The effect of ammonium sulphate—decabromobiphenyl oxide on the flammability of polyester/cotton blend

A 87.5:12.5 polyester/cotton blended fabric was treated with various concentrations of ammonium sulphate and decabromobiphenyl oxide (DBBO) as well as mixtures of the two additives. The flammability of the resulting systems was determined by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) method and their thermal decomposition by thermogravimetry. Ammonium sulphate was particularly less effective as a flame retardant than the DBBO. Decabromobiphenyl oxide acts in the gas phase to retard the flammability of the polyester while the inorganic salt acts in the condensed phase to decrease that of the cotton. A mechanism for the interaction of ammonium sulphate with cotton was suggested. When a mixture of the two additives containing a high percentage of the bromo-compound was used a significant increase in the LOI values was observed compared to one having the same total loading but containing a higher percentage of ammonium sulphate. This may be attributed to the stabilizing effect of the released ammonia on the intermediate species formed after the liberation of the bromine radicals from the DBBO.