Nitrogen–phosphorous antagonism in flame‐retardant cotton

摘要

AbstractPhosphorous, as sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and nitrogen, in the form of a urea–for‐maldehyde condensate, were applied to cotton fabric. The flame‐retarding character of each treated fabric was assessed by determining the respective limiting oxygen index. Analysis of the results showed that at the lowest levels of applied phosphorous (P = 2), the presence of nitrogen produced less than an additive combined flame‐retarding effect. At higher phosphorous levels, this deviation from additivity increased until at P>6, the presence of nitrogen antagonized the flame‐retarding effect of the phosphorous. These observations are discussed within the current ideas of nitrogen–phosphorous interaction in flame‐retardant systems, for cotton‐con