Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Flame Experiments at the Advanced Light Source: New Insights into Soot Formation Processes
Published on: May 26, 2014
Flame retardant vinylon/poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) blended fibers with synergistic flame retardancy for
1College of Textiles & Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Research Center for Intelligent and Wearable Technology, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China.
Abstract:
Superior flame retardant textiles are urgently needed to address high fire and heat risks. This study provides a simple and effective strategy to improve the flame retardancy of textiles through a synergistic effect between the blended fibers, and a system with synergistic in flame retardant vinylon (FRV)/poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) blended fibers is discovered. The FRV/PMIA 50/50 exhibits a much higher time to ignition and a lower peak heat release rate than those of the neat components, indicating a synergistic flame retardancy between constituents. The corresponding mechanism is explored. The residual char layer formed by blended fibers connects together and keeps the original fiber shape, which acts as a barrier slowing heat transmission and gas diffusion. Concurrently, thermal degradation analysis of blended fibers implies that both components mutually interact with each other, resulting in a higher experimental amount of incombustible gases at an early degradation stage and lower experimental amount of combustible gases at a later degradation stage as compared to the theoretical one. Therefore, the synergistic flame retardancy in FRV/PMIA blended fibers is attributed to the actions in the condensed and gas phases during pyrolysis. This work provides an effective strategy to design fireproof textiles.
Related Concept Videos
Retarders
The function of retarders is to delay the setting of concrete, and this effect can be measured using a penetration test. The retardation process involves adding...
Flame Photometry: Overview
Flame Photometry: Lab
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
Overview of Advanced Functional Groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of Advanced Functional Groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
Extraction: Advanced Methods

