Albright & Wilson Limited

Xiao P Lei

Mohsen Zakikhani

David W Speake

A one-pack composition conferring flame-retardant and fabric-softening properties on fabrics comprises a THP.sup.+ salt, an organic nitrogen compound (eg urea) and a hydroxyl-reactive organic compound having 12 or more carbon atoms. Preferred examples of such compounds include C.sub.12 amine, C.sub.18 amine and tallow amine (viz C.sub.16 /C.sub.18 /C.sub.20 amine mixture).

Flame-retardant and fabric-softening treatment of textile materials

In the flame-retardant treatment of fabrics, there is provided a means for increased 'loading' of phosphorus compounds (up to 25% moisture is retained after impregnation and drying of the fabric). This in turn enables a phosphonium compound 'add-on' of 50% to 73% (relative to the weight of the fabric) and gives a correspondingly higher degree of flame-retardant properties.

Flame-retardant treatment of fabrics

In a method for the flame-retardant treatment of fabrics by impregnation with a condensate of a tetrakis (hydroxyorgano) phosphonium salt and, e.g., urea, the addition of one or more protonated and neutralized amines to the impregnation solution increases the efficiency of fixation of the phosphonium salt within the fibers, improves its uniform distribution within the system and leads to improved flame-retardant and water-resistant properties.

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Selly Oak, United Kingdom

Xiao P Lei