Horizontal Burning Rates of Fabrics with Low Add-Ons of Fire Retardant

Abstract

Plain-weave, scoured, and bleached cotton (103 g/m2) and polyester/cotton (92 g/m2) fabrics were treated with two durable, fire-retardant, durable-press finishes. The retardants were based on Fyrol 76® (contained phosphorus) and Caliban® F/R P®-44 (contained bromine). Oxygen index (OI) and horizontal burning rates at atmospheric oxygen concentration were studied with emphasis on fabrics with low add-ons of the retardants. OI values increased as add-ons increased; however, the OI values were increased about twice as much by 2% add-on at low levels of add-on as with 2% at high levels of add-on. Rate of burning of both type fabrics was greatly affected by very low add-ons of the retardant. The burning rate of cotton with about 1 to 3% add-on was increased as much as 58%; that of the polyester/cotton was increased 24%. The increased burning rate is apparently related to theamount of cotton in the fabric. Polyester/cotton (PE/C) fabric required substantially less retardant than cotton to become self-extinguishing in the horizontal position.