Enhanced flame-retardant properties of cellulose fibers by incorporation of acid-resistant magnesium-oxide microcapsules

Magnesium oxide (MgO) microcapsules were synthesized via in-situ emulsion polymerization as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pure MgO and the MgO microcapsules were separately incorporated into cellulose fibers by blend wet spinning. Inductively coupled plasma-emission spectroscopy results revealed that cellulose fibers modified with the MgO microcapsules contained more Mg2+ than those modified by pure MgO, indicating more acid resistance. The flammability and thermal degradation of modified cellulose fibers (cellulose-Mg fibers) were studied by calorimeter (CONE), thermogravimetry (TGA), and the determination of the limiting oxygen index (LOI). The minimal LOI value obtained for the cellulose-Mg fibers was 35, being much higher than that of the unmodified cellulose fiber (19). The heat release rate of the cellulose-Mg fibers was significantly lower than that of the non-doped ones. The TGA curves showed that the generated residues increased from 13.79% (cellulose fiber) to 30.26% (cellulose-Mg fiber).