The Effect of the Low Smoke Zirpro Treatment and Wool Carpet Construction On Flame-Resistance and Emission of Smoke and Toxic Gas

The Low Smoke Zirpro treatment considerably improved the flame-resistance of wool woven carpets, while decreasing smoke emission and the concentration of some toxic gases. The solid phase mechanism of this flame-retardant treat ment, producing increased char volume, which restricts combustion, could be responsible for this advantageous burning behaviour. Cellulosic/glass fibre backing constructions produced less smoke than F.R. polyester/glass fibre carpet backings, under the flaming mode of test. Application of a vinyl-acetate- ethylene copolymer latex with alumina trihydrate filler was beneficial in improv ing flame-retardance and limiting smoke emission. Pile density was the most im portant carpet construction parameter; an increase in this parameter produced increased flame-resistance and smoke emission of untreated wool carpets. Ap plication of the Low Smoke Zirpro treatment suppressed the effect of this parameter.