Effect of Flame-Retardant Treatment on the Thermal Behavior of Cotton Fabric

Abstract

A locally manufactured greige cotton fabric was impregnated with potassium alum, and its thermal characteristics were examined. Flame propagation rate and after-glow time decreased appreciably, but smoke emission was enhanced. These results are be lieved to stem from the fact that decomposing alum not only generates noncombustible gases, which dilute the concentration of volatile combustible gaseous pyrolysates, but also leaves an aluminium oxide residue that forms a heat conducting coating around the substrate.