Flame resistant fabric for protective clothing

Abstract

The fabric of the invention is a flame resistant fabric for use in personal protective clothing which provides a high level of comfort, protection from flames and other heat sources such as electric arc and liquid metal splash characterized in that it is made from a yarn, which is an intimate blend of FR cellulosic fibers With high temperature resistant polymer fibers and standard flammable synthetic fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flame resistant fabric for use in personal protective clothing which provides a high level of protection from flames and other sources of heat such as molten metal splash and electric arc, characterized in that it is made from an intimate blend of FR cellulosic fibers with high temperature resistant polymer fibers and standard synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the intimate blend is in the form of a yarn. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the blend ratio of the yarn is
 from 65 to 90% FR cellulosic fibers,   from 10 to 20% high temperature resistant polymer fibers and   from 10 to 20% standard flammable synthetic fibers.   
     
     
         4 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the blend ratio of the yarn is
 from 65- to 75% FR cellulosic fibers,   from 12.5 to 17.5% high temperature resistant polymer fibers and   from 12.5 to 17.5% standard flammable synthetic fibers.   
     
     
         5 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the FR cellulosic fibers of the yarn are staple fibers with a staple length of between 75 and 90 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the FR cellulosic fibers of the yarn are cellulosic fibers that have been made flame resistant by addition of an FR agent during or after fiber production. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the FR cellulosic fibers of the yarn are selected from the group consisting of FR Modal, FR viscose and FR Lyocell. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein the FR cellulosic fibers of the yarn are FR Modal fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein the FR cellulosic fibers of the yarn can be a blend of different FR cellulosic fibers out of the group of FR Modal, FR Viscose and FR Lyocell. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the high temperature resistant polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of para-aramid, meta-aramid, aromatic PES, PBI and blends of these fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric according to  claim 2 , wherein the standard flammable synthetic fibers are selected from the group including PA6, PA6.6 and PES fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric according to  claim 2  which has been made antistatic by the addition of 1% to 5% of an antistatic staple fiber to the blend. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric according to  claim 2  which has been made antistatic by incorporating a grid pattern of yarns consisting of the ground yarn twisted with antistatic continuous filament yarn. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric according to  claim 2  wherein one or more of the individual fiber components has been dope dyed, or is stock dyed staple fiber or dyed tops, yarn or fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 , or  14 , wherein the fabric is produced by weaving, knitting or a nonwoven fabric production method.