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Green, multifunctional protective fabrics have evoked enormous research enthusiasm because of the progress in public safety. Herein, inspired by the self-protection ability of natural creature, multifunctional protective cotton fabric (TP-Cotton) was prepared through layer-by-layer self-assembly of tannic acid (TA) and phytic acid (PA) from biomass. Due to the synergistic effect of TA as an antioxidant and PA as a fire retardant, the modified cotton fabric displays excellent fireproofing, antimicrobial activity, and UV-resistance. The limiting oxygen index of TP-Cotton reaches 39.4%, and the peak value of heat release rate (pHRR) reduces by 80.04% compared with Cotton. Moreover, the antibacterial rates of TP-Cotton against S. aureus and E. coli reaches 99.98 and 100.00%, respectively. Meanwhile, the ultraviolet protection factor value is over 40 due to the integration of TA, which is rich in phenolic hydroxyl groups. Therefore, benefiting from this unique composition and the simple preparation strategy, the as-prepared cotton fabrics showed highly multiple protection capabilities, having promising applications as protective clothing, military uniform, and overalls for emergency services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-friendly, efficient fireproof cotton fabrics were prepared by a feasible chemical grafting of phytic acid (PA). The treated cotton fabrics (COTP) exhibited excellent thermal stability and flame resistance with limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 42.5%. Compared with other fireproof cotton fabrics, COTP displayed outstanding washing durability, the LOI maintained at 28.3% after 50 laundering cycles. Vertical burning test and cone calorimetry demonstrated self-extinguishing behavior and significantly improved flame retardancy of COTP. The peak heat release rate and the total heat release of COTP3-90 was notably declined by 65.5 and 71.4%, respectively. Moreover, lower smoke production and release were found with reduction in total smoke production of 12.5% and total smoke rate of 18.8% compared with untreated cotton fabric. The improved flame retardancy of COTP was speculated that PA catalyzed cellulose dehydration and carbonization to facilitate the formation of residual char, reduce the release of flammable gases and heat/mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Durable and restored fireproof cotton fabrics were prepared via a facile strategy. • Prominent fire resistance and durability to 50 LCs with LOI of 32.7% was achieved. • The reduction in washing durability can be recovered by feasible acetic acid soaking. • Improved fire resistance was due to graphitized carbon layers and C/N heterocycles. Novel, durably flame-retardant cotton fabrics with fascinatingly restorable fire resistance were prepared by simple grafting of phosphate and melamine, which contributed to a phosphorous-nitrogen (P/N) synergism. During the preparation process, phosphate was grafted with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose to form P-O-C bonds; subsequently, melamine reacted with the aldehyde groups of cellulose generated from phosphorylation to form P/N modified fabrics (P/N-Cotton). The P/N synergistic effect endowed cotton fabric with prominent fire resistance and durability. The Limit oxygen index (LOI) was as high as 51.1 ± 0.3% and was maintained at 32.7 ± 0.8% after 50 laundering cycles (LCs). The total heat release (THR) and peak values of heat release rate (pHRR) of P/N-Cotton were significantly reduced by 70.11% and 64.19%, respectively. Amazingly, the modified cotton fabrics exhibited restorable fire resistance once immersed into the acetic acid solution due to the ion exchange between Na+ from detergent and H+ from acetic acid. The LOI of P-Cotton and P/N-Cotton after 50 LCs can be restored to 32.4 ± 0.7% and 35.7 ± 0.7% from 20.8 ± 0.7% and 32.7 ± 0.8%, respectively. The analysis of gas-phase products and residual char demonstrated that the incorporation of phosphate and melamine facilitated cellulose fibers to convert to dense and stable graphitized carbon layers and carbon-nitrogen heterocycles, effectively protecting the fabric from decomposing to flammable gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]