Phys.org September 15, 2021
Researchers in Switzerland utilized a tri-functional phosphorous compound (trivinylphosphine oxide), which has the capability of reacting only with specifically added molecules (nitrogen compounds like piperazin) to form its own network inside cotton. This makes the cotton permanently fire-resistant without blocking the favorable -OH groups. This flame retardant treatment does not include carcinogenic formaldehyde. The phosphine oxide networks do not wash out. After 50 launderings, 95 percent of the flame retardant network was still present in the fabric. To fix the phosphine oxide networks inside the cellulose they treated the cotton with an aqueous solution of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds and then steamed it in a readily available pressure cooker to facilitate the crosslinking reaction of the phosphorus and the nitrogen molecules. The application process is compatible with equipment used in the textile industry…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Phosphine oxide macromolecule (POM) formation within cotton via Michael addition reaction… Credit: Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 417, 1 August 2021, 128028Â