VAPOR TREATMENT OF COTTON UPHOLSTERY FABRICS WITH TRIMETHYLBORATE*

ABSTRACT: Chemical treatment of fabrics in the textile finishing plant presents some unique challenges and oppor-tunities. In cooperation with a major commission finisher of upholstery fabric, Cotton Incorporated has developed pilot scale capability to confer smolder resistance to heavyweight cotton upholstery fabrics using trimethylborate/methanol azeotrope as a chemical source for boric acid. The paper reviews the laboratory work preceding the mill phase of this effort and presents a schematic representation of the re-quirements of the process for both chemical delivery and fabric preparation. The chemical and kinetic details that were considered in design are illustrated. Types of fabrics amen-dable to treatment, the economics of the treatment and smolder performance are examined in detail. In summary, the relationship of boric acid treated cotton fabrics is compared with other developmental means of producing upholstered furniture with improved smolder resistance