Flame and shrinkage resistant fabric blends and method for making same

Abstract

Fabric blends of inherently flame resistant fibers and flame resistant cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant. According to the method of production of these blends, the inherently flame resistant fibers can be dyed a full shade of color without depleting the flame retardant contained in the cellulosic fibers. In addition, the potential for laundering shrinkage of the inherently flame resistant fibers of the blends is reduced regardless of whether both, one of, or neither of the inherently flame resistant fibers and the flame resistant cellulosic fibers are dyed. Dyeing and/or shrinkage prevention of these blends is conducted at temperatures below 100° C., typically approximately between 70° C. and 100° C. Preferably, dye-assistants used in the process are selected from the group comprising N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-diethylbenzamide, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-dimethylbenzamide, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, N-octylpyrrolidone, aryl ether, an approximately 50/50 blend of N,N-dimethylcaprylamide and N,N-dimethylcapramide, and mixtures thereof.

1 - 2 . Cancelled  
     
     
         3 . A method for dyeing a flame resistant fabric blend containing inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, said method comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with a dyebath including at least one dye and a dye-assistant selected from the group consisting of hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, aryl ether, and mixtures thereof; and    heating the dyebath while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend to fix the dye within the inherently flame resistant fibers.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are essentially composed of at least one of aromatic polyamide, polyamide imide and polyimide.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are meta-aramid fibers.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are essentially composed of rayon, acetate, triacetate, lyocell, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are rayon fibers.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dye assistant is hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dye assistant is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dye assistant is aryl ether.  
     
     
         11 . A method for inhibiting laundering shrinkage in a flame resistant fabric blend containing inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, said method comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with an aqueous solution containing a dye-assistant selected from the group consisting of hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, aryl ether, and mixtures thereof; and    heating the solution while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are essentially composed of at least one of aromatic polyamide, polyamide imide and polyimide.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are meta-aramid fibers.  
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  1   1 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are essentially composed of rayon, acetate, triacetate, lyocell, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are rayon fibers.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dye assistant is hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt.  
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  1   1 , wherein the dye assistant is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dye assistant is aryl ether.  
     
     
         19 . A method for dyeing a flame resistant fabric blend containing aramid fibers that contain a surfactant dye-assistant and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, said method comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising aramid fibers that contain a surfactant dye-assistant and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with a dyebath including at least one dye; and    heating the dyebath while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend to fix the dye within the aramid fibers.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surfactant dye-assistant is hexadecyltrimethylammonium salt or isopropylammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.  
     
     
         21 . A method for inhibiting laundering shrinkage in a flame resistant fabric blend containing aramid fibers that contain a surfactant dye-assistant and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, said method comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising aramid fibers that contain a surfactant dye-assistant and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with an aqueous solution; and    heating the solution while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the surfactant dye-assistant is hexadecyltrimethylammonium salt or isopropylammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.  
     
     
         23 . A method for dyeing a flame resistant fabric blend containing inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with a dyebath including at least one dye and a dye-assistant selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-diethylbenzamide, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-dimethylbenzamide, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, N-octylpyrrolidone, aryl ether, an approximately 50/50 blend of N,N-dimethylcaprylamide and N,N-dimethylcapramide, and mixtures thereof; and    heating the dyebath while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend to fix the dye within the inherently flame resistant fibers.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are essentially composed at least one of aromatic polyamide, polyamide imide and polyimide.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are meta-aramid fibers.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are essentially composed of rayon, acetate, triacetate, lyocell, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are rayon fibers.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the dye-assistant is selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the dye-assistant is one of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, and N,N-dibutylformamide.  
     
     
         30 . A method for inhibiting laundering shrinkage in a flame resistant fabric blend containing inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound, comprising: 
 contacting a flame resistant fabric blend comprising inherently flame resistant fibers and cellulosic fibers that contain a flame retardant compound with an aqueous solution containing a dye-assistant selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-diethylbenzamide, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt, N,N-dimethylbenzamide, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, N-octylpyrrolidone, aryl ether, an approximately 50/50 blend of N,N-dimethylcaprylamide and N,N-dimethylcapramide, and mixtures thereof; and    heating the solution while in contact with the flame resistant fabric blend.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are essentially composed of at least one of aromatic polyamide, polyamide imide and polyimide.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers are meta-aramid fibers.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are essentially composed of rayon, acetate, triacetate, lyocell, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are rayon fibers.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the dye-assistant is selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, N,N-dibutylformamide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the dye-assistant is one of N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, benzyl alcohol, and N,N-dibutylformamide.