Simultaneous dyeing, flame-retardant, and antibacterial treatment of fabrics using adenosine triphosphate as a multifunctional agent

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a biomolecule known for its role in cellular energy storage, is innovatively utilized in our study to enhance flame-retardant (FR) and antibacterial properties in combination with various dyes. By harnessing the hydrophilic properties of ATP, we formulated novel FR dye solutions by blending ATP with three reactive dyes and demonstrated their applications on cotton fabrics. Red, blue, and orange dyes treated with ATP were analyzed using the CIELAB color space to evaluate the feasibility of dyeing with different colors. The average color intensity of the dye solutions was retained above 90%, and the color difference remained below 5 for all three colors, making them indistinguishable by the human eye. Simultaneous ATP and dye treatment demonstrated an improved flame retardancy, with a limiting oxygen index of 31.7%. The thermal stability was confirmed by a thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal gravimetry. Cone calorimetry tests indicated a reduced heat release rate in the treated samples. Compared to bare cotton fabrics, the peak heat release rate of both ATP and dye treated samples decreased by 96.8%, while the total heat release was decreased by 62.2%. A gas analysis indicated a reduction in volatile gases by up to 33.3% and suppression of toxic gases. Additionally, both ATP and dye treated cotton fabrics exhibited improved mechanical properties and antibacterial effects with significant growth inhibition rates for Gram-positive (86.8%) and Gram-negative bacteria (90.3%). This novel ATP and dye treating method represents a significant advancement in fabric treatment technologies, ensuring a range of vibrant colors, fire protection, and additional functional benefits.