Fiber blend, spun yarn, textile material, and method for using the textile material

Abstract

The invention provides a fiber blend, spun yarn, and textile material comprising a plurality of cellulosic fibers and a plurality of first synthetic fibers. The first synthetic fibers comprise a polyoxadiazole polymer, and the polyoxadiazole polymer comprises a plurality of first repeating units and a plurality of second repeating units, the first repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (I) below and the second repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (II) below Y is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphine sulfide. The invention also provides a method for protecting an individual from infrared radiation that can be generated during an electrical arc flash using such a textile material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber blend comprising:
 (a) a plurality of cellulosic fibers; and   (b) a plurality of first synthetic fibers comprising a polyoxadiazole polymer, the polyoxadiazole polymer comprising a plurality of first repeating units and a plurality of second repeating units, the first repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (I) below and the second repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (II) below   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphine sulfide; 
         
         wherein the cellulosic fibers and the first synthetic fibers are intimately blended. 
       
     
     
         2 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the fiber blend. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein Y is bromine. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein the first synthetic fibers comprise about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the fiber blend. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber blend of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 9:1 to about 20:1. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber blend comprises about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of a plurality of second synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber blend of  claim 7 , wherein the second synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of antistatic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber blend of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber blend further comprises a phosphorous-containing flame retardant. 
     
     
         10 . A spun yarn comprising:
 (a) a plurality of cellulosic fibers; and   (b) a plurality of first synthetic fibers comprising a polyoxadiazole polymer, the polyoxadiazole polymer comprising a plurality of first repeating units and a plurality of second repeating units, the first repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (I) below and the second repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (II) below   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphine sulfide. 
         
       
     
     
         11 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the spun yarn. 
     
     
         12 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein Y is bromine. 
     
     
         13 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the first synthetic fibers comprise about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the spun yarn. 
     
     
         14 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 
     
     
         15 . The spun yarn of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 9:1 to about 20:1. 
     
     
         16 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the spun yarn comprises about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of a plurality of second synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The spun yarn of  claim 16 , wherein the second synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of antistatic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the spun yarn further comprises a phosphorous-containing flame retardant. 
     
     
         19 . The spun yarn of  claim 10 , wherein the spun yarn further comprises a vat dye, and the vat dye is deposited on both the cellulosic fibers and the first synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         20 . A textile material comprising:
 (a) a plurality of cellulosic fibers; and   (b) a plurality of first synthetic fibers comprising a polyoxadiazole polymer, the polyoxadiazole polymer comprising a plurality of first repeating units and a plurality of second repeating units, the first repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (I) below and the second repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (II) below   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphine sulfide. 
       
     
     
         21 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the textile material. 
     
     
         22 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein Y is bromine. 
     
     
         23 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the first synthetic fibers comprise about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the textile material. 
     
     
         24 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 
     
     
         25 . The textile material of  claim 24 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 9:1 to about 20:1. 
     
     
         26 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the textile material comprises about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of a plurality of second synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         27 . The textile material of  claim 26 , wherein the second synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of antistatic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the textile material further comprises a phosphorous-containing flame retardant. 
     
     
         29 . The textile material of  claim 20 , wherein the textile material further comprises a vat dye, and the vat dye is deposited on both the cellulosic fibers and the first synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         30 . A method for protecting an individual from infrared radiation that can be generated during an arc flash, the method comprising the step of positioning a textile material between an individual and an apparatus capable of producing an arc flash, the textile material comprising:
 (a) a plurality of cellulosic fibers; and   (b) a plurality of first synthetic fibers comprising a polyoxadiazole polymer, the polyoxadiazole polymer comprising a plurality of first repeating units and a plurality of second repeating units, the first repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (I) below and the second repeating units conforming to the structure of Formula (II) below   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphine sulfide. 
       
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the textile material is part of a garment worn by the individual. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the textile material. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein Y is bromine. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first synthetic fibers comprise about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the textile material. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the ratio of the number of first repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer to the number of second repeating units in the polyoxadiazole polymer is from about 9:1 to about 20:1. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the textile material comprises about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of a plurality of second synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the second synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of antistatic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the textile material further comprises a phosphorous-containing flame retardant. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the textile material further comprises a vat dye, and the vat dye is deposited on both the cellulosic fibers and the first synthetic fibers.