Bio-inspired and dual interaction-based layer-by-layer assembled coatings for superior flame retardancy and hydrophilicity of polyamide 6.6 textiles

Abstract A dual interaction-based (i.e., ionic/covalent) deposition of carbohydrate polymers, namely chitosan (CS) and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) along with a plant-derived phosphorus-rich compound like phytic acid (PA) and a nitrogen rich compound like melamine (ME) was considered onto the phosphorylated chitosan (PCS) modified polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) fabric surfaces in order to impart durable flame retardancy along with super-hydrophilicity of the same. Firstly, the pure PA6.6 textile surfaces were modified by PCS via UV-induced grafting and subsequently, the above-mentioned polyelectrolytes were assembled onto the fabric surfaces in a quadralayer fashion [i.e., (CS/ME-OSA-CS/ME-PA) n; “n” represents the number of quadralayers (QLs)]. Here, the amino groups of CS/ME and the aldehyde groups of the OSA were stabilized via covalent interaction and the deposition of positively charged CS/ME and negatively charged phytic acid (PA) formed ionic interaction. In the vertical burning (UL-94) test, both the only PCS grafted and the simultaneously PCS-grafted along with LbL assembled fabrics could completely stop the melt dripping tendency and attained a V-1 rating. In the meantime, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value received a moderate increase from 18.5 % of pure PA6.6 to 23.5 % for the PCS grafted and 8-QLs deposited fabric sample (i.e., PA6.6-g-PCS-8QL). Moreover, the PA6.6-g-PCS-8QL fabric sample exhibited a dramatic decrease in the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) by about 45 % and 24.7 % respectively alongside enhanced thermal stability. Apart from the appreciable flame retardancy, this fabric sample (i.e., PA6.6-g-PCS-8QL) could boost up the hydrophilicity to attain a water contact angle of 0°. Finally, this dual interaction-based deposition of bio-inspired polyelectrolytes posed a positive impact in enhancing the coating stability in laundering and imparting durable flame retardancy to sustain even up to 20 laundering cycles.