Flame-Resistant Fabric Blends for Durable Protective Garments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective fabrics face a challenge in balancing flame resistance and durability, with durable materials like nylon often lacking flame resistance, necessitating a compromise that compromises protection.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating high percentages of flame-resistant nylon fibers into fiber blends with inherently flame-resistant fibers, such as aramid and modacrylic, while using different fiber blends for the body and face sides of the fabric to enhance durability and maintain flame resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If polyamide materials such as nylon are used to improve durability and strength, then the fabric exhibits high durability, but the fabric becomes prone to melt and burn when subjected to heat and flame

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidflame resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by creating fiber blends that combine nylon (for durability) with inherently flame-resistant fibers such as aramid, modacrylic, or FR cotton. This composite approach allows the fabric to achieve both high durability from the nylon and flame resistance from the FR fibers, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flame resistant fibers are used to maintain flame resistance, then the fabric exhibits good flame protection, but the durability and strength of the fabric are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame resistanceVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by blending inherently flame-resistant fibers (aramid, modacrylic, or FR cotton) with nylon fibers. This allows the fabric to maintain flame resistance through the FR fibers while gaining durability from the nylon component, thus resolving the contradiction between flame resistance and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If high percentages of nylon are incorporated into fiber blends to improve durability, then the fabric strength increases, but the flame resistance of the fabric deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking strengthVSAvoidflame resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by creating balanced fiber blends where nylon (providing strength) is combined with inherently flame-resistant fibers (providing flame protection). The synergistic effect of this composite structure allows the fabric to achieve both high breaking strength and adequate flame resistance, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12385171B2Flame resistant fabrics
Publication Date: 2025.08.12 SOUTHERN MILLS INC

AI summary

Flame resistant fabrics formed with fiber blends that provide the requisite flame and thermal protection but that have improved durability. In some embodiments this is accomplished with the use of fiber blends that include relatively large percentages of FR nylon fibers in combination with cellulosic and inherently flame resistant fibers.