A novel atmospheric plasma/UV technology for developing durable flame retardant textiles

Conventional flame retardant (FR) application processes for textiles involve aqueous processing, which for the creation of durability to laundering, often requires conventional functional group chemistry. Recently reported research using sol-gel and layer-by-layer chemistries, while claimed to be based on superior, more environmentally-sustainable chemistry, still require aqueous media with the continuing problem of water management and drying processes being required. This paper outlines the initial work to confer durable flame retardant treatments to cellulosic textiles using a novel process utilizing high frequency high power electrical discharge atmospheric plasma and high powerUV laser facility for processing textiles with the formal name - Multiplexed Laser Surface Enhancement (MLSE) system. This patented system (MTIX Ltd., UK), offers the means of directly bonding flame retardant precursor species introduced into the fabric before plasma/UV exposure or into the plasma/UV reaction zone itself, thereby eliminating a number of wet processing cycles compared to conventional methods. Exploratory work to date based entirely on trial and error processing has managed to achieve reasonable levels of durable flame retardant on cellulosic and wool textiles. Initial studies undertaken on upholstery quality, cellulosic blended fabrics (e.g. 80% viscose/20% linen) are described in this paper