Troubleshooting for flame-retardant finishes and particularities

There are also serious side effects to fabric physical properties from flame-retardant finishing that must be recognised, often caused by the high application levels of the flame retardants. Harsh hand, loss of tensile suength and colour effects (fabric yellowing and dye shade changes) are common problems with durable flame-retardant finishes for cotton. The combination with other finishes, such as softeners, easy-care and repellent finishes, must be carefully tested. The flame retardancy of the multi-purpose finish is more often reduced than it is acceptable. 

The toxicity of some flame-retardant components and of their combustion gases is a particular concern for flame-retardant finishes, especially if based on halogens and several heavy metals. Therefore, aircraft textile equipment has to fulfil special requirements, for example, smoke density and toxicity tests. Toxicity problems include  

Most flame-retardant finished textiles are excluded from the Oko-Tex Standard 100 label. In all cases, the durability of the finish is often a problem. It is the responsibility of the fabric finisher to address these issues if commercial flame-retardant fabrics are to be produced. An alternative for the fabric designer without most of the named problems is the use of flame-resistant modified fibres, but 

1 Levin M, Handbook of Fiber Science and Technology, Vol. II, Chemical Processing of Fibers andFabrics. Functional Finishes, PartB, Levin M and Sello S B (eds), New York, Marcel Dekker, 1984, 1-141. 

2 Horrocks AR, Flame retardant finishing of textiles , Review Progress Coloration, 1986, 16, 62-101. 

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