Sustainable modification of polyamide 6 fabric by Maillard reaction product for mitigating fire hazards and molten-dripping

Developing durable and sustainable flame retardant (FR) polyamide 6 (PA6) fabric is of great interest. Herein, an eco-friendly Maillard reaction product (MRP) was developed by carbonyl-amino condensation between glucose and thiourea. Then, the functional PA6 fabric was developed through an exhaustion process. We further explored the anti-dripping ability, flame retardancy and washing durability, FR mechanism and physical properties of MRP-modified PA6 fabric. The modified PA6 fabric possessed a high LOI of 31.6% and a low damaged length of 11.3 cm without dripping action. The smoke emission was also reduced by 38.2% after MRP modification, although the Caramel skeleton exerted a scaffold effect with PA6. The MRP macromolecule inhibited PA6 flammability through gas-phase FR mechanism. In addition, the MRP macromolecule could firmly adsorb on PA6 fabric, corresponding to superior washing durability, and the V-0 rate was also reached after 40 washings. The modified PA6 fabric also had a yellowish-brown color and improved tensile strength.