Each year, fires cause about 300000 deaths in the world
and most of these occur at home. Residential fires comprise
75% of fires in the United States and burns are the
fourth leading cause of unintentional injury related to
deaths [1]. In our modern environment we are surrounding
by a wide range of highly combustible materials,
which under the right conditions readily ignite and burn
vigorously. These materials include both natural
(e.g. wood, cellulosic materials, etc.) and man-made
polymers (e.g. polyester, nylon, etc.) [2]. Idea of impartation
of flame-retardancy into the materials is dated
back to 450 B.C. when the Egyptians used alum to reduce
the flammability of wood. About 200 B.C., the
Romans applied a mixture of alum and vinegar to reduce
the combustibility of wood [3].อ