Abstract: A water soluble product suitable for rendering textile materials fire retardant is produced by condensing a poly (.alpha.-hydroxyalkyl) phosphorus compound of the formula(RCHOH).sub.n (RCHR').sub.4-n P-Y or(RCHOH).sub.m (RCHR').sub.3-m Pand a nitrogen compound of the formula RNH.sub.2, HO-R"NH.sub.2 or ##EQU1## wherein EACH R is independently hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms,R' is OR or ##EQU2## R" is alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, Y is an equivalent amount of the anion of at least one acid,N is an integer from 2 to 4, andM is 2 or 3,The phosphorus compound being present in about 0.5 to 6 times the molar amount of the nitrogen compound.Advantageously the phosphorus compound is a tetrakis-(hydroxy-methyl)phosphonium salt or a tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine and is present in about 1 to 3 times the nitrogen compound which is preferably ammonia.

Abstract: A water soluble product suitable for rendering textile materials fire retardant is produced by condensing a poly (.alpha.-hydroxyalkyl)phosphorus compound of the formula(RCHOH).sub.n (RCHR').sub.4.sub.-n P-Yor(RCHOH).sub.m (RCHR').sub.3.sub.-m Pand a nitrogen compound of the formula RNH.sub.2, HO--R"NH.sub.2 or ##EQU1## wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms,R' is OR or ##EQU2## R" is alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, Y is at least one anion selected from the group consisting of chloride, sulfate, phosphate, acetate and formate,n is an integer from 2 to 4, andm is an integer from 2 to 3,The phosphorus compound being present in about 0.5 to 6 times the molar amount of the nitrogen compound.Advantageously the phosphorus compound is a tetrakis(hydroxy-methyl)phosphonium salt or a tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine and is present in about 1 to 3 times the nitrogen compound which is preferably ammonia.