Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Eco-friendly synthesis of a highly efficient phosphorus flame retardant based on xylitol and application on cotton fabric

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

Abstract

A novel formaldehyde-free and bio-based flame retardant, ammonium salt of xylitol phosphoric ester acid (ASXPEA), was synthesized under moderate and solvent-free conditions. The structure of this flame retardant was characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, and 31P NMR. The FT-IR spectrum confirms that the ASXPEA flame retardant was grafted on cotton fibers through P–O–C covalent bonds. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) values of cotton treated with 7% and 10% ASXPEA flame retardant reached 41.8% and 45.2%, and their LOI values after 50 laundering cycles were maintained at 29.6% and 30.2%, respectively, with outstanding durability. Results of vertical flammability and cone calorimetry suggest that the treated cotton fabrics achieved excellent flame resistance, and high residues were obtained after combustion by thermogravimetry (TG) analysis. TG-infrared analysis indicated that the treated cotton released fewer flammable gases than the control. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses of cotton before and after treatment verified that the fiber structure of the treated cotton had sustainable mechanical properties.

Graphical abstract

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Scheme 2
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Alongi J, Malucelli G (2015) Cotton flame retardancy: state of the art and future perspectives Rsc. Advances 5:24239–24263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alongi J, Tata J, Frache A (2011) Hydrotalcite and nanometric silica as finishing additives to enhance the thermal stability and flame retardancy of cotton. Cellulose 18:179–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cataldo F (1999) From dicopper acetylide to carbyne. Polym Int 48:15–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Wang W, Jiao C (2017) A recycled environmental friendly flame retardant by modifying para-aramid fiber with phosphorus acid for thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. J Hazard Mater 331:257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Dong CH, Li Q, Pu Y, Lu Z (2018) Multifunctional, hydrophobic and flame-retarded cotton fabrics modified with liner piperzine/phosphorous/polysiloxane copolymer. Fibers Polym 19(4):861–867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta D, Bandhu S, Adhikari DK, Ghosh D (2017) Challenges and prospects of xylitol production with whole cell bio-catalysis: a review. Microbiol Res 197:9–21

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong C et al (2017) Preparation and properties of cotton fabrics treated with a novel antimicrobial and flame retardant containing triazine and phosphorus components. J Therm Anal Calorim 87:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng Y, Zhou Y, Li D, He S, Zhang F, Zhang G (2017) A plant-based reactive ammonium phytate for use as a flame-retardant for cotton fabric. Carbohydr Polym 175:636–644

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao WW, Zhang GX, Zhang FX (2015) Enhancement of flame retardancy of cotton fabrics by grafting a novel organic phosphorous-based flame retardant. Cellulose 22:2787–2796

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jia Y, Hu Y, Zheng D, Zhang G, Zhang F, Liang Y (2017a) Synthesis and evaluation of an efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly flame retardant for cotton. Cellulose 24:1159–1170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jia Y, Lu Y, Zhang G, Liang Y, Zhang F (2017b) Facile synthesis of an eco-friendly nitrogen–phosphorus ammonium salt to enhance the durability and flame retardancy of cotton. J Mater Chem A 5:9970–9981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang ZL, Wang CS, Fang SY, Ji P, Wang HP, Ji CC (2018) Durable flame-retardant and antidroplet finishing of polyester fabrics with flexible polysiloxane and phytic acid through layer-by-layer assembly and sol–gel process. J Appl Polym Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.46414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laoutid F, Bonnaud L, Alexandre M, Lopez-Cuesta JM, Dubois P (2009) New prospects in flame retardant polymer materials: from fundamentals to nanocomposites. Mater Sci Eng R 63:100–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YC et al (2010) Flame retardant behavior of polyelectrolyte−clay thin film assemblies on cotton fabric. ACS Nano 4:3325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Chen H, Wang W, Liu Y, Zhao P (2015) Synthesis of a formaldehyde-free phosphorus–nitrogen flame retardant with multiple reactive groups and its application in cotton fabrics. Polym Degrad Stab 120:193–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin DM, Zeng XR, Li HQ, Lai XJ, Wu TY (2019) One-pot fabrication of superhydrophobic and flame-retardant coatings on cotton fabrics via sol–gel reaction. J Colloid Interface Sci 533:198–206

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu XH, Zhang QY, Cheng BW, Ren YL, Zhang YG, Ding C (2018) Durable flame retardant cellulosic fibers modified with novel, facile and efficient phytic acid-based finishing agent. Cellulose 25:799–811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malucelli G et al (2014) ChemInform abstract: biomacromolecules as novel green flame retardant systems for textiles: an overview. RSC Adv 4:46024–46039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mortazavi SH, Pilehvar S, Ghoranneviss M, Hosseinnejad MT, Zargham S, Mirarefi AA, Mirarefi AY (2013) Plasma oxidation and stabilization of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber for carbon nanofiber formation. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 113:703–712

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nam S, Condon BD, Parikh DV, Zhao Q, Cintrón MS, Madison C (2011) Effect of urea additive on the thermal decomposition of greige cotton nonwoven fabric treated with diammonium phosphate. Polym Degrad Stab 96:2010–2018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Y, Liu LX, Wang X, Song L, Hua Y (2018) Hypophosphorous acid cross-linked layer-by-layer assembly of green polyelectrolytes on polyester-cotton blend fabrics for durable flameretardant treatment. Carbohydr Polym 201:1–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pethsangave DA, Khose RV, Wadekar PH, Some S (2017) Deep eutectic solvent functionalized graphene composite as an extremely high potency flame retardant. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 9:35319–35324. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b09587

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Price D, Horrocks AR, Akalin M, Faroq AA (1997) Influence of flame retardants on the mechanism of pyrolysis of cotton (cellulose) fabrics in air. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 40:511–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian Y, Li S, Chen X (2017) Preparation of mesoporous silica-LDHs system and its coordinated flame-retardant effect on EVA. J Therm Anal Calorim 130:2055–2067

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C et al (2018a) Flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam with a phosphorus–nitrogen single intumescent flame retardant. Polym Adv Technol 29:668–676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang DF, Zhong L, Zhang C, Zhang FX, Zhang GX (2018b) A novel reactive phosphorous flame retardant for cotton fabrics with durable flame retardancy and high whiteness due to self-buffering. Cellulose 25:5479–5497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing W, Jie G, Song L, Hu S, Lv X, Wang X, Hu Y (2011) Flame retardancy and thermal degradation of cotton textiles based on UV-curable flame retardant coatings. Thermochim Acta 513:75–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZJ, Li LJ, Li F, He J, Gan ZQ (2014) Infrared analysis on pyrolysis products of flame retardant rigid polyurethane foam. Adv Mater Res 1033–1034:900–906

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D et al (2017) Flame retardant and hydrophobic coatings on cotton fabrics via sol–gel and self-assembly techniques. J Colloid Interface Sci 505:892–899

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao B, Liu YT, Zhang CY, Liu DY, Li F, Liu YQ (2017) A novel phosphoramidate and its application on cotton fabrics: synthesis, flammability and thermal degradation. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 125:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng D, Zhou J, Zhong L, Zhang F, Zhang G (2016) A novel durable and high-phosphorous-containing flame retardant for cotton fabrics. Cellulose 23:2211–2220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng D, Zhou J, Wang Y, Zhang F, Zhang G (2017) A reactive flame retardant ammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepenta(methylene-phosphonic acid) for enhancing flame retardancy of cotton fabrics. Cellulose 4:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Zope IS, Shini F, Seah D, Akunuri A, Dasari A (2017) Development and evaluation of a water-based flame retardant spray coating for cotton fabrics. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 9:40782

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Textiles and Garments, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China

    Dingfei Wang, Cheng Zhang, Shengnan Li & Guangxian Zhang

  2. Chongqing Municipality Fibre Inspection Bureau, Chongqing, 401121, China

    Ling Zhong

  3. China Institute of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China

    Peixiu Tian & Fengxiu Zhang

  4. Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Biomaterial Fiber and Modern Textile, Chongqing, 400716, China

    Dingfei Wang, Cheng Zhang, Shengnan Li & Guangxian Zhang

Authors
  1. Dingfei Wang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ling Zhong
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheng Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shengnan Li
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peixiu Tian
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fengxiu Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guangxian Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangxian Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, D., Zhong, L., Zhang, C. et al. Eco-friendly synthesis of a highly efficient phosphorus flame retardant based on xylitol and application on cotton fabric. Cellulose 26, 2123–2138 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2193-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2193-5

Keywords