This presentation focuses on recent developments in flame retardants for textiles. It discusses flame retardant modes of action, treatments, fibers, and testing methods. Existing commercial flame retardants are over 50 years old and some have caused environmental issues. Researchers are working on formaldehyde-free flame retardants for cellulosic fibers. Developments have been made in inherently flame retardant synthetic fibers, but effective and environmentally-friendly coating or finishing solutions remain elusive. The presenter's group has developed eco-friendly flame retardants based on phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicone compounds, as well as intumescent and inorganic additives containing phosphorus, boron, aluminum, magnesium, and calcium for synthetic fibers.

1. 45th IDC, International Detergency
Conference, Hilton Conference Centre,
Dusseldorf, Germany; 05/2011
Md. Abdul Hannan · sabyasachi Gaan
Developments of Flame Retardants
for Textiles

2. ABSTRACT
=This presentation will focus on current developments in
the field of flame retardant for textiles.
=Various topics such as:
• general mode of action
of flame retardants
surface treatments
• types of flame
retardant fibers
standard test
methods for flame
retardant textiles
• flame retardant
additives for fibers
Durability of these
flame retardant
treatments to
washing

3. • The existing commercial flame retardant
treatments for textile fibers are over 50 years
old and some of them have created
environmental concerns.
• Formaldehyde free solution for application of
flame retardants on cellulosic fiber is an
important topic these days.

4. • Over the past few decades there have been
developments in inherently flame retardant
synthetic fibers but effective and
environment-friendly flame retardant coating
or finishing solutions for textiles still elude us.
Our group in EMPA has been actively involved
in development of eco-friendly flame
retardants for fibers over the past 8 years.

5. Our research has focused on
Development of organic compounds based on
• phosphorus nitrogen and
• silicone.
Intumescent and inorganic flame retardants based on
phosphorus,
boron,
aluminum,
magnesium and
calcium
has also been developed as additives for
synthetic fibers.