DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of protective fabrics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personnel working in extreme hostile environmental conditions, such as security personnel, require a protective wear that is durable and suitable to resist extreme weather conditions. Conventional protective garments do not confer complete protection to the personnel against the harsh environment. The garments fail to provide thermal protection which may result in a probability of burn injury when exposed to a fire hazard. Also, such garments do not confer protection against insects. They are not durable or not self-cleaning.
Therefore, there is felt a need of a protective fabric and a garment made thereof that alleviate the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional protective garments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective fabric. The fabric comprises at least 60% w/w meta aramid fibers, at least 3% w/w para aramid fibers, at least 10% w/w modacrylic fibers, at least 10% w/w permethrin contained cellulosic fibers, and 0% to 2% w/w antistatic fibers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
References in the specification to “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The present invention relates to a protective fabric and a garment made thereof.
The fabric comprises at least 60% w/w meta aramid fibers, at least 3% w/w para aramid fibers, at least 10% w/w modacrylic fibers, and at least 10% w/w permethrin contained cellulosic fibers. Such amount of aforementioned fibers makes the fabric flame retardant, insect proof, and durable.
The para and meta aramid fibers provide excellent strength and durability to the fabric. Further, these fibers are flame resistant. The burning behaviour of aramid is different than Modacrylic fibers. So if a non flame retardant is mixed with aramid than the matrix becomes non flame retardant, but if non-flame retardant cellulosic fibres are mixed with Modacrylic than matrix becomes flame retardant due to the burning behaviour of Modacrylic fibers.
The permethrin contained cellulosic fibres confer protection from insects such as mosquitoes to the fabric and a garment made of the fabric.
The Modacrylic fibers are flame retardant fibers, and confer high thermal stability. Additionally, the modacrylic fibers are dimensionally stable fibers. Thus, the fabric of the present invention is flame retardant as well as dimensionally stable, i.e., displays reduced stretching or shrinking.
In an embodiment, the amount of the meta aramid fibers in the fabric ranges from 60% to 80% of total weight of the fabric. In another embodiment, amount of the para aramid fibers in the fabric ranges from 3% to 8% of total weight of the fabric. In yet another embodiment, the amount of the modacrylic fibers in the fabric ranges from 10% to 15% of total weight of the fabric. In yet another embodiment, the amount of the permethrin contained cellulosic fibers ranges from 10% to 15% of total weight of the fabric.
The fabric comprises 0% to 2% w/w antistatic fibers. The anti-static fibers dissipate any static charge developed in the fabric and make the wearer protected from any hazardous/accident due to static charge.
The fabric is air permeable and moisture vapour permeable. The protective fabric reduces perspiration and provides greater comfort to a wearer for long time period.
In an embodiment, the fabric is printed with a camouflage print. Thus, the garment made of the fabric can easily blend with the surrounding environment where it is used. This makes it difficult to identify a wearer of the garment.
The fabric is printed with an infrared absorbing pigment. This makes the fabric invisible for infrared cameras, goggles, and other such equipments.
In an embodiment, the fabric is coated with Polyurethane to enhance absorption properties.
In another embodiment, the fabric is treated with fluorocarbon to make the fabric dirt, water and oil repellent, thereby making the fabric self-cleaning.
The fabric has aesthetic properties like colour, breathability and/or durability and is light weight.
In an embodiment, the fabric comprises functional durable finishes such as an anti-microbial, water and oil repellent, stain release finishes and the like, without affecting protective performance.
The fabric is woven with textile weaves such twill or rip stop weaves.
The yarn count of the fabric varies from about 2/30s Ne to about 2/40s Ne (double yarn). Such yarn count imparts good lustre and strength in the fabric.
The method of manufacturing the fabric of the present invention is now elaborated in subsequent paragraphs.
The method comprises following steps.
Step (A)
A blend of meta aramid fibers in an amount of at least 60% to 80% by weight of the total protective fabric weight, para aramid fibers in an amount of at least 3% to 8% by weight of a total protective fabric weight, Modacrylic fibers in an amount of at least 10% to 15% by weight of the total protective fabric weight, Permethrin contain cellulosic fibers in an amount of at least 10% to 15% by weight of the total protective fabric weight, and antistatic fiber in an amount of at least 0% to 2% by weight of the total protective fabric weight is spun through a ring spinning system to obtain a fabric.
Step (B)
The fabric is woven with textile weaves such as twill or rip stop weaves.
Step (C)
The fabric is washed. In an embodiment, the fabric is printed with suitable camouflage print. The fabric is further printed with an infrared rays absorbing pigment which absorbed by infra ray to make the fabric camouflage in visible as well as infra ray lights.
The step (C) further includes the following sub-steps.
Sub-step (a)
The fabric is coated with Polyurethane to enhance its fastness properties and give a uniform absorption throughout the fabric surface.
Sub-step (b)
The fabric is washed to remove any unfix colour or coating substrate.
Sub-step (c)
The fabric is treated with fluorocarbon to make the fabric dirt, water and oil repellent that makes the fabric self-cleaning.
The present invention further discloses a garment made of the fabric described in the foregoing paragraphs. More specifically, the garment comprises at least 60% w/w meta aramid fibers, at least 3% w/w para aramid fibers, at least 10% w/w modacrylic fibers, at least 10% w/w permethrin contained cellulosic fibers, and 0% to 2% w/w antistatic fibers..
The fabric and the garment made thereof were tested under various test conditions.
The fabric complies with a Mosquito proof test when tested pursuant to TL-8305-0331 developed by the German Armed Forces that demands bioactivity tests of permethrin impregnated textiles that had been laundered 100 times.
The fabric has a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) of more than 2000 gm/m2/Day when tested pursuant to ASTM E-96-05.
The fabric has high abrasion resistance. In an embodiment, the fabric has abrasion resistance of more than 10000 revolutions when tested pursuant to ISO 12947/2 or ASTM D4966.
The fabric complies with one or more criteria including NFPA 2112, ISO 15025, EN 1149/5, ASTM F1959/F1959M – 13, and EN 61482-15 1-1.
The testing methods for the abovementioned standards are well known in the art, and thus, description of such tests is not provided for the sake of brevity of the specification.
Below are few examples of the fabric of the present invention.
Example 1:
The fabric comprises 74% w/w Meta Aramid fibers, 4% w/w Para aramid fibers, 2% w/w Anti-static fibers, 10% Cell solution protection (permethrin) fibers, and 10% w/w Modacrylic fibers.
The properties of the fabric having aforementioned fibers are provided below.
Yarn: 2/40s Ne
Finish Const: EPI :86, PPI: 70, GSM:190, Weave : 2/1 RHT
Tensile Strength (ISO 13934-1): warp: 1200N, Weft: 1000 N
Tear Strength (ISO 13937-2): warp: 30 N, Weft: 30 N
Abrasion (ISO 12947-2): more than 100000 (no thread break)
Pilling (ASTMD3512): 4 (out of scale 5)
Vertical Flame Test (ASTM D 6413 WEFT): Damage Length 84mm (Requirement less than 100mm for NFPA2112 AND Less than 152 mm ASTM 1590)
TL-8305-0331: Meet
MVTR(ASTM E-96-05): 2200 gm/m2/Day

Example 2:
The fabric comprises 75% w/w Meta Aramid, 5% w/w Para aramid, 10% Cell solution protection (permethrin) fibers, and 10% w/w Modacrylic fibers.
The properties of the fabric having aforementioned fibers are provided below.
Yarn: 2/30s Ne
Finish Const: EPI :88, PPI: 54, GSM:235, Weave : 2/1 RHT
Tensile Strength (ISO 13934-1): warp: 1350 N, Weft: 1200 N
Tear Strength (ISO 13937-2): warp:35 N, Weft: 35N
Abrasion (ISO 12947-2): more than 100000 (no thread break)
Pilling (ASTMD3512): 4 (out of scale 5)
Vertical Flame Test (ASTM D 6413 WEFT): Damage Length 80 mm (Requirement less than 100mm for NFPA2112 AND Less than 152 mm ASTM 1590)
TL-8305-0331: Meet
MVTR(ASTM E-96-05): 2300 gm/m2/Day

“Tensile strength” refers to the maximum amount of stress that can be applied to a material before rupture or failure. The “tear strength” is the amount of force required to tear a fabric. In general, the tensile strength of a fabric relates to how easily the fabric will tear or rip. The tensile strength may also relate to the ability of the fabric to avoid becoming permanently stretched or deformed. The tensile and tear strengths of a fabric should be high enough so as to prevent ripping, tearing, or permanent deformation of the garment in a manner that would significantly compromise the intended level of protection of the garment.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:
1. A protective fabric consisting of at least 60% w/w meta aramid fibers, at least 3% w/w para aramid fibers, at least 10% w/w modacrylic fibers, at least 10% w/w permethrin contained cellulosic fibers, and 0% to 2% w/w antistatic fibers.
2. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric printed with a camouflage print.
3. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein amount of said meta aramid fibers in said fabric ranges from 60% to 80% of total weight of said fabric, amount of said para aramid fibers in said fabric ranges from 3% to 8% of total weight of said fabric, amount of said modacrylic fibers in said fabric ranges from 10% to 15% of total weight of said fabric, and amount of said permethrin contained cellulosic fibers ranges from 10% to 15% of total weight of said fabric.
4. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric is printed with a infra red absorbing pigment.
5. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric is coated with a layer of polyurethane.
6. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric has a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) of more than 2000 gm/m2/Day when tested pursuant to ASTM E-96-05.
7. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric has abrasion resistance of more than 10000 revolutions when tested pursuant to ISO 12947/2 or ASTM D4966.
8. The fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric complies with one or more criteria including NFPA 2112, ISO 15025, EN 1149/5, ASTM F1959/F1959M – 13, and EN 61482-1-1.
9. A garment made of the fabric as claimed in claims 1-8.