Anti-Dripping Flame Retardant Treatment Of Polyester Fabric

Polyester fiber, which has continuously replaced cotton, metal and other traditional materials, are widely used in various fields because of it its excellent properties. However, its inherent poor flammability and dripping problem which can cause real threat to human life and health in a fire hazard have attracted more and more attention. Therefore, it is necessary to develop flame retardant and anti-dripping systems for PET with low release of smoke and low toxic gas.PVC based conveyor belt with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric as belt carcass have been widely used in coal mines with the poor ventilation of air usually containing many kinds of explosive gases. However, the inflammability and the melting drip from burning belt is still a potential safety hazard. Silicon dioxide, modified silicon dioxide, smoke suppressant system and intumescent flame retardant system in association with smoke suppressants has been used to improve the fire performance of conveyer belt in this study. The LOI and the vertical flammability tests indicate that this method could improve the dripping resistance of PET fabric and fire performance. LOI value can reach up to 29.0%. Thermal behaviour of plasticized flake treated with this system is investigated by thermogravimetic (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. The results indicate that silicon dioxide, zinc borate and IFR system can change the thermal decomposition process of plasticized flake and increase the amount of residual char. The residual char of IFR treated flake can reach up to 30%. The results of smoke density tests of conveyer belts indicate that the smoke suppressants can significantly prevent the amount of smoke.The flammability and the melting dripping from burning poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is also a potential hazard. The flame retardant system containing 1-hydroxy ethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and sulfamic acid and IFR system consisted of HEDP, ammonium sulfamate (AMS) and pentaerythritol (PRE) have been used to improve the fire performance of PET fabric in this study. The LOI and the vertical flammability tests indicate that this method can improve dripping resistance to PET fabric. LOI value can reach up to 28.0% and after-flame time is 0s. Thermal behaviour of PET fabric treated with this system was investigated by TG and DSC experiments. The results indicate that initial decomposition temperature is decreased and the decomposition temperature range has been extended. The exothermic peak has been decreased and the amount of residual char has been increased. SEM graphs of residue of treated PET fabric show that flame retardant systems could promote formation of porous intumescent residual char which could improve the anti-dripping property of PET fabric.