Efficient, durable, and breathable flame retardant cotton fabric via a feasible surface finishing.

[Display omitted] • P/N/Si co-modified fabric was presented via covalent bond and electrostatic assembly. • Modified cotton fabric displayed excellent flame retardancy and self-extinguishing. • Improved washing durability was acquired with LOI of 27.1% after 50 LCs. • Smoke suppression performance was significantly improved. • Mechanical properties and moisture permeability were substantially retained. Flame retardant cotton fabric has attracted extensive attention and research with the increase of public safe awareness. However, it still remained a great challenge to balance the performances of high flame retardancy, durability, mechanical strength, as well as formaldehyde-free, comfort, green and feasible process. Herein, efficient, durable and breathable flame retardant cotton fabrics were fabricated through a one-pot approach based on a synergetic system combining phytic acid (PA) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The modified cotton fabrics displayed high-efficiency fire resistance, self-extinguishing and excellent washing resistance due to the formation of surface hybrid network architectures from multiple covalent bonds (Si O C, C N, P O C) and electrostatic assembly. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) could retain at 27.1% after 50 laundering cycles (LCs). Moreover, the peak of heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSP) declined by 85.89%, 52.72% and 47.22% compared with neat fabric, indicating boosted flame retardance and excellent smoke suppression ability. In addition, the proposed surface finishing process substantially retained the mechanical properties and moisture permeability, providing a simple and feasible approach for high-efficiency, durable and breathable flame retardant cotton fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]