This research mainly deals with a novel flame-retardant for woven cotton fabric using sodium hypophosphite (SHP), maleic acid (MA), triethanol amine (TEA) and nano TiO2 through conventional pad-dry-cure method. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were employed to investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of the treated samples. The char length, char yield before and after 5 washing cycles, limited oxygen index (LOI) and whiteness index of the treated cotton fabrics were investigated. The central composite design (CCD) was also used for variables based on Design of Expert software. The results revealed the importance of SHP in which 5% SHP can increase the LOI from 18.6 to 23. This leads to obtain a lower initial decomposition temperature and a higher char formation. Also presence of 6% TEA greatly prevents the cotton fabric from yellowing during the curing process. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.