Flame retardancy of Nomex/cotton ring-spun blended yarn fabrics

Abstract

Fabrics knitted from Nomex, cotton and Nomex/cotton blended yams have been treated with a FR finish ‘Flovan CGN’ of phosphoric acid salt containing nitrogen and tested for char length, limiting oxygen index (LOI), mechanical properties and wash fastness of FR finish. It is observed that LOI increases and the char length decreases with an increase in Nomex content in blends with cotton. The wash fastness of FR finish after three washes is better on cotton fabrics than on Nomex/cotton blended yarn fabrics. Fabrics made from Nomex yarns have lower shrinkage and high bursting strength than those made from cotton and Nomex/ cotton yarns. The FR finish improves the LOI values and reduces the char length and times of afterglow and after flame for all the fabrics. The bursting strength of FR-treated fabrics shows no significant effect of FR finish.