Arc resistant garment containing a multilayer fabric laminate and processes for making same

Abstract

This invention relates to a protective garment and processes for making such a garment, the garment having use in a electrical arc potential environment, the garment having an arc resistant multilayer fabric laminate comprising a first layer of a woven flame-resistant fabric forming an outer surface of the garment and comprising a first fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer comprising a halogen, and a second layer of a woven flame-resistant fabric comprising a second fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer, wherein the first fire-resistant fiber has a thermal decomposition temperature that is at least 70 degrees C. less than the second fire-resistant fiber; and wherein the fabrics in the first and second layers are different and the first layer is positioned in the garment to be closer the electrical arc potential environment than the second layer.

1 . A protective garment having use in a electrical arc potential environment, the garment having an arc resistant multilayer fabric laminate comprising:
 i) a first layer of a woven flame-resistant fabric forming an outer surface of the garment and comprising a first fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer comprising a halogen; and   ii) a second layer of a woven flame-resistant fabric comprising a second fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer;
 wherein the first fire-resistant fiber has a thermal decomposition temperature that is at least 70 degrees C. less than the second fire-resistant fiber; and 
 wherein the fabrics in the first and second layers are different and the first layer is positioned in the garment to be closer the electrical arc potential environment than the second layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first fire-resistant fiber is present in the woven fabric of the first layer in an amount of at least 20 percent by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein the halogen is chlorine. 
     
     
         4 . The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the first fire-resistant fiber is modacrylic. 
     
     
         5 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the woven flame-resistant fabric of the second layer comprises aramid fiber, polybibenzimidiazole fiber, or polybenzazole fiber, or a blend of any of these fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is in direct contact with the second layer. 
     
     
         7 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the woven flame-resistant fabric of the first layer and the woven flame-resistant fabric of the second layer are distinct fabric layers without any shared weft or warp fabric yarns. 
     
     
         8 . The protective garment of  claim 1  further comprising 1 to 4 layers of an 0.5 to 3.0 oz/yd 2  insulating fabric positioned between the first and second flame-resistant fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A process for making a protective garment having use in a electrical arc potential environment, comprising:
 i) providing a first woven flame-resistant fabric comprising a first fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer comprising a halogen;   ii) providing a second woven flame-resistant fabric comprising a second fire-resistant fiber made from a synthetic polymer,
 wherein the first fire-resistant fiber has a thermal decomposition temperature that is at least 70 degrees C. less than the second fire-resistant fiber; the first and second woven flame-resistant fabrics being different; 
   iii) combining the first and second woven flame-resistant fabrics to form a arc resistant multilayer fabric laminate,
 the first and second woven flame-resistant fabrics being distinct fabric layers without any shared weft or warp fabric yarns; and 
   iv) forming an arc resistant garment from the arc resistant multilayer fabric laminate wherein the first woven flame-resistant fabric is positioned in the garment closer to the electrical arc potential environment than the second layer.   
     
     
         10 . The process for making an arc resistant garment of  claim 9 , wherein the first fire-resistant fiber is modacrylic. 
     
     
         11 . The process for making an arc resistant garment of  claim 9 , wherein the second woven flame-resistant fabric comprises aramid fiber, polybibenzimidiazole fiber, or polybenzazole fiber, or a blend of any of these fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The process for making an arc resistant garment of  claim 9  further comprising positioning 1 to 4 layers of an 0.5 to 3.0 oz/yd 2  insulating fabric between the first and second woven flame-resistant fabric layers in step iii).