Carbon nanotube-filled intumescent multilayer nanocoating on cotton fabric for enhancing flame retardant property

Abstract In this work, hybrid organic-inorganic film of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMGP)/one kind of industrially available fluorescent whitening agents (VBL)-MWNTs was built via layer-by-layer assembly technique to protect cotton fabric from fire. The UV–vis spectra and the TEM images confirm that VBL could improve the dispersibility of MWNTs in water. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy prove that the PHMGP and VBL-MWNTs are successfully incorporated into the cotton fabric. Compared to the control fabric, the thermal stability, flame retardancy and residue chars of the coated fabrics are improved with the bilayer number increasing, which were assessed by thermo-gravimetric analysis, microscale combustibility experiments, vertical and horizontal flammability tests, respectively. The enhancements are ascribed to both the physical barrier effect of MWNTs and the intumescent flame retardant of PHMGP and VBL.