Breathable hydrostatically-resistant structures

Abstract

The invention provides a breathable structure that includes a fibrous substrate and a cross-linked polymer that contains hydrophobic moieties. The fibrous substrate contains a plurality of fibers, and the cross-linked polymer coats portions of the plurality of fibers.

1 . A breathable structure comprising a fibrous substrate and a cross-linked polymer comprising hydrophobic moieties, wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a plurality of fibers, and wherein the cross-linked polymer coats portions of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         2 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise natural fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein greater than or equal to 50 wt % of the fibers in the fibrous substrate are synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein greater than or equal to 40% of the surface area of the fibers in the fibrous substrate is in direct contact with the cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The breathable structure according to  claim 5 , wherein greater than or equal to 60% of the surface area of the fibers in the fibrous substrate is in direct contact with the cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , comprising 0.25 wt % to 7 wt % of the cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The breathable structure according to  claim 7 , comprising 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked polymer does not comprise fluorine. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises polyester fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate is a non-woven web. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , having a hydrostatic resistance of greater than or equal to 50 centimeters of water. 
     
     
         17 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , having a hydrostatic resistance of HR2, wherein the breathable structure, in the absence of the cross-linked polymer, has a hydrostatic resistance of HR1, and wherein:
   (HR2−HR1)/HR1×100%≥50%.
   
     
     
         18 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , having a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of greater than or equal to 300 g/m 2 /day. 
     
     
         19 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , having a Frazier air permeability of 1 to 500 cfm. 
     
     
         20 . The breathable structure according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the fibrous substrate is fabric having a Frazier air permeability of 1 to 160 cfm; or   the fibrous substrate is a high loft nonwoven having a Frazier air permeability of 250 to 500 cfm.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The breathable structure according to  claim 1 , having a moisture vapor transmission rate of MVTR2 and a Frazier air permeability of AP2, wherein the breathable structure, in the absence of the cross-linked polymer, has a moisture vapor transmission rate of MVTR1 and a Frazier air permeability of AP1, and wherein:
   (MVTR1−MVTR2)/MVTR1×100%≤10%; and/or
     (AP1−AP2)/AP1×100%≤10%.
   
     
     
         23 . An article comprising the breathable structure according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         24 . The article according to  claim 23 , wherein said article is a garment. 
     
     
         25 . A method of making the breathable structure according to  claim 1 , the method comprising applying to a fibrous substrate a polymer solution comprising a cross-linkable polymer comprising hydrophobic moieties, thereby forming an intermediate structure, then heating the intermediate structure, thereby cross-linking the polymer. 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled)