Thermal stability, flame retardancy and abrasion resistance of cotton and cotton-linen blends treated by sol-gel silica coatings containing alumina micro- or nano-particles

Sol-gel processes have been carried out to deposit silica coatings "doped" with alumina micro- or nano-particles on cotton and cotton-linen fabrics in order to enhance their thermal stability, flame retardancy and mechanical properties (namely, abrasion resistance). The joint effect between silica and alumina particles (regardless of their size) has proven to enhance the thermal stability in air, and consequently to affect the flame retardancy of the treated fabrics, as assessed by thermogravimetry, flammability and cone calorimetry tests. Furthermore, the presence of traces of alumina particles has turned out to be responsible of a remarkable increase of the abrasion resistance of the fabrics.