A conductive yarn

Abstract

An electrically conductive yarn for producing protective garments is described, wherein the yarn comprises: a first electrically conductive strand; a second strand different from the first strand and comprising fire-resistant synthetic fibres, wherein the first and second strands are coupled and twisted; the first strand comprises a core of a first metal and a coating of a second metal different from the first metal.

1 . An electrically conductive yarn for producing protective garments, said yarn consisting of:
 a first electrically conductive strand, comprising a core of a first metal and a coating of a second metal other than the first metal, and   a second strand different from the first strand and comprising fire-resistant synthetic fibres in an intimate blend with electrically conductive metal fibres,   wherein said first and second strands are coupled and twisted together, the yarn having an external side surface defined only by exposed portions of the first and second strands.   
     
     
         2 . The yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said second metal is a noble metal, preferably silver. 
     
     
         3 . The yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said first strand has a weight ratio of the second metal to the first metal between 2:100 and 10:100, preferably 5:100. 
     
     
         4 . The yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said second strand comprises electrically conductive metal fibres in an intimate blend with said synthetic fibres. 
     
     
         5 . The yarn according to  claim 4 , wherein said second strand comprises:
 aramid 30-80% by weight, preferably 50-70%,   steel 20-70% by weight, preferably 30-50%.   
     
     
         6 . The yarn according to  claim 5 , wherein said steel comprises nickel, iron and chromium. 
     
     
         7 . The yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said second strand has a count between 40 and 60 Nm, preferably equal to 50 Nm. 
     
     
         8 . The yarn according to  claim 1 , consisting of one of said first strand and one of said second strand, said first and second strands being coupled and twisted, said yarn having a count between 20000 and 40000 Nk, preferably equal to 28000 Nk. 
     
     
         9 . A fabric, which has a fabric structure formed of one or more structure yarns, each structure yarn alone identifying a respective laying path, wherein at least one of said structure yarns consists of:
 an electrically conductive yarn according to  claim 1 , or   an assembled yarn consisting of a plurality of electrically conductive yarns according to  claim 1 , twisted together.   
     
     
         10 . The fabric according to  claim 9 , obtainable by loom weaving and having a predetermined weave, preferably a plain weave,
 wherein a plurality of structure yarns comprise at least one weft yarn and one warp yarn, which identify, respectively, at least one weft path and one warp path as laying paths,   wherein at least one structure yarn consists of an electrically conductive yarn according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         11 . The fabric according to  claim 9 , obtainable by knitting, wherein at least one of said structure yarns consists in an assembled yarn consisting of a plurality of said electrically conductive yarns, preferably four, twisted together. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A protective garment comprising:
 a fabric, which has a fabric structure formed of one or more structure yarns, each structure yarn alone identifying a respective laying path, wherein at least one of said structure yarns consists of:
 an electrically conductive yarn according to  claim 1 , or 
 an assembled yarn consisting of a plurality of electrically conductive yarns according to  claim 1 , twisted together, and/or 
   a sewing thread consisting of a plurality of yarns according to  claim 1 , preferably three, coupled and twisted together, said sewing thread having a count between 20 and 40 Nm, preferably equal to 30 Nm.