An up-to-date combination of different analytical techniques for better understanding the thermal degradation and combustion behaviour of textiles

The present work aims to review the analytical techniques commonly used for the thermal and combustion characterization of flame retarded textiles, also taking into account the recent development of new instrumentations. More specifically, the use and abuse of standard characterizations like thermogravimetry and thermogravimetry coupled with infrared spectroscopy will be referred and compared to pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimetry, thermogravimetry at high heating rates and flash pyrolysis. The collected results from these latter techniques can be somehow correlated with those coming from (horizontal or vertical) flame spread, LOI and cone calorimetry tests: this has been clearly assessed when bio-macromolecules have been used as flame retardants for cotton. Hence, the proposed approach can be applied for investigating a new flame retardant system, provide an exhaustive characterization of its thermal and fire performances.