Effects of Selected Inorganic Salts on Cotton Flammability

Abstract

Five inorganic salts were applied at two levels to cotton fabric. The fabric samples were then tested in the vertical test and oxygen index test, with temperatures and heating rates monitored. Only the CaC03 and MgCl₂ samples at high levels affected the vertical test, although several other specimens had oxygen index values in the 25.5-29.5 range. All salts at the lower level reduced the maximum temperature in the oxygen index test. At higher levels this maximum was increased over untreated fabric, and heating rates were increased. In the vertical test all of the salts lowered the maximum temperature. The maximum temperature generally dropped with in creasing oxygen index values, suggesting that this measurement may indicate small changes in inherent fabric flammability that do not show up in char length results. Results of this study suggested that the applications of the vertical test and oxygen index test in studying the interaction of inorganic salts with flame retardant-treated cotton is complicated by the fact that such salts alone alter the flammability char acteristics of the unfinished cotton measured in these tests. A pattern of cation or anion behavior was not evident.