Abstract:

The aim of the study was to assess the thermal properties of polyester (PET) woven fabrics with unmodified (PET/AC) and flame-retardant modified (PET/AC/FR) polyacrylic coatings, before and after 1, 5, 10 & 15 washes. Differential scanning calorimetry DSC and thermogravimetric TG/DTG analyses were carried out in order to investigate the thermal processes. To evaluate the effects of the modifications and washing treatment, the scanning electron microscopy SEM/EDS technique was used. The flame-retardant modification caused that the melting enthalpy and the initial thermal degradation temperature decreased and the thermal degradation heat increased. The washing of PET/AC and PET/AC/FR fabrics caused an increase in the melting enthalpy by approximately 12% and 63% and a decrease in thermal degradation heat by about 2% and 15%, respectively. It was found that the flame-retardants were rinsed out from the coating after the fifth wash.