Cut Resistant Articles

Abstract

A cut resistant article comprising a glove, sleeve, or apron comprising a knit fabric having yarns of fibers having essentially a round cross section and comprising linear polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least 1 million, the yarns having a tensile modulus equal to 500 grams per denier (455 grams per dtex) or less and a yarn elongation at break of 4 percent or greater, the fabric further having a basis weight of 857 grams per square meter or less and having a mass index of 6000 or less.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cut resistant article comprising a glove, sleeve, or apron comprising a knit fabric having yarns of fibers having essentially a round cross section and comprising linear polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least 1 million, the yarns having a tensile modulus equal to 500 grams per denier (455 grams per dtex) or less and a yarn elongation at break of 4 percent or greater, the fabric further having a basis weight of 857 grams per square meter or less and having a mass index of 6000 or less. 
     
     
         2 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  having a mass index of 2000 to 6000. 
     
     
         3 . The cut resistant article of  claim 2  having a mass index of 3000 to 5000. 
     
     
         4 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  wherein the fiber has a yarn tensile modulus of 400 grams per denier (275 grams per dtex) or less. 
     
     
         5 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  wherein the fiber has a yarn tensile modulus of 100 grams per denier (91 grams per dtex) or greater. 
     
     
         6 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  wherein the fiber has a yarn elongation at break of 4 to 15 percent. 
     
     
         7 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  further comprising a polymeric coating for gripping objects. 
     
     
         8 . The cut resistant article of  claim 7  wherein the polymeric coating is positioned in discrete areas on the article. 
     
     
         9 . The cut resistant article of  claim 1  wherein the knit is 7 gauge or higher. 
     
     
         10 . The cut resistant article of  claim 9  wherein the knit is 10 gauge or higher. 
     
     
         11 . The cut resistant article of  claim 10  wherein the knit is 13 gauge or higher. 
     
     
         12 . The cut resistant article of  claim 11  wherein the knit is 15 gauge or higher. 
     
     
         13 . The cut resistant article of  claim 12  wherein the knit is 18 gauge or higher. 
     
     
         14 . The cut resistant article of  claim 9  wherein the knit is 24 gauge or lower.