Development of High Flame-Retardant Fabric Using Aerogel-Based Coating for Improved Comfort and Thermal Protection

Textile technology

Textiles are used in many parts of everyday life, but most fabrics can catch fire easily and let flames spread quickly. Linen and polyester, which are often used in clothes and home textiles, are no different.Linen burns quickly because it is a natural fibre. Polyester, on the other hand, melts and drips when it gets hot. This is why it is important to find ways to make these fabrics safer for fires without making them less comfortable.This study developed and applied a straightforward aerogel-based flame-retardant coating to linen and polyester fabrics. Polyvinyl alcohol was used as a binder, ammonium polyphosphate as a flame-retardant agent, Tween-80 as a surfactant, and silica aerogel as a thermal insulator to make the coating solution.The fabrics were checked for air permeability, vertical and horizontal flammability, and wash durability after being coated.The fabrics with the coating were much better at resisting flames. The fabrics burnt more slowly and spread flames less quickly than untreated samples, and they also put themselves out better. The fabrics still let air through after being coated, which means that comfort and breathability were mostly kept. Tests that involved washing the coating showed that it still worked after being washed.In general, this study shows that coatings made of aerogel can be a simple and promising way to make flame-retardant fabrics that are safer and more comfortable for everyday and protective use.

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