Polyester/cotton fabrics fire alarm sensors with sensitive fire warning response and excellent flame retardancy

Abstract

Intelligent fire alarm textiles are beneficial for prevent the occurrence of fire. However, the sensitivity and sustained response time of intelligent fire alarm textiles will directly affect fire losses. In this study, intelligent fire alarm polyester/cotton blend fabrics (PCFs) with excellent flame retardancy were prepared by construction of GO@PA/CNTs@CS organic and inorganic composite coating containing phytic acid (PA), chitosan (CS), graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). GO@PA/CNTs@CS coating greatly enhanced the flame retardancy of PCFs to obtain a LOI value of 30 %, and it also endowed PCFs with self-extinguishing property. The fire hazard of PCF coated with GO@PA/CNTs@CS was significantly reduced with 40.5 % reduction of peak heat release rate (pHRR) and 72.3 % reduction of total heat release (THR). The fire alarm trigger time of GO@PA/CNTs@CS coated PCF was 1.5 s, showing the super-fast fire warning response. The fire alarm response signal can still be sent out even when the coated PCF was burnt in a fire for over 600 s, showing the long-term fire alarm response property. This study provides the experimental basis to prepare intelligent fire alarm textiles with sensitive fire warning response property and excellent flame retardancy. • Fabric-based fire alarm sensor was prepared by LBL assembly GO@PA/CNTs@CS composite coating. • GO@PA/CNTs@CS coated fabric obtained a LOI value of 30 % and self-extinguish property. • Fire hazard of coated fabric was reduced by reduction of 40.5 % pHRR and 72.3 % THR. • GO@PA/CNTs@CS coated fabric showed super-fast and continuous fire warning response property.