Fire-resistant glass fiber knit fabric

Abstract

Disclosed is a fire resistant knit fabric skeleton having a plurality of knit loops formed of corespun glass fibers, with every other course in the knit further containing a bare glass fiber, such that alternating courses of the knit fabric are either entirely corespun glass fiber or a combination of corespun glass fiber and bare glass fiber. The fabrics a unique mix of favorable properties such as excellent fire resistance and strength, improved coating adhesion, a lower basis weight, and high cross machine direction extensibility.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A knit fabric comprising successive courses of corespun glass fibers, wherein every other course of said fabric comprises a bare glass fiber in combination with said corespun glass fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a circular knit fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a lockstitch fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a basis weight of about 5 to about 7 ounces per square yard. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a basis weight of about 5.5 ounces per square yard. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a lockstitch fabric and has a basis weight of about 5.5 ounces per square yard. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , said fabric consisting entirely of corespun glass fibers and bare glass fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the corespun glass fibers comprise about 60 to about 80% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the corespun glass fibers comprise about 68 to about 78% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the corespun glass fibers comprise about 72 to about 75% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the bare glass fibers comprise about 20 to about 40% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the bare glass fibers comprise about 22 to about 32% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the bare glass fibers comprise about 25 to about 28% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a lockstitch fabric having a basis weight of about 5.5 ounces per square yard and wherein the corespun glass fibers comprise about 68 to about 78% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating on at least one side of the fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 1 , further comprising a halogenated polymer coating on one side of the fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 1 , further comprising foam laminated to at least one side of the fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 1 , further comprising a textile laminated to at least one side of the knit fabric.