Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics are widely used owing to their excellent physical and chemical properties, but their inherent flammability poses a significant threat to safety. To address this issue, this study developed an organic–inorganic hybrid flame-retardant system composed of chitosan (CH)/laponite (LAP)/polyethylenimine (PEI)/phytic acid (PA) and constructed a high-performance fire-resistance coating on PET fabrics via a trilayer assembly technique. The results showed that the coated PET fabrics exhibited excellent flame-retardant performance when the concentration of PEI/PA was 10%. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 29.0%, and the damaged length in vertical burning tests was reduced to 3.5 cm with antidripping ability. Compared to PET fabrics, a decrease of 28.3% in the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and 6.3% in the total heat release (THR) was reached for 10FR@PET. In addition, the CO2/CO ratio exhibited a distinct reduction and decreased from 21.4 to 12.8, indicating effective suppression of toxic smoke generation. Notably, 10FR@PET maintained an LOI value of 28.8% after five standard washing cycles, demonstrating exceptional washing durability. This study provides an easy-to-scale-up approach for developing high-performance and environmentally friendly flame-retardant PET materials with broad application prospects in protective clothing, vehicle interiors, and other decorative fields.

Key Points

• Coated PET fabrics achieve a limiting oxygen index of 29.0%, indicating enhanced fire resistance.
• The peak heat release rate decreases by 28.3% compared to untreated PET, showcasing significant safety improvements.
• Observational analysis using a trilayer assembly technique results in a durable fire-resistance coating.
• Effective reduction in CO2/CO ratio demonstrates minimized toxic smoke generation and enhances safety.