Amino clay – Copper phytate hybrid coating  A sustainable approach to flame retardancy in textiles

Abstract

Fire accidents are a significant cause of fatalities and property damage worldwide, with flammable textiles, especially cotton, posing a notable risk due to their widespread use and high susceptibility to ignition. To address this issue, we developed an innovative, environmentally friendly fire-retardant coating, inspired by traditional Indian practices of applying mud (clay) coatings in homes for enhanced safety. Our dual-layer coating consists of a primary layer of amino clay (AC) providing initial protection, and a secondary layer of copper phytate, which can be easily applied using a simple dip-coating technique. The coated cotton achieves a remarkable limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 61.3 %, signifying substantial fire resistance. Furthermore, in vertical flammability tests, the treated cotton immediately self-extinguishes upon ignition with no afterglow, demonstrating its high efficacy in fire prevention. This study highlights the potential of our coating to contribute to sustainable and economical fire safety solutions, aligning with global needs for enhanced fire protection in textile applications.[Display omitted]•For the first time, an amino clay (AC)-based fire-retardant coating is reported.•A combination of amino clay and copper phytate is used through the dip-coating method to create a fire-retardant coating for textiles.•The coated cotton achieves a remarkable limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 61.3 %, signifying substantial fire resistance