Cotton is tremendously popular in civilian and military applications
(clothing, wall-hangings, bedding materials, firefighter apparel and
military garments) due to its good mechanical properties, biodegrad-
ability and air permeability [1–3]. However, cotton faces certain
shortcomings such as ease to ignition, microbial infection and poor
water repellency [4–6]. Cotton-related burn injuries and financial
losses have been a worldwide problem and many repeated attempts
have been made to develop flame retardant cotton fabric [7].
The flame retardancy of cotton fabric can be achieved by chemical
treatment and halogen-based and formaldehyde-based flame retar-
dants have shown remarkable flame retardancy in the past decades
[8,9]. However, formaldehyde is known as a carcinogenic compound
by World Health Organization and halogen-containing compounds in
the combustion will release hydrogen halide toxic and corrosive
gases [10]. Therefore, government regulations for fire safety and
concerns over the toxicological and environmental consequences of
these flame retardants have fueled the search for environmentally
friendly and cost-effective alternatives [11].
In recent years, silicone-based flame retardants have been a research
hotspot in academic. These compounds possess good thermal stability,
low fire hazard and biological compatibility [12,13]. The flame retarding
mechanism is explained as that the flame retardants migrate to the
material surface and produce silicaceous char layer during combustion.
Furthermore, synergistic effect of silicon and other elements on enhan-
cing flame retardancy of cotton fabric is previously observed [14].
The interest in improvement of water repellency of cotton has
been increased recently. Cotton treated with fluorinated com-
pounds can obtain high water repellency. However, fluorinated
compounds have potential risk to humans and the environment
[15]. Nowadays, silicon compounds have been a good option
because they can create a hydrophobic surface and they are eco-
friendly [16]. The development of cotton fabrics with multifunc-
tional features is attracting more attention.
In this work, Iodine butyl-N-sulfonate amino polysiloxane [(IB-
N-SA) PDMS] was synthesized as a novel agent with double
functions of water repellency and flame retardancy using poly
(4-iodobutoxy) methylsiloxane and guanidine sulfamate as raw
materials. It was applied to cotton fabrics and it could combine to
cotton fabrics with covalent bond due to the activity group. The
water repellency and flame retardancy of treated cotton fabrics
with (IB-N-SA) PDMS were evaluated by water contact angle and
limiting oxygen index (LOI). The combustion behaviors of treated
cotton fabrics were investigated by cone calorimeter.