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Fire retardant property of cotton fabric treated with

herbal extract
a a a
S. Basak , Kartick K. Samanta & S.K. Chattopadhyay
a
Chemical and Biochemical Division, Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology,
Mumbai, India
Published online: 24 Dec 2014.

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To cite this article: S. Basak, Kartick K. Samanta & S.K. Chattopadhyay (2014): Fire retardant property of cotton fabric
treated with herbal extract, The Journal of The Textile Institute, DOI: 10.1080/00405000.2014.995456

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 The Journal of The Textile Institute, 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2014.995456

Fire retardant property of cotton fabric treated with herbal extract

S. Basak*, Kartick K. Samanta and S.K. Chattopadhyay
Chemical and Biochemical Division, Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, India
(Received 18 December 2013; accepted 20 November 2014)

Flame retardant functionality was imparted in cellulosic textile using spinach leaves juice (SJ), an eco-friendly natural
product. The extracted juice was made alkaline and applied in fresh bleached and mercerized cotton fabrics. Flame
retardant properties of the control and treated fabrics were analysed in terms of limiting oxygen index (LOI), horizontal
and vertical flammability and radiant heat testing. The study showed that the treated fabrics had good flame retardant
property compared to control fabrics. The LOI value was found to increase by 1.6 times after application of SJ. As a
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result of this, the fabric does not catch flame. In horizontal flammability, the treated fabric showed burning with
afterglow (without presence of flame) with a propagation rate of 10 mm/min, which is almost nine times lower than the
control fabric. The thermal degradation and pyrolysis was studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The chemical
composition of the control and SJ-treated cellulosic fabric were analysed by FTIR, SEM and EDX. Durability of the
flame retardant functionality to soap washing and weathering had also been studied. After application of SJ, cellulosic
fabric sample produced natural green colour. There was no significant change in other physical properties.
Keywords: spinach leaves juice; fire retardant; LOI; cotton; thermogravimetry

Introduction is the most effective treatment that has been reported so

Recent market survey has revealed that consumers all far due to their synergistic effect (Kandola, Horrocks,
over the world are willing for new textile products with Price, & Coleman, 1996). However, the cotton fabric
functionalities i.e. with improved aesthetic feel with treated with such formulation reduces tensile strength of
health and hygiene. Some of the examples of improved the fabric as it is applied in acidic condition; besides, the
functionality in apparels and home textile are wrinkle treatment is expensive and time consuming due to
resistance, soil release, water repellence, anti-microbial, involvement of larger chemical and high-temperature
resistance to colour fading and fire retardant (Gulrajani curing process. Antimony in combination with halogen,
& Gupta, 2011). Among these, fire retardant textile is though could impart good flame retardant property, still
considered to be one of the important parameters for its not very successful due to negative impact of halogen
application in home furnishing, hospital, railway and compounds in environment (Inagaki, Hamajima, &
aircraft. Flame retardant textile is also important for Katsuura, 1978). Though nitrogen- and phosphorus-
workers, who are directly engaged in oil, gas and based flame retardant finish is most successful
petroleum industries. In all such applications, mostly technology developed so far, still most of the
cotton textiles are used because of its advantage of formulation is not environment friendly. Due to more
comfort, soft feel and good moisture management awareness about human health and hygiene, demand of
property. In addition, cotton is eco-friendly, cellulosic textile finishes with natural products such as
biodegradable and produced from renewable source natural dyes for colouration, enzyme for biopolishing
(Dutta, 2008). Cotton being 100% cellulosic in nature, it and neem and aloevera extract for anti-microbial
catches flame readily and quite difficult to extinguish finishing is gaining attention in the research and
resulting serious health risk and damage of the textile development. However, till date application of plant
products (Petrilli, 2008). Significant effort has been extract (biomolecules) for flame retardant finishing of
made in past to improve the flame retardant property of any textile and/or polymeric material has not been
cotton textile using various synthetic chemicals. Many reported to the best of our knowledge. Based on the
commercial products are available in the market; mostly above information as some of the plants contain
they are synthetic products. The most simple and phosphorous, silicate and other minerals and mineral
common chemical is borax and boric acid mixture (Patil salts, may be utilized to improve flame retardant
& Desmukh, 2012). It has been found that phosphorous- properties of cellulosic and non-cellulosic material. In
based flame retardant along with nitrogenous compound this study, an attempt was made to improve the flame

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

© 2014 The Textile Institute

 2 S. Basak et al.

retardant property of cellulosic cotton textile using (Model No. 15077968 FB61354 225PE, UK) in non-
vegetable extract i.e. spinach juice (SJ) as it contains contact mode.
sodium, magnesium, silicate, iron, protenious nitrogen
and other metallic constituents (Juicing for health.com). Radiant heat test analysis
Further, spinach is abundantly available in India and it is
Radiant heat test measures the amount of the heat radiated
considered as a value addition of this food material.
through the specimen. Test value of the specimen has been
Extensive study was conducted to assess the effect of SJ
established by ASTMF1939-08 method.
in different concentration on flame retardant properties of
cotton textile in terms of LOI, burning rate and thermo
gravimetry. Wash durability of finish
The fire retardant activity of the finished samples was
evaluated after being subjected to one wash cycle. The
Materials and methods finished fabrics were washed in a laundrometer using
A 200 GSM plain woven bleach cotton fabric of 30 EPI standard detergent 1 g/L at 40°C for 40 min. The fabric
(ends/inch), 40 PPI (picks/inch) with 25 s warp and 30 s was then rinsed in the running water for 5 min, followed
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weft counts procured from the local market was used in by drying at 100°C for 5 min. Then it was placed in a
the study. SJ used for the study was extracted from fresh desiccator for 24 h before conducting the flammability
spinach leaves of local market. Extracted juice was test.
filtered by Whatman No. 1 filter paper and prepared for
application in cotton fabric. Bleach cotton fabrics were Weathering fastness of finish
then impregnated with different composition of SJ and
Treated and untreated cotton fabric samples were
water 1:2, 1:1 and only SJ (1:0) at 90°C with material to
exposed directly under sunlight for measuring the
liquor ratio of 1:15 for 30 min. All the solutions have
weathering fastness as per ISO 105-B03-1978 (E)
been made alkaline at pH 10 with soda ash. Treated
method. However, the samples were protected from rain
fabric was then dried at 110°C for 5 min.
for 6 h each day from July to September and continued
for 300 h. After every 50 h, fire retardant property of the
Testing treated and untreated fabric was measured using LOI
value.
Before testing, treated cotton fabric samples were
conditioned for 48 h at 65% RH and 27°C.
Characterization of treated fabric
Determination of add-on% Thermogravimetry analysis
This property was determined by gravimetric principle Thermogravimetry (TG) measures the gradual weight loss
following oven dry weight method, taking bone dry of a sample with respect to time or temperature. It also
weight of the sample before and after the treatments and indicates the effect of flame retardant on the pyrolysis of
expressing the results as a percentage of the initial bone the polymer substrate (Mostashari & Mostashari, 2009).
dry weight of the material taken. The TG curves of the control and treated fabrics have
been established using thermogravimetric analyser
Add-on% ¼ ½M2  M1 =M1   100: (1) (METTLER TOLEDO TG-50/ MT5, Greifensee,
where M1 and M2 are the oven dry weight of the control Switzerland). The tensile strength, one of the most
and treated fabric samples, respectively. The reported important mechanical properties of both the treated and
results are average of five tests in each case. the untreated fabrics was evaluated on an Instron make
tensile tester as per ASTM D5035-2006 method.

Flammability assessment
Burning behaviour of the control and treated samples FTIR analysis
were evaluated by standard methods. For limiting The FTIR curves of the control and the treated fabrics
oxygen index (LOI) analysis, IS 13501 test method was were evaluated by Shimadzu IR Prestige 21 analyser
used. In horizontal flammability, the flame time and machine.
propagation rate were measured as per the FMVSS302N
standard. In vertical flammability, different parameters
were measured as per the 1871 method A. Maximum SEM and EDX analysis
temperature produced during burning of sample was For surface analysis of the control and the treated
measured using IR thermometer, Fisher Scientific made samples, scanning electron microscope Philips, Model
 The Journal of The Textile Institute 3

XL-30 was used. EDX analysis was carried out in field of SJ in bleached cotton samples at different
emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM). concentrations, the LOI value increased significantly. In
the bleached cotton fabrics treated with 1:2 SJ solution
(SJ: water ratio), the LOI value was found to increase to
Results and discussion 26, which is almost 1.3 times higher than that of control
Bleached cotton fabric samples have been treated with sample. With application of more concentrated SJ, the
different compositions of spinach juice and water. The add-on percentages increased from 3.5 to 8. As a result
results of the flammability testing of both the control as of this, LOI also increased linearly from 26 to 30. In all
well as the treated samples have been presented in the SJ-treated samples, as LOI value increased
Table 1. significantly, the samples do not catch flame. In vertical
flammability measurement, the control sample catches
flame readily and burnt the entire sample with flame
Flammability testing within 60 s, whereas SJ-treated sample (1:2) showed
LOI values and vertical flammability presence of flame only for 10 s (partial burning)
Bleached cotton fabrics were treated with different followed by combustion with afterglow in 295 s. This
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concentrations of SJ as discussed in materials and indicates total burning time is 305 s.

methods. The results of the flammability testing Figure 1 represents the vertical burning behaviour of
including LOI of the control and treated samples are the control and SJ-treated (1:0) sample at different
mentioned in Table 1. The LOI, a measure of intervals of time. The results indicate that in the
flammability of a sample, is defined as the minimum SJ-treated (1:2) sample, total burning time could be
amount of oxygen in the oxygen/nitrogen mixture increased by approximately fivefolds (control sample 60
required to support combustion. Fibres having the LOI s). With increasing the concentration of SJ or add-on
value of 21 or below ignite easily and burn rapidly in percentage, burning with flame time could be reduced to
the open atmosphere. Sample with LOI value of above nil and burning with afterglow could be increased from
21 ignite, but burn slowly. When the LOI value of 300 to 345 s. In 1:0 SJ-treated sample, the total burning
textile material becomes equal or more than 26, it may time hence is becoming 400 s. It is very helpful as
be considered as flame retardant (Petrilli, 2008). The combustion with afterglow is not so severe in
LOI values of the control, and spinach juice-treated comparison to combustion with flame. This is because
cotton fabrics are given in Table 1. maximum temperature measured during burning with
As indicated above, cotton being pure cellulosic in afterglow in the SJ-treated (1:0) sample is 285°C.
nature, it catches flame readily and showed lower LOI However, 395–400°C was observed during burning of
value of 18. Before application of SJ, all the cotton control sample. It was very interesting to note that
samples were bleached and mercerized. After application maximum temperature measured during burning of

Table 1. Flammability properties of the control, mordanted and SJ: water-treated cotton fabric.

Flammability parameters Control Different concentration of SJ: water treatment

1:2 1:1 (1:0)
Add-on (%) – 3.5 5.7 8
LOI 18 26 28 30
Horizontal flammability
Warp way burn rate (mm/min) 90 15.7 13.2 10
Vertical flammability
Occurring of flashing over Yes No No No
the surface
Burning with flame time (s) 60 10 Nil Nil
Burning with afterglow 0 (as completely 295 345 400
time (s) after flame stop burnt with flame)
Total burning time (flame 60 s + 0 s 10 s + 295 s 0 s + 345 s 4 s + 400 s
time + afterglow time)
Char length (mm) – – – –
Observed burning rate 250 49.1 43.5 37.5
(mm/min)
State of the fabric in contact Completely Burnt Burnt with initially Burnt with initially Burnt with initially
of flame with flame flame followed by flame followed by flame followed by
afterglow afterglow afterglow
 4 S. Basak et al.
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Figure 1. Comparison of burning behaviour between control and spinach leaves juice (SJ)-treated cotton fabrics at different time
interval.

SJ-treated sample with afterglow (after flame stopped) Radiant heat test analysis
decreased gradually with burning time. Initially, Amount of heat radiated through the fabric was
temperature was 285°C, followed by 250, 200 and measured and is reported in Table 2. As per this process,
finally 120°C with an interval of approximately, 60 s. It 20 kW/m2 heat flux was passed through the control as
will be very useful for the user in real life situation as well as treated fabric. Then the time required to increase
they will be getting much longer escape time (400 s) the temperature of both the fabrics by 12 and 24°C was
from the fire hazards zone or extinguish the flame. In recorded. It was observed that this time increased in case
contrast, the user will be getting hardly time (60 s only) of treated fabric by 14.28 and 12.1%, respectively. In
to escape from fire hazards if the fabric is not flame addition, amount of heat radiated (QC) through the fabric
retardant in the environment of temperature of ~400°C. is also 9% lower in treated fabric compared to the
In flame retardant finishing of any textile material, it will control one. Hence, SJ-treated sample not only radiated
be beneficial if burning with flame time could be less amount of heat but also increases temperature with
reduced and burning with afterglow time could be longer period of time (total burning time). As a result,
increased. This is because afterglow temperature (285– heat transmission factor (TF) of the treated fabric
120°C) is quite less than control sample. In the treated showed almost 20% lower compared to the control
fabrics as LOI value increased with the percentage add- fabric. Which again supports the high LOI value and
on of SJ, afterglow time was found to increase thermal stability of the treated fabric.
significantly from 0 s (control) to 295 s, 345 s and 400 s
for the 1:2, 1:1 and 1:0 SJ-treated samples, respectively.
The SJ-treated sample mostly burnt with afterglow and Table 2. Flammability parameters of the fabrics treated with
burning rate reduced significantly from 250 to 37.5 mm/ different methods.
min. Similar trends were also observed in horizontal
flammability measurement, where the burning rate Radiant heat test (heat flux Control SJ treated (1:0)
density 20 kW/m2) fabric fabric
reduced from 90 mm/min to 10 mm/min in 1:0 SJ-
treated sample, which is 10 times lower than the control T12 (s) 7.7 8.8
sample. In the control as well SJ-treated samples, char T24 (s) 14.9 16.7
length was not observed as the samples completely QC (kW/m2) 9.240 8.421
TF 0.471 0.430
burnt.
 The Journal of The Textile Institute 5

Thermogravimetry dehydration and char formation occurred. Here, during

TG analysis method was applied to measure the effects dehydration of non-oxidizable water, CO2 might be
of SMSN on the thermal degradation and charring released (Mostashari & Mostashari, 2009). According to
behaviour of the fabrics (Kandola et al., 1996). Figure 2 the TG curve of B, rapid decomposition starts at 300°C
shows the TG curves of the dried spinach juice powder and lost 98% of its mass at 500°C. At initial stage, 15%
(A), control cotton fabric (B) and the bleached cotton weight loss of spinach juice-treated cotton fabric (C)
fabric treated with SJ (1:0) composition (C) in N2 occurred compared to the 5% weight loss of control
atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min. It can be seen fabric. It might be due to the presence of excess bound
that the TG curve of dried spinach powder showed or unbound moisture in the treated fabric due to the
weight loss in the range of 50–100°C. These are existence of inorganic salt in spinach juice composition.
probably due to the loss of unbound and bound water In the second stage, curve C started to lose its mass i.e.
molecules in different ways (Shen et al., 2013). After pyrolysis from 215°C which is 65°C below the
100°C, there was second weight loss region occurred degradation temperature of the control one, and the
over the 200–360°C temperature range, with the peak temperature at which the peak in the main loss occurred
showed at 250°C. In this stage, only 30% mass loss was shifted from 330 to 265°C (65°C lower). In this
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observed. Third stage of weight loss occurred over the pyrolysis stage, only 54% mass loss was observed.
600°C temperature due to dehydration and char Amount of this mass loss is intermediate between A
formation. The TG curves of the control (B) cotton (30% loss) and B (78% loss). Hence, it can be deduced
fabric evidenced three stages, in the initial stage at the that spinach juice treatment widens (50°C wider) the
temperature below 100°C. Here, the mass loss occurred pyrolysis region and also reduces the amount of mass
mostly due to the loss of absorbed moisture from the loss in the pyrolysis range. In addition, it reduces the
polymer (Mostashari & Mostashari, 2009). However, the combustion temperature of the cellulosic substrate with
main pyrolysis stage occurred over the 280–380°C the dilution of flammable volatiles by the generation of
temperature range with the peak in the main loss non-oxidizable CO2, H2O at comparatively low
occurred at 300°C. In this stage with rapid mass loss temperature. It can also be observed from the TG curve
(78%), cellulose pyrolysis products might be formed that in the third stage, the treated fabric started char
(Xing, Liu, Li, & Chen, 2012). Above 380°C, formation at a lower temperature and the quantity of

Figure 2. TGA curves of the dried spinach powder (A), control cotton fabric (B) and spinach juice-treated (1:0) (C) cotton fabrics.
 6 S. Basak et al.

char residue remained higher compared to the control of inorganic salts have also been detected in EDX
fabric at higher temperature. It started char formation at analysis (discussed below). The curve A pertaining to
around 330°C which is 20–30°C earlier than the control the control cotton fabric showed peak at 3445 cm−1
cotton fabric. Therefore, as compared to the control corresponding to intramolecular –OH stretching,
cotton fabric, char residue remains at 500°C increases including hydrogen bonds. Peak observed at 1161 cm−1
from 13 to 30%. It shows that Spinach juice also had a might be assigned to the C–O–C assymetric stretching of
positive effect on earlier dehydration and char formation. B-glucosydic linkage of cellulose. CH and CH2
This is true that there was less degradation of spinach stretching was indicated by 2898 cm−1 the (Cilurzo,
juice (A) over the range of temperature; hence, the Selmin, Minghetti, & Montanari, 2005). As far the curve
spinach juice-treated sample could retain more masses at C is concerned, it shows large and more intense peak of
higher temperature. Similar results were also observed in water at 3300 cm−1. Calculated area of this peak of
vertical flammability test, where the sample does not curve C between 2600 and 3600 cm−1 is the addition of
catch flame. The result indicates the thermal stability of the area shown by the curve A and B in the same
the spinach juice-treated sample over the temperature region. It proved that more amount of bound and
range of 50–600°C. In the treated samples, the reduction unbound water molecules present in the treated fabric
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in flammable gas production and increase in char also assist to exhibit fire retardant property.
formation, both have helped the sample to be flame
retardant. Therefore, it is obvious to conclude that
spinach juice increases the overall resistance of the SEM and EDX analysis
treated cotton fabric to thermal degradation and it also The SEM images of the control and SJ-treated (1:0)
reduced considerably the rate of weight loss of cellulose. cotton fabric are shown in Figure 4. It can be seen from
Figure 4(A), control sample is clean and there is no
coating and deposition. However, after SJ treatment
FTIR analysis (1:0), coating of SJ could be easily visible as shown in
Figure 3 shows the FTIR spectra of the various samples. Figure 4(B). SJ is uniformly distributed over the entire
It can be clearly observed that there is no significant surface. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the control
change between curve A and C. The curve B pertaining and the SJ-treated fabric is represented in Figure 5 and
to the dried SJ showed wide band for water from 2600 data are reported in Table 3. As expected, the control
to 3600 cm−1. Peaks observed between 800 and sample showed only the presence of carbon and oxygen
900 cm−1 are indicated mainly due to the presence of atom as the technique cannot detect hydrogen atom.
inorganic salts in SJ (Karastergiou & Philippou, 2000). However, in SJ-treated (1:0) sample, several atomic
Small peaks observed at 800 and 850 cm−1 might be peaks are easily visible as shown in Figure 5. These are
assigned to sodium chloride and magnesium chloride corresponding to sodium, magnesium, silicon and
salt, respectively, (Miller & Wilkins, 1952). These types chlorine. It can be seen that in the SJ-treated cotton

Figure 3. FTIR analysis of control fabric (A), dried spinach juice (B) and SJ-treated (1:0) fabric (C).
 The Journal of The Textile Institute 7

Figure 4. SEM images of Control fabric (A), SJ-treated (1:0) fabric (B).

Table 3. Atomic percentage of control (A) and SJ-treated (1:0) cotton fabric measured using EDX.
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Control SJ treated (1:0)

Elements
Weight (%) Atomic (%) Weight (%) Atomic (%)
C 46.1 53.2 33.54 41.59
O 53.9 46.8 57.28 52.86
Na 0 0 7.78 5.00
Mg 0 0 0.46 0.28
Si 0 0 0.21 0.11
Cl 0 0 0.14 0.06
K 0 0 0.13 0.05
Ca 0 0 0.16 0.06

Figure 5. EDX images of control (A) and SJ-treated (1:0) (B) cotton fabrics.

fabric, sodium percentage is more followed by protection from flame. First bleaching and mercerization
magnesium compared to other atoms. It is seen that of cotton fabric followed by application of SJ with
compared to control, in the SJ-treated sample carbon different concentration in alkaline condition ensures the
percentage is significantly lower (27.2%). However, good add-on (3.5–8% uptake). This implies that cotton is
oxygen percentage increased by 7.5%. The elements becoming flame retardant mainly because of SJ and its
except sodium are present in the pure SJ as well SJ- chemical composition. The effect of flame retardancy
treated sample in form of either metal chloride or metal imparted by SJ may be attributed to the presence of
phosphate. Sodium is coming mainly due to presence of mineral salts in the SJ. Metals are present in the cotton
partial soda ash and from SJ. Silicon is present in SJ- textile in the form of chloride such as sodium silicate,
treated fabric in form of silicate (SiO2 or Na2SiO3). magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, etc. In the
presence of these peaks, molecules were also observed
in FTIR analysis and peaks of the elements in EDX
Mechanism of flame retardant property analysis. From the various characterizations, it is
It was seen that cotton being pure cellulosic in nature, it presumed that mineral salts presents in SJ might have
has low LOI value of 18 and does not show any retarded the thermal decomposition of cellulose, and
 8 S. Basak et al.

contributed to dehydration process by increasing the Table 4. Weathering durability of control and treated fabric.
amount of char formation, as shown in TG curve.
LOI value
Chloride- and silicate-containing molecules are known to
be flame retardant in literature (Sharma, 1986). Besides, Exposure period in sunlight SJ treated (1:0)
presence of water molecules as shown in FTIR curve C, (h) Control sample
in SJ-treated fabric might have contributed in preventing 0 18 30
the rise in temperature of sample by absorbing heat of 50 18 30
evaporation (540 cal/gm). The presence of moisture peak 100 18 30
has been observed in FTIR spectra and TGA curve C. 150 18 30
200 18 29
Therefore, the flame retardancy effect in the SJ-treated 250 18 30
cotton fabric might have possibly attributed to combined 300 18 29
effect due to presence of (i) metals salts, (ii) silicate and
(iii) bound and unbound water molecules. These have
helped in more char and non-flammable gases formation
such as CO2 and H2O. These gases might have also
Table 5. Flammability parameters control, treated and washed
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diluted the flammable gases such as levoglucosan and

fabric.
pyroglucosan produced during pyrolysis of cellulose in
the burning microclimate (Figovsky, Shapovalov, & Fabric parameters
Karchevsky, 2005). In addition, the presence of
SJ treated (1:0) sample
approximately 27% inorganic material and reduction in
similar percentage of organic material (cellulose) might Flammability Control After Before
have helped in production of more char, while reducing parameters sample washing washing
the formation of flammable gases due to pyrolysis of LOI 18 24 30
cellulose as seen in TGA curves. Horizontal flammability
Propagation rate 75 15 7.5
(mm/min)
Weathering durability
Weathering fastness of the control and the treated fabrics
was measured under sunlight and the LOI values after Physical properties and natural colour
every 50 h are represented in Table 4. It shows that after Table 6 shows the tensile strength, tear strength of the
300 h exposure, also the LOI value of the SJ (1:0)- control and SJ-(1:0) treated fabric samples. It can be
treated fabric remains same as the 0 h-exposed treated seen that the application of flame retardant finish has no
cotton fabric. It means that harmful UV light of the sun significant adverse effect on either tensile or tear strength
and the humidity conditions of weather did not affect of the 1:0 SJ-treated sample. In most of the flame
adversely on the fire retardant property of the treated retardant, finish causes loss of tensile strength which is
fabric. As a result of good weathering fastness, this quite high i.e. in the range of 10–30% (Banerjee, Day, &
fabric can be used for making curtains, home textile and Ray, 1985). As indicated in Figure 6, after application of
home furnishing products where few washes are SJ in the bleach cotton fabric, the sample changed its
required. colour from white to dark green. This can also be
considered as of dyeing of cellulosic textile with natural
colouring agent. After washing also significant amount
Wash durability of colour was retained in the treated fabric. However,
Durability of the imparted flame retardance finish in this natural colour was only developed in the bleached
cotton textile was carried out to study the effectiveness cotton fabric in the alkaline condition.
of finish after washing the sample with soap solution.
After washing, the burning behaviour of the treated Table 6. Physical properties and colorimetric data of cotton
fabric was found changed. This might be attributed to fabrics treated with spinach leaves juice.
the loss of mineral salts component of SJ from the fabric
Physical properties of treated fabric
surface during washing. It can be observed from Table 5
that LOI value of the washed fabric was decreased from Tensile Tear strength
30 to 24, however was still 1.3 times higher than that of strength (N) (g)
the control one. In the case of horizontal flammability Cotton fabric Warp Weft Warp Weft
test, it shows 10 s flame then extinguish, after glow
Control 300 317 610 635
propagated at 15 mm/min which is around fivefold SJ (1:0)-treated sample 286 310 590 605
slower than the control fabric.
 The Journal of The Textile Institute 9

Figure 6. SJ (1:0)-treated bleached cotton fabric and after washed fabric.

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Conclusion References
The present study has shown the flame retardancy effect Banerjee, S. K., Day, A., & Ray, P. K. (1985). Fire proofing
of spinach leave juice on cellulosic cotton textile. After jute. Textile Research Journal, 56, 338–339.
Cilurzo, F., Selmin, F., Minghetti, P., & Montanari, L. (2005).
application of SJ, the LOI increased from 18 to 30 in the The effects of bivalent inorganic salts on the mucoadhesive
SJ-treated (1:0) samples. Due to higher LOI, total performance of a polymethylmethacrylate sodium salt.
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