Facile fabrication of efficient flame retardant-modified wool fabrics with antibacterial properties by zinc‐based coating

Flame retardant and antibacterial applications of wool are attracting increasing scientific attention. Herein, we report a facile method to deposit a zinc-based coating on the surfaces of wool fabric and fabricate functional fabrics with flame retardant and antibacterial properties. The wool fabrics with 9.9 % weight add-on could reach a limit oxygen index value of 33.7%. Compared to the control sample, the coated sample exhibited better fire safety properties, with peak heat release rate and total smoke production values decreased by 46.5% and 33.7% during a cone calorimeter test. The obtained wool fabrics also demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties, with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli killing rates of 99.4% and 96.9%, respectively. These results proved that the treated wool samples had excellent flame retardancy and antibacterial properties. Additionally, the flame-retardant coating had minor negative effects on the whiteness and strength of the wool fabrics.