Stainless steel yarn and protective fabric

Abstract

Cut resistant, abrasion resistant and electrically conductive yarns ( 1 ) are formed in torque-free form from stainless steel and other metallic yarns ( 2 ) served with or formed into composite twists with non-metallic yarns and fibers ( 4 ) and ( 5 ). The metallic yarn ( 2 ) is made up of at least about 60 ends, and up to as many as about 300 ends, of metal fibers ( 3 ) having a diameter of from about 2 to about 25 μm. The absence of torque permits facile knitting into protective garments, such as cut resistant, abrasion resistant and/or electrically conductive gloves ( 10 ), or yarns which are as much as 85 to 90 % by weight metallic fiber. When knit into gloves, added protection may be provided from puncture injuries if the palm ( 12 ), finger stalls ( 14 ) and thumb stall ( 16 ) are coated or impregnated with an elastomer or the like.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fabric produced from a cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive composite yarn for making protective garments comprising: a core and a serving wrapped on said core, wherein said core is a substantially torque-free continuous filament metallic yarn of at least about 60 ends, each fiber in said metallic yarn having a diameter of not more than about 25 μm, and said serving comprising at least one non-metallic fiber. 
     
     
       2. The fabric of claim  1  wherein said fabric is knit. 
     
     
       3. The fabric of claim  1  wherein said fabric is woven. 
     
     
       4. The fabric of claim  1  wherein said fabric is a non-woven felted fabric. 
     
     
       5. The fabric of claim  1  wherein said fabric is a bonded non-woven mat. 
     
     
       6. A cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive protective garment formed of the fabric of claim  1 . 
     
     
       7. A cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive protective knit garment comprising the fabric of claim  2 . 
     
     
       8. The cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive protective knit garment of claim  7  having at least a portion thereof coated or impregnated with an elastomer. 
     
     
       9. The knit garment of claim  7  in the form of a glove. 
     
     
       10. The knit glove of claim  9  having at least a palm portion and the finger stall portions thereof coated or impregnated with an elastomer. 
     
     
       11. A fabric produced from a cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive composite yarn comprising: 
       
         a core and a serving wrapped on said core,  
       
         wherein said core is a substantially torque - free continuous filament metallic yarn of at least about  60  ends,    
       
         each fiber in said metallic yarn having a diameter of not more than about  25  μm, and  
       
         said serving comprising at least one non - metallic fiber.   
     
     
       12. The fabric of claim  11  wherein said fabric is knit. 
     
     
       13. The fabric of claim  11  wherein said fabric is woven. 
     
     
       14. The fabric of claim  11  wherein said fabric is a non- woven felted fabric.   
     
     
       15. The fabric of claim  11  wherein said fabric is a bonded non- woven mat.   
     
     
       16. The cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive knit of claim  12  having at least a portion thereof coated or impregnated with an elastomer. 
     
     
       17. A fabric produced from a cut resistant, abrasion resistant, electrically conductive composite yarn for making protective fabrics comprising: 
       
         a core and a serving wrapped on said core,  
       
         wherein said core is a substantially torque - free continuous filament metallic yarn of at least about  60  ends,    
       
         each fiber in said metallic yarn having a diameter of not more than about  25  μm, and  
       
         said serving comprising at least one non - metallic fiber.