Extract from the peels of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): Flame retardancy and toxic gaseous emission suppression effects on cotton textiles

Abstract

This paper reports on the application of extract from the peels of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) to increase flame retardancy and reduce toxic gaseous emissions from the combustion of cotton textiles. In particular, the results from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of treated and untreated samples proved the incorporation of jackfruit peels extract onto the textile substrate, while the results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and standard flammability tests of treated and untreated samples, and their corresponding limiting oxygen index (LOI), proving the flame retardancy effect of jackfruit peels extract on the textile substrate. The textile substrate treated with jackfruit peels extract exhibited excellent flame retardancy, evident by LOI value increasing to 26.8% and samples self-extinguishing within 4.5 s after being removed from the reference flame. In addition, the increase in flame retardancy of treated textile samples also demonstrated good washing durability, even after 30 cycles of standard washing. More importantly, gas chromatography coupled mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis of gaseous emissions from the combustion of samples treated by jackfruit peels extract and by commercial Pyrovatex CP suggested that the use of jackfruit peels extract could help greatly reduce the release of toxic volatile substances, which would pose significant risk to the health of human and the ability of people to safely evacuate from fire accidents. In conclusion, these results have demonstrated the potential of a novel green approach for the fabrication of flame-retardant textiles.