Analysis of Flame-retardant Finishes on Textiles Using Laser-Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Laser-Raman investigations have been carried out on polyester-cotton blend fabrics finished with various phosphorus based flame-retarding chemicals. From the spectra obtained, it has been possible to identify not only the bands characteristic of fibres constituting the blends but also certain frequencies associated with the vibrations of P-N and P-CI bonds present in the flame-retardant chemical finish. Though the application of laser-Raman spectroscopy to the study of the chemical nature of textile surface chemical finishes is still in its infancy, it seems to provide more detailed information than is possible through infrared spectroscopy.</span>