Improving the flame retardancy of flax fabrics by radiation grafting of phosphorus compounds

• Phosphorus molecules can be grafted on flax fabrics using electron beam irradiation.
• Phosphorus content and location in the fiber depend on the conditions of treatment.
• Flax fabrics have been flame retarded with a self-extinguishing behavior.
• Phosphorus allows flame retarding thermoset containing flax fabrics.

Two phosphorus-based molecules were grafted onto flax fibers through electron beam irradiation in order to impart flame retardancy to flax fabrics. Fabrics were impregnated by dipping them into a solution containing a phosphonated monomer: dimethyl(methacryloxy)methyl phosphonate (MAPC1) or dimethylvinyl phosphonate (MVP). Then fabrics were irradiated at a dose ranging between 10 and 100 kGy. The grafting efficiency was found to be dependent on the molecule concentration in the impregnation solution, on the radiation dose and on the nature of the monomer. In particular, it has been observed that MAPC1 is grafted only onto the surface while MVP is also grafted into the bulk leading to high phosphorus content (4 wt%). Flame retardancy of the modified flax fibers, fabrics and polyester thermoset composites containing these fabrics were also investigated. High phosphorus content allows fabrics to achieve self-extinguishing behavior. The flammability of composites in cone calorimeter test is also reduced, even if the thermoset is not flame retarded itself.

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