Optimization of the procedure to burn textile fabrics by cone calorimeter : Part II. Results on nanoparticle-finished polyester

Commercial polyester textiles have been finished with hydrotalcite, nanometric titania and silica aqueous suspensions and further characterised in order to investigate their combustion behaviour. Two different features of the finishing procedure have been studied: the role of immersion time and the pH suspension. The corresponding distribution and dispersion of nanoparticles on polyester fibres have been evaluated by scanning electron microscopy coupled to elemental analysis. Furthermore, an eventual surface pre-treatment of fabrics has been evaluated using cold oxygen plasma. Combustion data have shown that the cone calorimeter is a useful instrumentation to characterise the treated fabrics (when they are washed, as well) in terms of their ability to modify ignition and burning behaviour. Only hydrotalcite-containing treatments have consistent increases in times to ignite, and hence, flame retardancy levels have been achieved.