Preparation of a bio‐based eco‐friendly flame‐retardant from rapeseed meal, and its durability for cotton fibers

Abstract In this study, a bio‐based flame‐retardant RmP (The prepared flame retardant：Rapeseed meal‐H 3 PO 4 ) was prepared from rapeseed meal using a one‐pot method, and it was treated using two different methods to obtain three flame‐retardant solutions: RmP1 (Flame retardant solution after conducting water solubility experiment on RmP), RmP2 (After conducting a water dissolution experiment on RmP and removing the solid from the flame retardant solution, the flame retardant solution was obtained through a hydrogen peroxide dissolution experiment), and BmRmp (Flame retardant solution prepared after ball milling experiment of RmP). Through a dip‐dry‐cure finishing process, these solutions were applied to cotton fabrics to achieve flame‐retardant cotton fabrics DC‐RmP1 (Durable and flame retardant cotton fabric prepared using flame retardant liquid RmP1), DC‐RmP2 (Durable and flame retardant cotton fabric prepared using flame retardant liquid RmP2), and DC‐BmRmP (Durable flame retardant cotton fabric prepared using flame retardant solution BmRmP), which were then tested and characterized. Compared with the control cotton fabric, the limiting oxygen index values of DC‐RmP1, DC‐RmP2, and DC‐BmRmP after 50 washing cycles increased from 18.3% to 33.2%, 29.5%, and 32.3%, respectively, and all three fabrics exhibited self‐extinguishing properties. The char lengths were 78, 112, and 68, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that the flame‐retardants altered the thermal decomposition process and promoted char formation in the cotton fabrics. Cone calorimetry tests showed that the peak heat release decreased by 86.2%, 86.5%, and 80.2%, and the total heat release decreased by 85.8%, 89.0%, and 83.8%, respectively. Therefore, this work provides a green, convenient, and friendly method for producing bio‐based flame‐retardant cotton fabrics.