Thermal Degradation Kinetic Data of Polyester, Cotton and Polyester-Cotton Blended Textile Material

Polyester (P), cotton (C) and Polyester-Cotton (PC) blended fabrics were treated with 350gpl of phosphorous containing flame retardant (FR) chemical. Oxidative thermal degradation of these fabrics before and after the treatment was studied using Thermogravimerty (TG) Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). From TG output, quantitative mass loss of samples was calculated at definite temperature interval. Mass loss profile of control fabrics were compared with that after treatment. Form DTA data, activation energy of fabrics during decomposition was calculated using Broido’s, Coats-Redfern as well as Horowitz-Metzger methods. There is complete change in degradation profile of all fabrics after treatment. The onset temperature of treated fabrics was advanced by 55°C, 75°C and 115°C for polyester, cotton and PC respectively. In final stage of mass loss, treated samples exhibited a pair of closely spaced and broad exotherm. The exothermic peak appeared at 100°C lower temperature in treated samples. Presence of an endotherm in the initial stages (near 180°C) of thermal degradation and decrease in exotherm during the final decomposition of treated fabric was noted. Activation energy treated samples was less compared to that of control samples. Drop in activation energy was observed in all method of calculation.