Flame-retardant chemistry

Residential, upholstered furniture is flammable. It can be both a starting point for fires and a substantial source of fuel for fires that originate elsewhere in the home.  

In the case of flame-retardant chemicals, the transfer is almost inevitable. The variable is the amount of flame retardant that moves and the time it takes to occur. Another variable, and part of what makes this problem so interesting, is the different sensitivities of upholstery fabrics.

Cotton is resistant to damage from alkaline chemicals but is susceptible to damage by acids. Acids cause hydrolysis of the cellulose polymer, resulting in a weakening of the fiber. This damage is often accompanied by yellowing or browning, especially on white or light-colored fabrics. It is not unusual to find the cotton ticking fabric also discolored in advanced stages of flame-retardant-induced damage.

The flame-retardant-induced browning of cotton may look like the “cellulosic browning” that sometimes appears shortly after cleaning cotton (and other cellulosic) fabrics. However, browning due to flame retardant is caused by actual fiber damage, like the yellowing and eventual embrittling of old newspaper. It is not correctible or preventable with application of acidic chemicals such as those commonly used as rinse agents. If anything, fiber damage caused by acidic, flame-retardant byproducts is likely to be accelerated by acid rinses.

Flame-retardant chemistry

In addition to other requirements, specified that any feather type filling material had to be encased in a flame-retardant ticking. Ticking is the fabric “bag” that holds the filling material. “Down-proof” cotton ticking was already widely used in the furniture industry, so the standard was met by simply applying flame-retardant chemicals to these fabrics. To simplify, we will use the term “down” to mean any filling material made from down, feathers, or combination of the two.

Cotton, a cellulosic fiber, is easily ignited in any fire situation. It is also among the easiest to treat for flame resistance. In fact, the least expensive types of flame-retardant chemistries — often based on inorganic salts — tend to perform well when applied in moderate amounts on cellulosic fabrics. These inexpensive chemicals are nondurable (they are water soluble), but in certain, less-demanding applications, such as the ticking specified , they are a very attractive solution.

Flame-retardant chemicals, based on inorganic salts, may be benign when first applied; however, these chemicals have at least one significant drawback: They decompose over time, forming acids. Even moderately strong acids can do serious damage to certain textiles, especially with prolonged exposure.

We are therefore developing a series of non-halogen flame retardants for textile back coating. These products were historically classified as Environmentally Hazardous Substances.There is no change in their flame retardant performance or processing characteristics.

 Young Yao

Marketing development manager

Zhejiang Ruico Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Stock No.873233)

Add: No.188, Liangshan Road, Linghu Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China 313018

Phone: +86 (572) 2903236

Fax: +86 (572) 2905222

WhatsApp: +86 15088303595

Wechat: 18458299199

Website: www.ruicoglobal.com

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