Airbag fabrics with improved seam performance

Abstract

A woven fabric formed from polyamide fibers, wherein: a. the woven fabric exhibits a Fabric Relative Viscosity of ≥90; b. the Edgecomb Resistance of the fabric is at least 500N in each of the warp and the weft directions; c. the fabric has a Dynamic Air Permeability of no more than 500 mm/s; wherein the fabric exhibits improved seam performance in deployment in comparison to a control fabric characterized by <90 Fabric RV with the same fabric construction.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A woven fabric formed from polyamide fibers, wherein:
 the woven fabric exhibits a Fabric Relative Viscosity (Fabric RV) of ≥90;   the Edgecomb Resistance of the fabric is at least 500 N in each of the warp and the weft directions; and   the fabric has a Dynamic Air Permeability of no more than 500 mm/s;   wherein
 the fabric exhibits improved seam performance in deployment in comparison to a control fabric characterized by <90 Fabric RV with the same fabric construction, as measured by the Hot Air Seam Combing Test as defined herein, or 
 the fabric exhibits a Seam Open Area of ≤0.20 mm 2 /stitch, as measured by the Hot Air Seam Combing Test described herein, or 
 a combination thereof. 
   
     
     
         30 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the fabric exhibits improved seam performance in deployment in comparison to a control fabric characterized by <90 Fabric RV with the same fabric construction, as measured by the Hot Air Seam Combing Test as defined herein. 
     
     
         31 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the fabric exhibits a Seam Open Area of ≤0.20 mm 2 /stitch, as measured by the Hot Air Seam Combing Test described herein. 
     
     
         32 . The fabric of claim  1 , where the Fabric RV is in the range of 90 to 200. 
     
     
         33 . The fabric of claim  1  which exhibits a stiffness of no more than 38.0 N in each of the warp and weft directions. 
     
     
         34 . The fabric of claim  1  which exhibits a cloth cover factor of 78 to 97. 
     
     
         35 . The fabric of claim  1  wherein the Edgecomb Resistance is at least 600 N. 
     
     
         36 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the Dynamic Air Permeability is no more than 450 mm/s. 
     
     
         37 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the static air permeability (SAP) is no more than 4.0 l/dm 2 /min. 
     
     
         38 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the polyamide is or comprises at least one selected from nylon 6,6 (PA-6,6), nylon 6 (PA-6), nylon 7 (PA-7), nylon 4,6 (PA-4,6), nylon 4,10 (PA-4,10), nylon 5,6 (PA-5,6), nylon 5,10 (PA-5,10), nylon 6,10 (PA-6,10), nylon 12 (PA-12), and nylon 6,12 (PA-6,12). 
     
     
         39 . The fabric claim  1 , wherein the polyamide is or comprises PA-6,6. 
     
     
         40 . The fabric of claim  1 , wherein the fabric exhibits a construction of from 16.0 to 22.5 ends/cm. 
     
     
         41 . The fabric of claim  1  which exhibits a total fabric weight of from 130 to 260 g/m 2  and a bulk density of no more than 750 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         42 . The fabric of claim  1  which exhibits a total thickness 0.28 to 0.40 mm. 
     
     
         43 . The fabric of claim  1  which is a plain weave fabric. 
     
     
         44 . The fabric of claim  1  which is uncoated. 
     
     
         45 . The fabric of claim  1  which is coated. 
     
     
         46 . The fabric of claim  1  which is an airbag fabric. 
     
     
         47 . A sewing thread formed by twisting polyamide fibers, wherein fibers extracted from the thread exhibit an RV≥90. 
     
     
         48 . A method of improving seam performance of an airbag in deployment, said method comprising making an airbag from a woven fabric formed from polyamide fibers, wherein:
 the woven fabric exhibits a Fabric Relative Viscosity (Fabric RV) of ≥90;   the Edgecomb Resistance of the fabric is at least 500 N in each of the warp and the weft directions; and   the fabric has a Dynamic Air Permeability of no more than 500 mm/s;   wherein the fabric exhibits improved seam performance in deployment in comparison to a control fabric characterized by <90 Fabric RV with the same fabric construction, as measured by the Hot Air Seam Combing Test as defined herein.