Flame-retardant (FR) cotton fabrics were successfully prepared with the reactive product of (3-piperazinylpropyl)­methyldimethoxysilane and phytic acid, denoted as GPA, through a quick dip-coating technology. The structure, surface micromorphologies, thermal degradation properties, flame retardancy, and combustion properties of samples were assessed. GPA was successfully deposited on the surface of cotton fabrics, which was proved by the results of Fourier-transform infrared analysis as well as scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS). During a vertical burning test, FR cotton-3, with an increased mass of 14.33 wt %, immediately extinguished after removing the igniter, while the control was entirely burned. The deposition of GPA to create flame-retardant cotton fabrics led to the serious decrease of heat release rate and total heat release. The promoted flame retardancy resulted from the formed thermally stable residues on the surface of cotton fabrics, which held back mass/heat transfer. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared analysis (TG–FTIR) results indicated that flame-retardant cotton fabrics released more nonflammable gases (H2O and NH3) and less flammable gases than the control. According to the results of TG–FTIR, SEM–EDS, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the mechanism of the flame retardancy of GPA on the cotton fabrics was proposed.

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A novel flame-retardant agent, nitrogenand phosphorus-containing polysiloxane [(IB-co-N-MDPA)PDMS] was synthesized, and it was employed on cotton fabrics. Cone calorimeter testing showed that the treated cotton fabric with (IB-co-N-MDPA)PDMS became less flammable with longer time to ignition and lower value of HRR, THR, EHC and mass loss. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that (IB-co-N-MDPA)PDMS improved the thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of cotton fabric with fewer flammable volatiles, and more char is produced during combustion. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of treated cotton fabric after combustion was covered by a compact char layer which indicated that (IB-co-N-MDPA)PDMS favored the formation of char as evidenced by the FTIR of residues. Furthermore, EDS analysis results demonstrated that the concurrent presence of Si and P in flame retardant effectively enhance the flame retardancy of cotton fabric with the remarkable amount of Si and P elements that were still present on the surface of fibers after combustion.