Glove having barrier properties

Abstract

A glove includes an inner layer having the 3 -dimensional shape of a hand and including a fibrous absorbent material, and the glove includes a fluoropolymer barrier layer thermoformed around the inner layer to have the 3 -dimensional shape of the hand. The fluoropolymer barrier layer maintains the 3 -dimensional shape when not in use. The glove has a breakthrough time of not greater than 1 hour when exposed to NFPA 1991 industrial chemicals and has a detectable permeation rate is not more than 0.10 micrograms/cm 2 /min.

1 . A glove comprising:
 an inner layer having the 3-dimensional shape of a hand and including a fibrous absorbent material; and   a fluoropolymer barrier layer thermoformed around the inner layer to have the 3-dimensional shape of the hand, the fluoropolymer barrier layer maintaining the 3-dimensional shape when not in use;   wherein the glove has a breakthrough time of not greater than 1 hour when exposed to NFPA 1991 industrial chemicals and has a detectable permeation rate is not more than 0.10 micrograms/cm 2 /min.   
     
     
         2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer barrier layer includes ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), THV, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbent material includes a woven or knitted fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbent material includes cotton or wool. 
     
     
         8 . The glove of  claim 1 , further comprising a flame resistant outer layer disposed over the fluoropolymer barrier layer. 
     
     
         9 . The glove of  claim 1 , further comprising a tear resistant outer layer disposed over the fluoropolymer barrier layer. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The glove of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer layer formed of a polyaramid material disposed over the fluoropolymer barrier layer. 
     
     
         12 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer barrier layer has a thickness of not greater than 5 mils. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove exhibits a dexterity performance of not greater than 200 %. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove exhibits a dexterity index of not greater than 95%. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove exhibits an average cumulative permeation in  1  hour that of less than about 4.0 micrograms/cm 2  for lewisite (L) and distilled mustard (HD). 
     
     
         19 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove exhibits an average cumulative permeation over 1 hour that is less than 1.25 micrograms/cm 2  when exposed to sarin (GB) or V-Agent (VX). 
     
     
         20 . A glove comprising:
 an inner layer including a moisture wicking material; and   a fluoropolymer barrier layer thermoformed around the inner layer to have a 3-dimensional shape of a hand, the fluoropolymer barrier layer maintaining the 3-dimensional shape when not in use;   wherein the glove has a dexterity index of not greater than 95%.   
     
     
         21 . The glove of  claim 20 , wherein the fluoropolymer barrier layer includes ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), THV, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The glove of  claim 20 , wherein the dexterity index is not greater than 90%. 
     
     
         36 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of forming a glove comprising:
 applying an inner layer over a three-dimensional hand-shaped form;   softening a fluoropolymer film; and   thermoforming the softened fluoropolymer film over the inner layer;   whereby a glove is formed that maintains the three-dimensional hand-shape after the form is removed.   
     
     
         39 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising applying an outer layer over the thermoformed fluoropolymer film. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein applying the outer layer includes applying a flame resistant outer layer over the thermoformed fluoropolymer film. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein applying the outer layer includes applying a tear resistant outer layer over the thermoformed fluoropolymer film. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein applying the outer layer includes attaching the outer layer to a barrier layer formed of the thermoformed fluoropolymer film at a wrist of the glove. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled)