Breathable non-wettable melt-blown non-woven materials and products employing the same

Abstract

Breathable non-wettable non-woven materials include a mass of melt-blown, non-woven fibers formed of a terpolymer of tetrafluroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride monomers. Most preferably, the materials of the present invention are in the form of fabric structures which can be processed to form a variety of products for numerous end use applications, such as for garments, bandages, barrier vents, filter media and the like. In especially preferred form, the melt-blown non-woven fibers are comprised of a THV terpolymer formed of between about 30 to about 70 wt. % of teirafluoroethylene monomer, between about 10 to about 20 wt. % of hexafluoropropylene monomer, and between about 20 to about 65 wt. % vinylidene fluoride monomer.

1 . A material comprised of a mass of melt-blown non-woven fibers comprised of a terpolymer of tetrafluroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride monomers.  
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the vinylidene fluoride monomer is present in the terpolymer in an amount from about 20 to about 65%.  
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the vinylidene fluoride monomer is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 36.5 wt. %.  
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the tetrafluoroethylene monomer is present in an amount from about 30 to about 70 wt. %.  
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the tetrafluoroethylene monomer is present in an amount of about 44.6 wt. %.  
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 3 , wherein the tetrafluoroethylene monomer is present in an amount of about 44.6 wt. %.  
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the hexafluoropropylene monomer is present in an amount from about 30 to about 70 wt. %.  
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the hexafluoropropylene monomer is present in an amount of about 18.9 wt. %.  
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 5 , wherein the hexafluoropropylene monomer is present in an amount of about 18.9 wt. %.  
     
     
         10 . The material of  claim 6 , wherein the hexafluoropropylene monomer is present in an amount of about 18.9 wt. %.  
     
     
         11 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are comprised of a blend of the THV terpolymer and at least one other polymer selected from fluorothermoplastic terpolymers different from the THV terpolymer and homopolymers, copolymers, or terpolymers of polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyarylsulfones, fluorinated polymers, and polyolefins.  
     
     
         12 . The material of  claim 1 , which includes other fibers formed of at least one other polymer selected from fluorothermoplastic terpolymers different from the THV terpolymer and homopolymers, copolymers, or terpolymers of polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyarylsulfones, fluorinated polymers, and polyolefins.  
     
     
         13 . A garment which includes a fabric comprised of the material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A bandage which includes a fabric comprised of the material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A bulk air flow vent which includes a fabric comprised of the material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A filtration medium which includes a fabric comprised of the material of  claim 1.