A respirable one-ply, two-ply or multi-ply barrier fabric including one web comprising an electrostatically charged melt blown fibers nonwoven or a
nanofiber / melt blown fibers nonwoven having a weak cationic emulsifier to reduce
surface energy of the fibers so as to minimize penetration and
wetting by oily mists and to thereby preserve the effectiveness of electrostatic charges applied to fibers. Also disclosed is a two-layer or multi-ply barrier fabric which has at least one barrier fabric layer which is impermeable to liquids such as water and body fluids, but which allows the transport of
moisture vapor through the micropores or by chemical
absorption of water through a monolithic membrane, which may have additional barrier
layers to include melt blown and
nanofiber / melt blown composites. One or more
layers of the respirable barrier fabric or the
moisture transporting microporous (MP) or monolithic (ML) films or combination thereof may contain an
antimicrobial agent, fluorochemical or other protective finish, as well as any of the
layers of the respirable filter fabric or any of the layers of the filter ensemble as well as any layer of the liquid barrier
moisture transporting barrierfabrics. Furthermore, the protective fabrics may contain a porous or absorbent fabric or film on the body side for enhanced
thermal comfort, and other additives may be included in the fabric ensembles such as
activated carbon particles, or
activated carbon particles, or other sorbents, or superabsorbents o to absorb odors or toxic chemicals.