Fibers and fabrics with insulating, water-proofing, and flame-resistant properties

Abstract

Fibers, and fabrics produced from the fibers, are made water repellent, fire-retardant and/or thermally insulating by filling void spaces in the fibers and/or fabrics with a powdered material. When the powder is sufficiently finely divided, it clings tenaciously to the fabric's fibers and to itself, resisting the tendency to be removed from the fabric.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A single fiber strand, comprising: 
 a porous fiber strand having voids, and    at least some of said voids at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.    
     
     
         2 . The single fiber strand of  claim 1 , wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following: 
 a porous material, or    a nanoporous material, or    a nanoporous powdered material, or    a solgel derived material, or    an aerogel-like material, or    an aerogel, or    an inorganic material, or    aggregates of inorganic particle material, or    combinations of said materials.    
     
     
         3 . The single fiber strand of  claim 1 , wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following: 
 an insulating material, or    a thermally insulating material, or    a water repellant material, or    a hydrophobic material, or    a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or    a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or    other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or    laminates of aerogel powder, or    a fire resistant material, or    combinations of said materials.    
     
     
         4 . A single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, comprising: 
 a multiplicity of smaller single porous fiber strands having voids,    at least some of said voids at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm, and    said multiplicity of smaller single porous fiber strands associated with each other to form a single fiber.    
     
     
         5 . The single fiber strand of  claim 4 , wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following: 
 a porous material, or    a nanoporous material, or    a nanoporous powdered material, or    a solgel derived material, or    an aerogel-like material, or    an aerogel, or    an inorganic material, or    aggregates of inorganic particle material, or    an insulating material, or    a thermally insulating material, or    a water repellant material, or    a hydrophobic material, or    a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or    a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or    laminates of aerogel powder, or    a fire resistant material, or    combinations of said materials.    
     
     
         6 . A single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, comprising: 
 a multiplicity of smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands having a void volume between said smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands,    at least a portion of said void volume at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm, and    said multiplicity of smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands associated with each other to form a single fiber.    
     
     
         7 . The single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands,  claim 6 , wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following: 
 a porous material, or    a nanoporous material, or    a nanoporous powdered material, or    a solgel derived material, or    an aerogel-like material, or    an aerogel, or    an inorganic material, or    aggregates of inorganic particle material, or    an insulating material, or    a thermally insulating material, or    a water repellant material, or    a hydrophobic material, or    a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or    a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or    other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or    a fire resistant material, or    combinations of said materials.    
     
     
         8 . A fabric, comprising: 
 a multiplicity of fibers,    said multiplicity of fibers associated with each other to form said fabric,    said fibers containing a void volume located either in said fibers or between said fibers or both in said fibers and between said fibers, and    at least a portion of said void volume at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.    
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 8 , wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following: 
 a porous material, or    a nanoporous material, or    a nanoporous powdered material, or    a solgel derived material, or    an aerogel-like material, or    an aerogel, or    an inorganic material, or    aggregates of inorganic particle material, or    an insulating material, or    a thermally insulating material, or    a water repellant material, or    a hydrophobic material, or    a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or    a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or    other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or    a fire resistant material, or    combinations of said materials.