Properties and characteristics of UV-induced flame retardancy silk fabric

Abstract

In this paper, silk fabrics were modified with flame retardant dimethyl-2-(methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphate using radiation of UV light with band 254 nm initiated by a photo catalyst methyl 2-benzoylbenzoate. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis were used to investigate the surface grafting evidence of flame retardant. Wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis showed the crystalline structure of grafted silk fiber and showed that graft treatment did not change the crystalline structure of silk fiber. Thermal gravimetric analysis explored the thermal decomposition mode of control and grafted silk fibers. The initial decomposition temperature decreased and produced more residues during main decomposition stage. SEM analysis of char residue showed that the grafted silk will produce solid and rigid char after combustion. Heat release rate and CO yield of modified silk fabrics both decreased. From above, it can get the flame retardancy mechanism that treated silk fiber promoted to form more nonflammable char during combustion so as to improve fire safety in real fire.

Keywords:

• silk
• UV-induced
• flame retardant
• heat release rate
• CO yield

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51003071), the Natural Science Foundation of the Higher Education Institutions of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No. 10KJB540003), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No. BK 2011353), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China (PAPD) for funding.