Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns and fabrics treated for increased strength and liquid shedding

a technology of yarn and fabric, which is applied in the direction of liquid repellent fibres, protective fabrics, weaving, etc., can solve the problems of affecting the performance of the fabric, so as to improve the tensile strength, abrasion resistance, durability, and the ability to withstand liquid and gel shedding

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-10-04
CHAPMAN THERMAL PRODS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present invention encompasses novel yarns and fabrics that include a high concentration of oxidized polyacrylonitrile (O-Pan) fibers, which maintain a high level of fire retardance and heat resistance, while also possessing improved tensile strength, abrasion resistance, durability, and the ability to shed liquids and gels. The inventive yarns include O-Pan fibers, typically combined with one or more strengthening fibers, and are encapsulated by a liquid-resistant and strengthening coating, such as a silicone polymer. Encapsula...

Problems solved by technology

Simply encapsulating the yarn of a conventional flammable fabric with a silicone polymer coating cannot yield a fabric having a flame retardance and heat resistance that is even remotely similar to the level provided by O-Pan based fabrics.
The failure to provide all of these features in a single fabric can greatly undermine the otherwise excellent protection from fire.
For example, even though conventional CARBONX fabrics provide superior protection against fire, heat and burns compared to other leading fire resistant fabrics such as the leading aramid “fire retardant”...

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0081]A fire retardant and heat resistant fabric made from a yarn having a 70:30 wt % blend of O-Pan and p-aramid, respectively, is encapsulated with a liquid shedding and strengthening silicone-based polymer as follows. First, the fabric is placed under tension. Second, the tensioned fabric is drawn through a vessel containing a silicone-based polymer resin. Third, the silicone-based polymer resin is subjected to localized shear-thinning forces produced by a rapidly spinning shearing blade adjacent to a surface of the fabric in order for the shear-thinned resin to encapsulate the yarn of the fabric and at least partially penetrate into interstitial spaces of the yarn. The viscosity of the silicone-based polymer resin is sufficiently low that it does not plug the spaces between the individual yarn strands of the fabric. Fourth, the treated tensioned fabric is removed from the vessel containing the silicone-based polymer resin. Fifth, the treated fabric is heated in order to cure the...

example 2

[0083]A fire retardant and heat resistant fabric made from a yarn having a 60:20:20 wt % blend of O-Pan, p-aramid, and m-aramid, respectively, is treated in the manner discussed in Example 1. The resulting fabric is somewhat stronger and more durable than the fabric obtained in Example 1 as a result of including a blend of strengthening fibers.

example 3

[0084]A fire retardant and heat resistant fabric made from a yarn consisting of 100% O-Pan is treated in the manner discussed in Example 1. Even though the fabric made from 100% O-Pan is relatively weak and fragile, treatment with the silicone polymer greatly increases the tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and durability so as to be acceptable for applications for which the fabric would otherwise be unacceptable absent the encapsulation treatment.

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Abstract

Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns and fabrics include an inner core comprised of oxidized polyacrylonitrile encapsulated by an outer shell comprised of a liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material. The liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material includes one or more types of cured silicone polymer resin. A fluorchemical may be at least partially impregnated into the inner core prior to applying the liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material in order to further enhance the liquid shedding properties of the yarns or fabric. Because the silicone polymer resin only encapsulates the yarn, but does not form a continuous coating over the whole fabric, the treated fabric is still able to breath through pores and spaces between individual yarn strands that make up the fabric. The liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material increases the strength, abrasion resistance, durability and liquid and gel shedding capability of the fire retardant heat resistant yarn or fabric.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 786,853, filed Mar. 29, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. The Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is in the field of fire retardant and heat resistant yarns and fabrics. More particularly, the present invention is in the field of fire retardant and heat resistant yarns comprised of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers and encapsulated with a liquid-shedding and strengthening polymer, as well as fabrics and articles of manufacture made therewith.[0004]2. The Relevant Technology[0005]Fire retardant clothing is widely used to protect persons who are exposed to fire, particularly suddenly occurring and fast burning conflagrations. These include persons in diverse fields, such as race car drivers, military personnel, and fire fighters, each of which may be exposed...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): D02G3/00
CPCD02G3/36Y10T428/2933D03D1/0041D03D15/12D06M15/277D06M15/643D06M2101/28D06M2200/10D06M2200/30D06N3/0002D06N3/128D10B2331/021D10B2401/063D10B2503/06D02G3/443D03D15/513
Inventor THATCHER, TYLER M.
Owner CHAPMAN THERMAL PRODS
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