Investigation of effects of coating and impregnation processes with different vegetable extracts on flame retardancy

Development of technology and industry causes some negative effects on environment besides its facilitation property on human life. One of these negative effects are decreasing healtiness of humans and plants caused by some chemicals in textile finishing processes. Therefore, in terms of both prevention of environmental pollution and continuous supply chain of raw materials become more important. Cotton and polyester are the most used conventional fibers in the textile industry. There is need for development of new natural and sustainable flame retardant chemicals used during finishing processes of these fibers instead of conventional flame retardancy chemicals. In addition to its high volume mineral contents such as calcium and potassium, banana peels can be considered as shield on textile materials against combustion. Due to polish effect, repeller effect on some insects, continuous production of banana peels, it can be used on fabrics for upholstery and curtain. Another natural material licorice root consists of glycyrrhizinic acid and its calcium-potassium salts. Due to these contents, researches on licorice roots continue for medicine and cosmetics areas. Plant of licorice has area of usage as bubble fire extinguisher, so that effect on flame retardancy of licorice can be new research area. In the scope of the study, changes on flame retardancy characterization of weaved fabrics from %100 cotton and %50-%50 blended cotton-polyester, homogeneity of impregnation and coating precesses on the fabrics, mass change with thermogravimetric analysis and LOI changes are investigated after impregnation and coating process of fabrics with macromolecules from extracted banana peels and licorice roots. Results are compared to commercial flame retardant chemicals. In according to results, extracted banana peels and licorice provide improved flame retardancy effect for both types of fabric. Combustion characteristics of untreated and treated fabrics are presented in this study.