Oleophobic Laminated Article

Abstract

An article comprising a microporous membrane. A first porous fabric is laminated to a first side of the microporous membrane. A second porous fabric is laminated to a second opposite side of the microporous membrane to form a laminate with the membrane and the first porous fabric. The laminate has two fabric sides separated by the microporous membrane. A treatment material is applied to the laminate to form a treated laminate. The treated laminate has an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing on both fabric sides and has an air permeability through the treated laminate of at least 0.01 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article comprising:
 a fluoropolymer-treated laminate that comprises
 a microporous membrane; 
 a first porous fabric laminated to a first side of the microporous membrane; 
 a second porous fabric laminated to a second opposite side of the microporous membrane to form a laminate having two fabric sides separated by the microporous membrane; and 
 a treatment material that comprises a fluoropolymer, wherein the treatment material is applied to the laminate to form a fluoropolymer-treated laminate, wherein both fabric sides of the fluoropolymer-treated laminate have an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and the microporous membrane within the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an air permeability through the laminate of at least 0.01 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyether sulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, nylon and polycarbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane is thermally laminated to at least one of the first porous fabric and the second porous fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane is adhesively laminated to at least one of the first porous fabric and the second porous fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment material comprises a fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer is cross-linked. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate comprises a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 1500 gr/m 2 /day determined by JISL-1099B2 testing. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate comprises a Mullen Water Entry pressure determined by challenging the membrane side of at least 10 PSI. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate comprises an air permeability of at least 0.15 CFM per square foot. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an oil resistance of a number 8 determined by AATCC 118 testing on both fabric sides and an air permeability through the treated laminate of at least 0.15 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing. 
     
     
         11 . A vent comprising:
 a fluoropolymer-treated laminate that comprises
 a microporous membrane; 
 a first porous fabric laminated to a first side of the microporous membrane; 
 a second porous fabric laminated to a second opposite side of the microporous membrane to form a laminate having two fabric sides separated by the microporous membrane; and 
 a treatment material that comprises a fluoropolymer, wherein the treatment material is applied to the laminate to form a fluoropolymer-treated laminate, wherein both fabric sides of the fluoropolymer-treated laminate have an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and the microporous membrane within the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an air permeability through the laminate of at least 0.01 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the microporous membrane is thermally laminated to at least one of the first porous fabric and the second porous fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment material comprises a fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . The vent of  claim 13 , wherein the fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer is cross-linked. 
     
     
         15 . An article comprising:
 a fluoropolymer-treated laminate that comprises
 a microporous membrane of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE); 
 a first porous fabric laminated to a first side of the microporous membrane; 
 a second porous fabric laminated to a second opposite side of the microporous membrane to form a laminate having two fabric sides separated by the microporous membrane; and 
 a treatment material that comprises a fluoropolymer, wherein the treatment material is applied to the laminate to form a fluoropolymer-treated laminate, wherein both fabric sides of the fluoropolymer-treated laminate have an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and the microporous membrane within the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing and wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate has an air permeability through the laminate of at least 0.01 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing and a Mullen Water Entry pressure determined by challenging the membrane side of at least 10 PSI. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the microporous membrane is thermally laminated to at least one of the first porous fabric and the second porous fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the treatment material comprises a fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the fluorinated alkyl acrylic copolymer is cross-linked. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the fluoropolymer-treated laminate comprises a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 1500 gr/m2/day determined by JISL-1099B2 testing. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the microporous membrane is adhesively laminated to at least one of the first porous fabric and the second porous fabric.