Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flame retardant properties of plasma pre-treated/diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated cotton fabrics

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Cellulose Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Textiles with superior anti-flammability properties combined with minimal environmental impact are extremely necessary to reduce fire-related issues. In this regard, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on cotton fabrics may represent promising candidates as potential flame-retardant (FR) materials. Herein, superhydrophobic and fire-resistant cotton fabrics were fabricated through a two-step plasma strategy by alternately exposing substrates to H2 and O2 plasma pre-treatments and subsequent DLC deposition. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis has revealed that different plasma pre-treatments can impose surface modifications on the chemical structure of cotton, especially in carboxylic and hydroxyl groups, leading to a radical alteration of surface roughness and of the crystalline cellulosic external structure. These changes deeply influenced the growth of DLC thin films and the surface properties of cotton fabric because of the combination of a hierarchical structure and surface chemistry as verified using field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy and water contact angle measurements. The effects of both specific gases used in the pre-treatment step and duration of pre-treatment were analysed and compared using thermogravimetric analyses. The H2-pre-treated DLC cottons exhibited good potential as an FR material, showing improved thermal stability in respect to untreated cotton, as evidenced by increased ignition times. Moreover, vertical burning tests have demonstrated that DLC-cotton systems exhibit enhanced flammability resistance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balu B, Breedveld V, Hess DW (2008) Fabrication of "roll-off" and "sticky" superhydrophobic cellulose surfaces via plasma processing. Langmuir 24(9):4785–4790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caschera D, Cossari P, Federici F, Kaciulis S, Mezzi A, Padeletti G, Trucchi D (2011) Influence of PE-CVD parameters on the properties of diamond-like carbon films. Thin Solid Films 519:4087–4091

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caschera D, Cortese B, Mezzi A, Brucale M, Ingo GM, Gigli G, Padeletti G (2013) Ultra hydrophobic/superhydrophilic modified cotton textiles through functionalized diamond-like carbon coatings for self-cleaning applications. Langmuir 29:2775–2783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caschera D, Mezzi A, Cerri L, de Caro T, Riccucci C, Biasiucci M, Ingo GM, Padeletti G, Gigli G, Cortese B (2014) Effects of plasma treatments for improving extreme wettability of cotton fabrics. Cellulose 21:741–756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan CM (1994) Polymer surface modification and characterization. Hanser/Gardner Publications, Munich, pp 265–279

  • Chen DQ, Wang YZ, Hu XP, Wang DY, Qu MH, Yang B (2005) Flame-retardant and anti-dripping effects of a novel char-forming flame retardant for the treatment of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics. Polym Degrad Stabil 88(2):349–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciolacu D, Ciolacu F, Popa VI (2011) Amorphous cellulose-structure and characterization. Cellul Chem Technol 45(1):213–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortese B, Caschera D, Padeletti G, Ingo GM, Gigli G (2013) A brief review of surface functionalized cotton fabrics. Surf Innov 1(3):140–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cortese B, Caschera D, Federici F, Ingo GM, Gigli G (2014) Superhydrophobic fabrics for oil/water separation through a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating. J Mater Chem A 2:6781–6789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn SJ (2011) Cellulose nanowhiskers: promising materials for advanced applications. Soft Matter 7:303–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaan S, Sun G (2007) Effect of phosphorus flame retardants on thermo-oxidative decomposition of cotton. Polym Degrad Stabil 92(6):968–974

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobart SR, Rowland SP (1978) Burning rate of layered combinations of flame-retardant and untreated cotton. Text Res J 48(8):437–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horrocks AR (2011) Flame retardant challenges for textiles and fibres: new chemistry versus innovatory solutions. Polym Degrad Stabil 96:377–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karahan HA, Özdogan E (2008) Improvements of surface functionality of cotton fibers by atmospheric plasma treatment. Fibers Polym 9:21–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim YS, Li YC, Pitts WM, Werrell M, Davis RD (2014) Rapid growing clay coatings to reduce the fire threat of furniture. ACS Appl Mater Inter 6(3):2146–2152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kitahara N, Sato T, Isogawa H, Ohgoe Y, Masuko S, Shizuku F, Hirakuri KK (2010) Antibacterial property of DLC film coated on textile material. Diam Rel Mater 19:690–694

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lam YL, Kan CW, Yuen CWM (2011) Physical and chemical analysis of plasma-treated cotton fabric subjected to wrinkle-resistant finishing. Cellulose 18(2):493–503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laufer G, Carosio F, Martinez R, Camino G, Grunlan JC (2011) Growth and fire resistance of colloidal silica–polyelectrolyte thin film assemblies. J Colloid Interface Sci 356:69–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavoine N, Desloges I, Dufresne A, Bras J (2012) Microfibrillated cellulose: its barrier properties and applications in cellulosic materials—a review. Carbohyd Polym 90(2):735–764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y-C, Mannen S, Morgan AB, Chang S, Yang Y-H, Condon B, Grunlan JC (2011a) Intumescent all-polymer multilayer nanocoating capable of extinguishing flame on fabric. Adv Mater 23:3926–3931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y-C, Mannen S, Schulz J, Grunlan JC (2011b) Growth and fire protection behavior of POSS-based multilayer thin films. J Mater Chem 21:3060–3069

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malek RMA, Holme I (2003) The effect of plasma treatment on some properties of cotton. Iran Polym J 12(4):271–280

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto R, Sato K, Ozeki K, Hirakuri K, Fukui Y (2008) Cytotoxicity and tribological property of DLC films deposited on polymeric materials. Diam Rel Mater 17:1680–1684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moon RJ, Martini A, Nairn J, Simonsen J, Youngblood J (2011) Cellulose nanomaterials review: structure, properties and nanocomposites. Chem Soc Rev 40:3941–3994

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng BL, Dhar N, Liu HL, Tam KC (2011) Chemistry and applications of nanocrystalline cellulose and its derivatives: a nanotechnology perspective. Can J Chem Eng 89(5):1191–1206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Proniewicz M, Pulaszkiewicz C, Weselucha-Birczynska A, Majcherczyk H, Baranski A, Konieczna A (2001) FT-IR and FT-Raman study on hydrothermally degradated cellulose. J Mol Struct 596:163–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samanta KK, Jassal M, Agrawa AK (2009) Improvement in water and oil absorbency of textile substrate by atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment. Surf Coat Technol 203:1336–1342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shin B, Lee KR, Moon MW, Kim HY (2012) Extreme water repellency of nanostructured low-surface-energy non-woven fabrics. Soft Matter 8:1817–1823

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tipson RS (1968) Infrared spectroscopy of carbohydrates. National Bureau of Standards Monograph 110, U.S. Department of Commerce, DC

  • Tu AT, Lee J, Milanovich FP (1979) Laser-Raman spectroscopic study of cyclohexaamylose and related compounds; Spectral analysis and structural implications. Carbohyd Res 76:239–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Quintero MR, Zhang XQ, Wang R, Wang DY (2015) Intumescent multilayer hybrid coating for flame retardant cotton fabrics based on layer-by-layer assembly and sol–gel process. RSC Adv 5:10647–10655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Yang CHQ (2006) Comparison of different reactive organophosphorus flame retardant agents for cotton: part I. The bonding of the flame retardant agents to cotton. Polym Degrad Stabil 91:2541–2548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Wang X, Lei D, Fei B, John H, Xin A (2012) Durable flame retardant for cellulosic fabrics. Polym Degrad Stabil 97:2467–2472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Wang C (2013) Fabrication of cotton fabric with superhydrophobicity and flame retardancy. Carbohydr Polym 96(2):396–402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang CD, Price LM, Daly WH (2006) Synthesis and characterization of a trifunctional aminoamide cellulose derivative. Biomacromolecules 7(1):139–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Zhou W (1987) The flame-retardant standards of textile overseas. Institute of Textile Standard at Textile Ministry, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou H, Lei X, Ogino A, Nagatsu M (2008) Investigation into the antibacterial property of carbon films. Diam Rel Mater 17:1416–1419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu P, Sui S, Wang B, Sun K, Sun G (2004) A study of pyrolysis and pyrolysis products of flame retardant cotton fabrics by DSC, TGA and PY-GC-MS. J Anal Appl Pyrol 71:645–655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank Dr. S. Nunziante Cesaro for her assistance and technical support for FT-IR analysis. This work was financially supported by PON-PANREX (Project no. PON01_01322), PON-MAAT (Project no. PON02_00563_3316357) and EFOR-CNR and funded by the Regione Puglia (APQ-Reti di Laboratorio, Project PHOEBUS, cod. 31).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISMN-CNR, Area della Ricerca di Roma,Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy

    D. Caschera, R. G. Toro, F. Federici, C. Riccucci & G. M. Ingo

  2. NANOTEC-CNR, Via Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    G. Gigli

  3. Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

    G. Gigli

  4. Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies (CNB), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Via Barsanti, 73010, Arnesano, Lecce, Italy

    G. Gigli

  5. NANOTEC-CNR, Department of Physics, University La Sapienza, P. le A. Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy

    B. Cortese

Authors
  1. D. Caschera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. G. Toro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Federici
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Riccucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. M. Ingo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Gigli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. B. Cortese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Caschera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Caschera, D., Toro, R.G., Federici, F. et al. Flame retardant properties of plasma pre-treated/diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated cotton fabrics. Cellulose 22, 2797–2809 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0661-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0661-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation