Treated graphene nanoplatelets for inflatable structure barrier layers

Abstract

An air-impermeable fabric is disclosed. The air-impermeable fabric has a fabric substrate, which may also be referred to as a base fabric. Disposed over the fabric substrate is a barrier layer comprising a polymer binder and at least 20 weight percent graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. A barrier underlayer, which may or may not also include graphene nanoplatelets, is disposed between the fabric substrate and the barrier layer. A barrier overlayer, which may or may not also include graphene nanoplatelets, is disposed on the opposite side of the barrier layer from the barrier underlayer

1 . An air-impermeable fabric, comprising
 a fabric substrate; and   a barrier layer comprising graphene nanoplatelets that have been pre-treated by contact with a liquid organophosphorus flame retardant compound, and a polymer resin.   
     
     
         2 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 0.5 wt. % to 90 wt. % of graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         3 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 0.5 wt. % to 5 wt. % of graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         4 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 20 wt. % to 90 wt. % of the graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         5 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 25 wt. % to 45 wt. % of the graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         6 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid organophosphorus flame retardant is an organophosphate. 
     
     
         7 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is a cured coating produced by a coating composition comprising the pre-treated graphene nanoplatelets, the polymer resin, and a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         8 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 7 , wherein polymer resin comprises hydroxy functional groups and the crosslinking agent is an alkoxymethylol-substituted melamine derivative. 
     
     
         9 . The air-impermeable fabric of  claim 8 , wherein polymer resin comprises a hydroxy-functional polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making an air-impermeable fabric, comprising
 contacting graphene nanoplatelets with a liquid organophosphorus flame retardant to form pre-treated graphene nanoplatelets;   dispersing the pre-treated graphene nanoplatelets in a coating composition comprising a polymer resin; and   coating the coating composition over a fabric substrate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 0.5 wt. % to 90 wt. % of graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 0.5 wt. % to 5 wt. % of graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 20 wt. % to 90 wt. % of the graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier layer comprises from 25 wt. % to 45 wt. % of the graphene nanoplatelets, based on the total weight of the barrier layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid organophosphorus flame retardant is an organophosphate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the coating composition further comprises a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein polymer resin comprises hydroxy functional groups and the crosslinking agent is an alkoxymethylol-substituted melamine derivative. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein polymer resin comprises a hydroxy-functional polyurethane. 
     
     
         19 . An inflatable structure comprising the air-impermeable fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable structure of  claim 19  that is an aircraft evacuation slide.