Elemental Analysis for Woven & Nonwoven Fabrics by EDXRF / XRF - Textile
EDXRF Analysis to Measure Fire Retardants, UV Stabilizers & Other Treatments
Fire Retardants
Flame retardants are chemicals used in thermoplastics, thermosets, textiles, and coatings that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. These can be separated into several different classes of chemicals: minerals, antimony compounds, halogens, and phosphates.
Minerals include aluminium hydroxide ATH, magnesium hydroxide MDH, hydromagnesite, red phosphorus, and borates. Organohalogen compounds include organochlorines, organobromines such as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), decabromodiphenyl ethane, brominated polystyrenes, brominated carbonate oligomers (BCOs), brominated epoxy oligomers (BEOs), tetrabromophthalic anyhydride, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). Antimony trioxide is widely used along with antimony pentoxide and sodium antimonate. Organophosphorus compounds in common use include organophosphates, such as tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, TPP, RDP, BPADP, tri-o-cresyl phosphate, and phosphonates such as DMMP and phosphinates. There is also an important class of flame retardants that contain both phosphorus and halogen, including chlorophosphates like TMCP and TDCP. For all of these applications, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is an ideal tool for both quality control and product validation.
UV Stabilizers
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are common dopants used in nonwovens to stabilize fabric against prolonged exposure to sunlight and other UV light sources. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) can be used for both quality control during the manufacturing process and to validate the product for end users of fabric.
Anti-microbial Treatments
Encapsulated copper oxide nanoparticles and other metals (silver) treatments are now routinely employed on specialty fabrics to reduce bacteria counts for health benefits and odor control. At present, antibacterial and UV-resistance are the major functional properties under examination for nanofinished textiles. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used for both quality control, during the manufacturing process, and to validate the product for end-users of fabric.
Electromagnetic Shielding
Adulterating aluminum oxide into ZnO to form zinc oxide with aluminum (AZO) has already become a research hotspot in the transparent conductive film field. This dopant deposited on polyester (PET) nonwoven materials has broad application as an electromagnetic wave shield fabric.
Rigaku EDXRF Solutions & Application Reports
EDXRF, a primary type of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), provides quick, multi-element analysis in a wide range of matrices, even in the most challenging sample types. EDXRF systems are easy to use and offer a low cost of ownership. These advantages make Rigaku EDXRF products a reliable choice for many applications.
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