Laminated fabric

Abstract

To provide a laminated fabric having an air permeability and a filtering capability, the laminated fabric includes a supporting layer and a protective layer bonded together. The protective layer includes a stretchable nonwoven fabric comprises an ultra-fine fiber. This laminated fabric has an air permeability of 2 cc/cm 2 /sec. or higher and a 1 μm quartz dust collecting efficiency of 90% or higher. The laminated fabric may also have a water resistant layer which is positioned on the protective layer so that the protective layer is employed as an intermediate layer between the water resistant layer and the supporting layer.

1 . A laminated fabric which comprises:
 a supporting layer; and   a protective layer comprising a stretchable nonwoven fabric formed from an ultra-fine fiber, the protective layer bonded to the supporting layer;   whereby the laminated fabric having an air permeability of 2 cc/cm 2 /sec or higher and also having an efficiency of 90% or higher when collecting quartz particles 1 μm in size.   
   
   
       2 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ultra-fine fiber comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
   
   
       3 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the thermoplastic elastomer comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of SEPS, SEBS, a polyurethane series thermoplastic elastomer, a polyester series thermoplastic elastomer and a polyamide series thermoplastic elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stretchable nonwoven fabric has a stretch of 30% or higher at break. 
   
   
       5 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stretchable nonwoven fabric comprises an ultra-fine fiber being a nanofiber of 10 to 1,000 nm in fiber diameter and also have a weight within the range of 0.01 to 10 g/m 2 . 
   
   
       6 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , in which at least a part of the fibers forming the supporting layer is a volume reducible fiber. 
   
   
       7 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the volume reducible fiber comprises a polyvinyl alcohol fiber. 
   
   
       8 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a water resistant layer, the water resistant layer being positioned on the protective layer so that the protective layer is employed as an intermediate layer between the water resistant layer and the supporting layer. 
   
   
       9 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 8 , which has a withstanding pressure within the range of 300 to 1,500 mmH 2 O. 
   
   
       10 . The laminated fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , in which 5 to 90% shrinkage takes place when immersed in a hot water of 60° C. or higher. 
   
   
       11 . A protective material, in which at least a part thereof comprises a laminated fabric as defined in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       12 . A volume reducing method which comprises placing a laminated fabric as defined in  claim 1  into a sealable vessel and supplying a hot water of 60° C. or higher to the laminated fabric.