Technical path to improve the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics through TPU membrane composite technology

Technical path to improve the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics through TPU membrane composite technology

Introduction

As the continuous improvement of safety requirements in modern industry and daily life, the flame retardant performance of textiles has become an important research direction. As a widely used synthetic fiber, nylon is highly favored for its excellent mechanical properties and wear resistance. However, nylon materials themselves have high flammability, limiting their application in some special areas. To improve the flame retardant properties of nylon fabrics, researchers have explored a variety of modification methods, among which thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film composite technology has attracted widespread attention for its good flame retardant effect and versatility.

This article will discuss in detail the technical paths for improving the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics through TPU membrane composite technology, including material selection, process flow, performance testing and result analysis, and citing famous foreign literature for supporting evidence. The structure of the article is as follows: First, the basic principles of TPU membrane composite technology are introduced; second, the specific technical path and implementation steps are explained; then, the experimental data and results are displayed and analyzed; then, the application prospects and future development directions of this technology are discussed .

Overview of TPU membrane composite technology

1. Basic characteristics of TPU film

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is an elastomeric material produced by the reaction of polyisocyanate and polyol, with excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance and processability. Depending on the different formulation designs, TPUs can exhibit different hardness ranges from soft to hard, suitable for a variety of application scenarios. As a thin film form of TPU, the TPU film is usually between 0.05mm and 0.5mm in thickness, and has good flexibility and breathability.

Table 1 shows the main physical performance parameters of several common TPU films:

2. Principles of composite technology

TPU film composite technology refers to combining the TPU film with a substrate (such as nylon fabric) through physical or chemical means to form a new composite material. This composite material not only inherits the original advantages of the substrate, but also gives additional functional characteristics, such as flame retardancy, waterproofness, etc. The bonding between the TPU film and the nylon fabric can be achieved in the following ways:

• Hot pressing method: Use high temperature and high pressure to melt the TPU film and closely combine it with the nylon fabric.
• Solvent Method: Use an organic solvent to dissolve the TPU film, then apply it to the surface of the nylon cloth, and after the solvent evaporates, a uniform TPU coating is formed.
• Adhesive method: Use special adhesive to adhere the TPU film to nylon fabric.

Specific technical paths to improve the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics

1. Material selection

In order to ensure that the TPU film composite technology can effectively improve the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics, it is necessary to carefully select the appropriate raw materials. The choice of nylon fabric should consider factors such as its fabric structure, density, and whether it has been pretreated. Common types of nylon fabrics include plain fabrics, twill fabrics and satin fabrics. TPU membranes need to choose different types of formulas according to the specific flame retardant needs, such as flame retardant TPUs containing phosphorus, nitrogen or halogen.

Table 2 lists several nylon fabrics suitable for TPU film composite and their main characteristics:

2. Process flow

TPU film composite process mainly includes the following steps:

• Pretreatment: Clean, dry and surface-activate nylon fabricsto enhance its adhesion to the TPU film.
• Coating/Polishing: The TPU film is evenly coated or bonded to the surface of the nylon fabric according to the selected method (hot pressing method, solvent method or adhesive method).
• Currect/crosslinking: By heating or light, physical or chemical crosslinking reaction occurs between the TPU film and the nylon cloth to form a stable composite layer.
• Post-treatment: Cooling, shaping and quality inspection of the composite fabric to ensure that it meets the expected performance requirements.

Figure 1 shows a simplified flowchart of the TPU film composite process:

[Pretreatment] → [Coating/Laminating] → [Curging/Crosslinking] → [Post-treatment]

3. Performance testing and result analysis

In order to evaluate the improvement of TPU film composite technology on the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics, a series of rigorous performance tests are required. Commonly used test items include vertical combustion test, horizontal combustion test, oxygen index measurement, etc. These tests not only reflect the flame retardant properties of the fabric in an intuitive way, but also provide a scientific basis for subsequent optimization.

Table 3 summarizes the performance of untreated and TPU film composite nylon fabrics in various flame retardant performance tests:

As can be seen from the table, the nylon fabrics treated with TPU film composite showed significantly better results than the untreated samples in all test items, especially in terms of flame spread distance and oxygen index, which suggests that the TPU films are It does indeed play an effective flame retardant effect.

Application prospects and future development direction

The advantages of TPU film composite technology in improving the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics make it have broad application prospects. At present, this technology has been widely used in aerospace, military equipment, fire protection clothing and other fields, and is expected to further expand to smart home, public transportation and other industries in the future. In addition, with the increase in environmental awarenessStrong and technological progress, the development of a greener and more efficient TPU film composite process has also become one of the research hotspots.

Reference source:

1. ASTM D6413-17, Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical)
2. ISO 4589-2:2017, Plastics — Determination of limiting oxygen index (LOI) of plastics — Part 2: Ambient temperature test
3. Kandola, B.K., et al., “Fire Retardant Materials,” Woodhead Publishing, 2014.
4. Wang, Y., et al., “Thermoplastic Polyurethane Coatings for Enhanced Fire Safety,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2019.

The above content is based on existing research and technological progress, and aims to provide readers with a reference guide for a comprehensive understanding of how to improve the flame retardant performance of nylon fabrics through TPU membrane composite technology.

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