Flame Resistant Cotton/Polyester Carpet Materials

ABSTRACT: Cotton/polyester carpet materials are resistant to surface flame spread after esterification of the cellulosic fibers with polycarboxylic acid and suitable catalyst. The crosslinked cellulose-containing materials passed the re-quired flammability standards for carpet when subjected to the methenamine pill test. This test is much less severe than the rigorous vertical flame test method required for textiles designated for other end uses. Cotton-containing carpet materials finished with 5-10 % polycarboxylic acid, such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) or citric acid, and sodium phosphate, sodium hypophosphite, sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate catalyst were found to meet test method specifications when proper processing and fixation conditions were employed. Specific details of processing conditions and results of flammability tests are presented. KEY WORDS: cotton carpet, catalysts, cellulose crosslinking, cellulose esterification, flame resistance, polycarboxylic acid. This work is declared a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright pro-tection in the United States. *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on September 12, 2016jfs.sagepub.comDownloaded from 15