FLAME RETARDANT FINISHING OF COTTON FABRICS WITH OLYGOMERIC VINYL PHOSPHONATE AND N-METHYLOLACRYLAMIDE AT LOW TEMPERATURE

Abstract

Cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN)-initiated copolymerization of oligomeric vinyl phosphonate (OVP), Fyrol 76, with N-methylolacrylamide (NMA) on cotton fabrics at a low temperature (40°C) was studied, and the results were compared with those obtained by the pad-dry-cure method using persulfate catalyst. An oxygen index (OI) of the cotton fabrics treated by the former method was higher than that for the latter method, in case where these fabrics had the same phosphorus and nitrogen contents. From the relationship between the oxygen index and the phosphorus and nitrogen contents of the fabrics treated by the CAN-initiated copolymerization, it is said that the synergism of nitrogen in enhancing the flame-retarding effectiveness of phosphorus appears remark-ably at low phosphorus content. The cotton fabrics treated by the CAN-initiated copolymerization method had a tearing strength higher than those treated by the pad-dry-cure method in case where they had the same oxygen index value.