EP-4737638-A1 - PROTECTIVE FABRIC DISPLAYING WATER, OIL AND FUEL REPELLENCY

Abstract

Protective garments are disclosed having a fabric material treated with a durable water resistant treatment. In accordance with the present disclosure, the durable water resistant treatment contains primarily non-fluorinated chemistries or components in combination with a very minor amount of a fluorocarbon compound. The resulting treated fabric not only displays excellent water resistance but is also resistant to many chemicals including fuels and oils.

Inventors

• ARANGDAD, Kiarash
• SMITH, CEVIN BRENT
• CANTIN, JACQUES A.
• Dillanni, William J.
• UNDERWOOD, JOEY K.

Assignees

• Safety Components International, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20241210

Claims (15)

1. A fabric for constructing protective garments comprising: a fabric material comprising inherently flame resistant fibers, the inherently flame resistant fibers comprising para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, modacrylic fibers, polybenzimidazole fibers, polybenzoxazole fibers, wool fibers, or mixtures thereof, the inherently flame resistant fibers being present in the fabric material in an amount greater than about 50% by weight, the fabric material further comprising a durable water resistant treatment, the durable water resistant treatment comprising a non-fluoride binder in combination with a fluorocarbon compound, the treated fabric containing fluorine in an amount of less than about 3,500 ppm.
2. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the fabric material contains fluorine in an amount less than about 2,800 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,500 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,300 ppm.
3. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric material does not contain any C8 or longer chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and long chain fluorotelomer alcohols within the chemistry (8:2 FTOH) and/or does not contain an alkylphenol ethoxylate.
4. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric material, when tested according to ISO Test 6530 against O-xylene, displays an index of repellency of greater than about 80%, such as greater than about 82% after 10 laundry cycles, displays an index of penetration of less than about 10%, such as less than about 6% after 10 laundry cycles, and displays an index of absorption of less than about 20%, such as less than about 15% after 10 laundry cycles, and/or wherein the fabric material, when tested according to ISO Test 6530 against hydraulic fluid, displays an index of repellency of greater than about 80%, such as greater than about 85% after 10 laundry cycles, displays an index of penetration of less than about 3%, such as less than about 2% after 10 laundry cycles, and displays an index of absorption of less than about 10%, such as less than about 8% after 10 laundry cycles, and/or wherein the fabric material, when tested according to ISO Test 6530 against 30% sulfuric acid, displays an index of repellency of greater than about 95%, such as greater than about 96% after 5 laundry cycles, displays an index of penetration of less than about 2%, such as less than about 1% after 5 laundry cycles, and displays an index of absorption of less than about 1%, such as less than about 0.8% after 5 laundry cycles.
5. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises a fluoroalkyl acrylate.
6. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the non-fluorinated binder comprises an acrylic polymer.
7. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the non-fluorinated binder comprises a polyurethane, a silicone, or a mixture thereof.
8. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the durable water resistant treatment further comprises a wax, wherein the wax preferably comprises a paraffin.
9. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the durable water resistant treatment further contains a repelling agent, the repelling agent comprising an acrylic polymer.
10. A fabric as defined in any of claims 1-8, wherein the non-fluorinated binder comprises an acrylic polymer, a polyurethane polymer, a silicone polymer, or mixtures thereof, the durable water resistant treatment further comprising an acrylic repelling agent and a wax.
11. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the durable water resistant treatment further comprises a blocked isocyanate.
12. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric material is comprised of spun yarns and multifilament yarns.
13. A fabric as defined in claim 12, wherein the filament yarns comprise aramid yarns and the spun yarns comprise a mixture of aramid fibers and polybenzimidazole fibers, the polybenzimidazole fibers being present in the spun yarns in an amount greater than about 20% by weight.
14. A fabric as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric material has a basis weight of from about 5 osy to about 8.5 osy.
15. A protective garment made from the fabric material as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric material preferably forms an exterior surface of the protective garment and comprises an outer shell material, and/or wherein the protective garment preferably comprises a hood.

Description

BACKGROUND Various different types of protective garments exist that are intended to provide protection to the wearer. In certain embodiments, for instance, the protective garments are designed to provide protection from liquids, such as water and/or oil. Such protective garments, for instance, are typically worn by first responders, medical personnel, public service providers, and military personnel. Notably, the absorbing and retaining of moisture and/or oil may result in detrimental effects to both the garment and the wearer. For instance, if the garment retains moisture, the protective garment can become significantly heavier and/or affect the thermal properties of the garment making the garment less effective in shielding its wearer from thermal heat. Additionally, for instance, if the garment absorbs and/or retains oil, the protective garment may have reduced breathability, reduced chemical resistance, and/or may be subject to staining. Thus, water repellency and oil repellency are important considerations in garment and fabric material treatments. In the past, treatments utilized to provide water repellency and/or oil repellency have contained fluorocarbon chemicals. In general, fluorocarbon chemicals are durable and provide for adequate water resistance and oil resistance. Recently, however, various manufacturers, including fabric makers, have been placed under increased pressure to reduce the amount of fluorocarbons incorporated into products. For instance, the manufacture and handling of fluorocarbons has been subject to greater scrutiny and governmental regulation. Thus, a need currently exists for a treatment for fabrics that not only provides water resistance but is also resistant to oils, fuels, and the like. In particular, a need exists for a treatment for fabrics that provides resistance to all different types of liquids and contains a reduced level of fluorocarbon chemistries. Further, a need exists for fire resistant fabrics that are capable of accepting a fabric treatment as described above. SUMMARY In general, the present disclosure is directed to a fabric material that is not only water resistant but is also resistant to oils, fuels, and the like. In one aspect, the fabric material can also be fire resistant. In this regard, the present disclosure is also directed to protective garments made from the fabric. The present disclosure is further directed to a fabric treatment containing reduced fluorine levels that, once applied to a fabric, makes the fabric water and chemical resistant. In one aspect, for instance, the present disclosure is directed to a fabric for producing protective garments. The fabric comprises a fabric material containing inherently flame resistant fibers. The inherently flame resistant fibers can comprise para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, modacrylic fibers, polybenzimidazole fibers, polybenzoxazole fibers, metacrylic fibers, wool fibers, or mixtures thereof. The inherently flame resistant fibers can comprise greater than about 50% by weight, such as greater than about 60% by weight, such as greater than about 70% by weight, such as greater than about 80% by weight, such as greater than about 90% by weight, such as greater than about 95% by weight of the fabric material. The fabric material further comprises a durable water resistant treatment. The durable water resistant treatment comprises a non-fluorinated binder in combination with a fluorocarbon compound. In accordance with the present disclosure, the treated fabric material of the present disclosure contains fluorine in reduced amounts while still displaying excellent water and fuel resistance. For instance, the treated fabric material can contain fluorine in an amount less than about 3,500 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 3,300 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 3,000 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,800 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,500 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,300 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,200 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 2,000 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 900 ppm, such as in an amount less than about 700 ppm. The resulting fabric material, for instance, can contain fluorine in an amount greater than about 100 ppm, such as in an amount greater than about 150 ppm, such as in an amount greater than about 200 ppm, such as in an amount greater than about 250 ppm, such as in an amount greater than about 300 ppm. In one aspect, the fluorocarbon compound incorporated into the durable water resistant treatment comprises a fluoropolymer or oligomer containing relatively short carbon chains. For instance, in one aspect, the durable water resistant treatment and the fabric material can be free of any C8 or longer chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and long chain fluorotelomer alcohols within