Halogen-containing textiles

Usage of phosphoms-based flame retardants for 1994 in the United States has been projected to be 150 million (168). The largest volume use maybe in plasticized vinyl. Other use areas for phosphoms flame retardants are flexible urethane foams, polyester resins and other thermoset resins, adhesives, textiles, polycarbonate—ABS blends, and some other thermoplastics. Development efforts are well advanced to find appHcations for phosphoms flame retardants, especially ammonium polyphosphate combinations, in polyolefins, and red phosphoms in nylons. Interest is strong in finding phosphoms-based alternatives to those halogen-containing systems which have encountered environmental opposition, especially in Europe. 

Reduction of polymer flammability is of broad interest for applications ranging from plastics to textiles. For polyesters, given their inherent instability towards water at elevated temperatures, and the high temperatures of manufacture, many classes of flame-retardant (FR) agents, including most halogen-containing materials, are impractical. Phosphate esters, capable of incorporation into the polymer backbone, were pioneered by Hoechst AG, and continue to be the materials of choice [84, 85],... 

Halogen-containing borate ester such as tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)borate [B(OCH2CHBrCH2Br)3] is reportedly used in polyurethanes, unsaturated polyesters, and epoxy novolacs.89 More recently, it was also claimed to be used in cotton textiles.89... 

The most successful approach for flame-retarding acrylic fibres is to copolymerise halogen-containing monomers into the fibre. These modacrylic fibres have excellent permanent flame retardancy and acceptable fibre properties. Some problems including reproducibility of dyeing gave rise to their substitution by flame-retardant modified polyester, for example for curtain fabrics and other decorative textiles. 

Antimony pentoxide is an alternative to antimony trioxide. It finds applications in semi-transparent materials and dark colors because of its low tinting strength. As with antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide must be used together with halogen-containing compounds to function as a flame retardant (sec discussion under antimony trioxide). The other advantages of antimony pentoxide include its refractive index which is closer to most materials, its very small particle size, its high specific surface area, and its substantially lower density. Because of its small particle size, its is frequently used in the textile industry since its addition has only a small effect on color or on mechanical properties. Production of fine-denier fibers requires a stable dispersion and a small particle size filler. The flame retardancy of laminates is also improved with antimony pentoxide because small particles are easier to incorporate in the interfiber spaces. 

Another system that has provided useful information for mechanistic speculation is a proprietary adhesive that has been under investigation recently in the Hughson laboratories. This is a sol-vent-based formulation with considerable versatility for bonding various textile fibers to the important industrial elastomers. Its principal ingredients include a mixture of di- and tri-functional polyisocyanates, a crosslinker capable of rapid reaction with elastomers at their vulcanization temperature, a halogen-containing film former, and carbon black. 

As any halogen-containing polymer, PVDC is flame-resistant. This second property is used in the production of textile fibers for furnishing fabrics. 

BFRs are one of the last classes of halogenated compounds that are still being produced worldwide and used in high quantities in many applications. In order to meet fire safety regulations, flame retardants (FRs) are applied to combustible materials such as polymers, plastics, wood, paper, and textiles. Approximately 25% of all FRs contain bromine as the active ingredient. More than 80 different aliphatic, cyclo-aliphatic, aromatic, and polymeric compounds are used as BFRs. BFRs, such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), have been used in different consumer products in large quantities, and consequently they were detected in the environment, biota, and even in human samples [26, 27]. 

PCDDs/PCDFs Pentachlorophenol and other biocides in wood preservatives, textiles, leather Products containing PCBs Open fires in the presence of halogenated materials... 

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