Apparel Performance of Flame Retardant Silk Fabrics

Many countries enacted flame retardant legislation for apparel such as evening dress, and pajamas. But durable and formaldehyde free flame retardant finishing for silk is necessary and challenging. In this paper, three kinds of silk fabrics with different weaving styles for apparel uses were treated with a vinyl phosphorus monomer dimethyl-2(methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphate (DMMEP) by a graft copolymerization technique using potassium persulfate as an initiator. The treated silk fabrics can be self-extinguished after being ignited with a candle like fire, can pass the vertical flammability test, and. show some decrease in permeability. Fabric bending, shear, compression, and drape were tested so that possible problems in garment manufacturing could be predicted, because these properties not only affect the appearance of silk products but also influence the garment making process. The sewing properties of the treated silk fabrics are also discussed.