A higher durability flame retardant for regenerated cellulose fabrics based on fully bio-based phytic acid and L-arginine.

To truly endow flame-retardant fabrics with practicality and solve the problem of non-durability of flame-retardant Lyocell fabrics, this study prepared a fully bio-based flame retardant, PALA, using biomass phytic acid (PA) and L-arginine (LA). PALA was processed onto Lyocell fabrics through twice dip-pad-cure processes to prepare flame-retardant Lyocell fabrics with higher durability. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of PALA-Lyocell (D) was 48.3 % when the weight gain was 21.4 wt%. After 100 laundering cycles (LCs), its LOI value decreased to 28.7 %, still meeting the flame-retardant fabrics standard. In the cone calorimeter test, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PALA-Lyocell (D) decreased by 93.6 % and 63.6 %, respectively, compared with those of Lyocell. After 50 LCs, the PHRR and THR of PALA-Lyocell (D) were decreased by 62.6 % and 33.3 %, respectively, compared with those of Lyocell. This work demonstrates the feasibility of biomass in endowing renewable cellulose-based fabrics with flame retardancy and validates the potential of new strategies for the flame-retardant durability improvement.