Analysis of Two Methods for Characterization of Flame Resistant Military Fabrics and Commercial Textile Fibers: Simultaneous DSC-TGA and Pyrolysis GCMS.

摘要

This report documents an effort to examine the usefulness of two methods for characterization of flammability and thermal stability of flame retardant (FR) polymeric fibers and textiles to support the transition of new FR polymers under development for military clothing and individual equipment and fabric shelters: (1) simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) - thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and (2) pyrolysis gas chromatography (GC) - mass spectrometry (MS). A group of FR military fabrics, woven with different types of polymeric fibers to achieve fire protection as well as various other military requirements, were examined. Simultaneous DSC-TGA (SDT) enables study of thermal behaviors of these textiles/fibers beyond their decomposition temperature. Pyrolysis provides a means to break up the polymers into smaller, volatile fragments, which can subsequently be analyzed by GCMS. Individual industrial textile fibers were examined separately as well as in woven fabrics. Both SDT and pyrolysis GCMS were found to be valuable for characterizing military FR fibers and textiles and provide useful insights into FR military fabrics. Pyrolysis GCMS was able to isolate the FR chemical in rayon and cotton, at 200 deg C, creating the potential to compare washed and unwashed materials and determine degradation from washing. SDT identified the degradation pathways in the materials.