile fabric are the chemical composition, degree of polymerization of its constituent fibres and to a lesser extent weight per unit area, construction and surface smoothness.