Notes
The aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate the use of Al-hydroxide nanoparticles as economically and ecologically acceptable fire retardants (compared to SWCNT), as well as their effect on thermophysiological, thermal and mechanical properties of flame-retardant fabric. The influence of application methods (with hydrophilic PCNF or hydrophobic AP), screen perforation (60 and 135 mesh), and printing processes (single or double layer on back side or single layer on both sides) was investigated. In the first part, the effect of differently sized (20-50 nm) ATH/AMH NPs on thermal stability of MFC films was investigated. Film with 0.15 wt% addition of 20 nm AMH NP was the most thermally stable, with multi-stage decomposition starting at 305 °C, as well as 20% higher residue at 600 °C and 42% lower specific heat capacity compared to pure MFC film. In addition, the film was flexible, optically transparent (95%), hydrophobic (68°), and had a tensile strength of 69 MPa and an elastic modulus of 5.7 GPa, with low oxygen permeability (2192 cm3/m2/day). In the second part, a back side double-layer coating of 1.5 wt% PCNF and 6.7 wt% ATH NP resulted in synergistic effects, whereby the fabric retained up to 30% of high-intensity heat flux (21 kW/m2), 15 °C better thermal stability, an 11 second longer ignition time, reduced heat and smoke release (by 60% and 75% respectively), asymmetric wettability (face CA-36°, back CA-121°), with increased water vapour and heat transfer (by 17% and 22% respectively). In contrast, in addition to improved thermal protection (18 °C higher thermal stability), fabric printed with 0.4 wt% SWCNT in AP on the back side and 1.5 wt% PCNF on the front side had improved thermo-physiological comfort (25% increased heat and 17% water vapour transfer), and asymmetric wettability (CA-48° face-side, CA-129° back-side), along with high UV protection (UPF 109) without colour change, together with electrical conductivity of 4,9·10–4 S/cm, with the potential for antistatic and electro-magnetic radiation protection.