Fabric and method of using the same

Abstract

A fabric comprises a plurality of yarns, at least a portion of which comprise polyphenylene sulfide fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers. The fabric comprises 35 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide fibers. A fabric comprises a plurality of yarns, each yarn comprising a plurality of polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers and a plurality of regenerated cellulose staple fibers. A method of protecting an individual from injury caused by molten metal splashes comprises the steps of providing a fabric, providing a source of molten metal, disposing the fabric between the source of molten metal and an individual, whereby the fabric serves as a barrier to protect the individual from molten metal splashes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric comprising a plurality of yarns, wherein at least a portion of the yarns comprise polyphenylene sulfide fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers, wherein the fabric comprises 35 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide fibers, and wherein the regenerated cellulose fibers are selected from the group consisting of flame resistant rayon fibers, flame resistant lyocell fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises about 40 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric comprises about 50 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises about 80 wt. % or less polyphenylene sulfide fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises about 20 wt. % to about 65 wt. % regenerated cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric further comprises additional fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyoxadiazole fibers, modacrylic fibers, aramid fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric comprises about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the additional fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a woven fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 8 , wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns disposed substantially perpendicular to and interwoven with the first yarns, wherein the first yarns comprise polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers and regenerated cellulose staple fibers, and wherein the second yarns comprise polyphenylene sulfide filaments. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the first yarns comprise about 50 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein the second yarns comprise about 90 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide filaments. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 9 , wherein fabric further comprises a plurality of third yarns disposed substantially parallel to the second yarns and substantially perpendicular to and interwoven with the first yarns, wherein the third yarns comprise polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers and regenerated cellulose staple fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 12 , wherein the third yarns comprise about 50 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers. 
     
     
         14 . A fabric comprising a plurality of yarns, each yarn comprising a plurality of polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers and a plurality of regenerated cellulose staple fibers, wherein the regenerated cellulose staple fibers are selected from the group consisting of flame resistant rayon staple fibers, flame resistant lyocell staple fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric comprises 35 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 15 , wherein the fabric comprises about 50 wt. % or more polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric comprises about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % regenerated cellulose staple fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric further comprises additional fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyoxadiazole fibers, modacrylic fibers, aramid fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 18 , wherein the fabric comprises about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the additional fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric is a woven fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 20 , wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns disposed substantially perpendicular to and interwoven with the first yarns, wherein the first yarns comprise a first amount of polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers, wherein the second yarns comprise a second amount of polyphenylene sulfide staple fibers, and wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount by about 5 weight percentage points or more. 
     
     
         22 . A method of protecting an individual from injury caused by molten metal splashes, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the fabric of  claim 1 ;   (b) providing a source of molten metal; and   (c) disposing the fabric between the source of molten metal and an individual, whereby the fabric serves as a barrier to protect the individual from molten metal splashes.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the fabric is provided as a fabric panel of a garment worn by the individual. 
     
     
         24 . A method of protecting an individual from injury caused by molten metal splashes, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the fabric of  claim 14 ;   (b) providing a source of molten metal; and   (c) disposing the fabric between the source of molten metal and an individual, whereby the fabric serves as a barrier to protect the individual from molten metal splashes.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the fabric is provided as a fabric panel of a garment worn by the individual.