Layer-by-Layer: an effective surface engineered strategy for flame retardant textiles

This chapter reviews the current state of the art about the use of the layer-by-layer (LbL) strategy for providing natural and synthetic textile materials with flame retardant properties. Among the surface engineered approaches, this technique has attracted the interest of several research groups, because of its simplicity, the low environmental impact of the employed components and the possibility, almost infinite, to tailor the surface properties, including flame retardancy, of the layer-by-layer treated substrates. Besides, the possibility of setting pilot or semi-pilot plants for depositing LbL assemblies on different textiles opens the way towards the future possible industrialization of the method. This chapter reviews and discusses the current advances, highlighting the still open challenges and future possible developments.