Nano-Based Flame Retardant Textile Treatments

Nano-based flame retardants (nano-FR) incorporate layered silicates (nanoclay MMT), carbon nanomaterials (CNT, graphene), polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), and layered double hydroxides (LDH) into textile fibers or coatings to improve flame retardancy with lower additive loadings (1–10 wt%) than conventional halogenated or phosphorus systems (15–30 wt%). Nanoclay at 5 wt% in PA6 reduces peak heat release rate (pHRR) by 32% (cone calorimeter, ISO 5660) by forming protective silica-char barrier during combustion. Graphene oxide at 2 wt% in cotton coating reduces total heat release by 50% through enhanced char formation. LOI improvements of 3–8% points are typical for nano-FR alone; synergy with phosphorus or nitrogen co-systems achieves LOI >30% at combined loadings of 5–10 wt%, halving total FR chemical use.