Albright & Wilson Limited

Rhodia Operations

Energy Solutions (US) LLC

Energysolutions, LLC

Geoffrey Hand

Robert Cole

Gary Woodward

Robert Hicklin

John Davis

Matthew Seabrook

The instant invention relates to a composition useful as a precursor for imparting flame-retardant properties to textile articles, comprising a condensate of: (a) a tetrakis (hydroxyorgano) phosphonium sulfate THPS; (b) urea, or alternatively thiourea; (c) optionally, and preferably, an aliphatic hydroxyl-reactive compound, such an amine wherein said composition has a very low free formaldehyde content, namely of less than 0.1%.

Flame retardant compositions with low formaldehyde content

The present invention provides a method for treating textile material to confer flame retardant properties, the method comprising the steps of impregnating the material with an aqueous solution of a treatment agent which is a poly(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium compound; drying the impregnated material; curing the dried impregnated material with ammonia to produce a cured, water-insoluble polymer which is mechanically fixed within the fibers of the material; oxidizing the cured polymer to convert trivalent phosphorus to pentavalent phosphorus; and washing and drying the material; wherein one or both of steps (d) and (e) result in the co-production of an aqueous effluent; and wherein the conditions are controlled such that the atomic ratio of N:P present on the material increases during step (c) by 0.8 or more.

Treatment of textile materials

Flame retardant cellulosic fabrics having reduced shrinkage are obtained by treatment involving reaction of fabric with a non self-condensing methylolamide under aqueous acid conditions, followed by treatment of fabric with tetrakis hydroxylmethyl phosphonium compound or condensate and then curing the ammonia.

Fabric treatment processes

Flame retardant cellulosic fabrics having reduced shrinkage are obtained by treatment of fabric with a tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium compound or condensate and then curing with ammonia, followed by treatment involving reaction of the fabric with a non self-condensing methylolamide under aqueous acid conditions.

Flame retardant treatment of cellulose fabric with crease recovery:

A flame retardant composition comprises at least one cyclic phosphonate ester and at least one phosphono amide. The ester and the amide are present in a ratio by weight of 0.1 to 2:1. A co-curing agent (e.g. urea, ethylene urea or an amino-triazine) may be included. The composition may also contain a non-rewetting agent and/or a softening or conditioning agent. The composition is used for the flame retardant treatment of a fabric by first impregnating the fabric with an aqueous solution of the composition and then heating the impregnated fabric at at least 100.degree. C. and under acid pH conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Halesowen, United Kingdom

Geoffrey Hand