Poly(acrylic acid)/Clay Thin Films Assembled by Layer-by-Layer Deposition for Improving the Flame Retardancy Properties of Cotton

Abstract

A flame-retardant poly(acrylic acid) (FR-PAA) was prepared by copolymerization of N-(2-(5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinyl-2-ylamino)-ethylacetamide-2-propenyl acid (DPEPA) and acrylic acid and used to fabricate various FR-PAA/montmorillonite (MMT) thin films via layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition as a flame-retardant coating system for cotton fabric. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that treatment of FR-PAA/MMT thin films improved the thermal stability of cotton fabric. Cone calorimeter testing showed that the cotton fabrics coated with the FR-PAA/MMT thin films had less flammability with lower peak heat release rate (PHRR), lower total heat release (THR), and lower average mass loss rate (AMLR). In addition, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the surface of the fabrics coated with FR-PAA/MMT films after combustion was covered by a layer of continuous and compact char.

Materials engineering for surface-confined flame retardancy

“…Another attempt has been made on cotton with assemblies of poly(acrylic acid) coupled with amino-functionalized montmorillonite nanoplatelets (MMT) [102]. Compared with the untreated fabrics, the coated substrates showed reduced combustion kinetics; in addition, SEM images performed on the residue after combustion tests revealed the formation of a blown charred structure containing nanoplatelets.…”

“…Subsequently, sodium montmorillonite has been combined with chitosan in order to deposit environmental-friendly coatings Synthesized flame retardant: poly(acrylic acid)/aminofunctionalized sodium montmorillonite 20BLs favour an increase of TTI (+40%) and a reduction of THR and PHRR (À50 and À18%, respectively), as assessed by cone calorimetry [102] Synthesized flame retardant polyacrylamide/graphene oxide 20BLs increase TTI (+56%) and lower PHRR (À50%), as assessed by cone calorimetry [103] with renewable resources composition [107]; when subjected to a butane flame torch, the 10BL assembly was capable of suppressing the foam melt dripping. A consistent reduction in combustion kinetics (À52% PHRR) was also achieved.…”

Intumescence: Tradition versus novelty. A comprehensive review

“…Intumescent coatings for cotton have also been investigated by Huang et al [372,373]. Two types of flame retardants were synthesized and tested, namely: i) an architecture consisting of an aminoderivative of poly(acrylic acid) alternating with MMT nano-platelets [372] and ii) a derivative of poly(acrylamide) coupled to exfoliated graphene oxide [373].…”

Surface-Engineered Fire Protective Coatings for Fabrics through Sol-Gel and Layer-by-Layer Methods: An Overview

“…LbL coatings consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and amino-functionalized montmorillonite nanoplatelets were designed and applied on cotton fabrics [113]. After the LbL deposition, the fabrics were found to decrease the kinetics of the combustion process.…”