Cut resistant polymeric films

Abstract

A polymeric film having increased cut resistance comprising a polymeric matrix having dispersed therein a plurality of cut resistance enhancing fibers. These films are preferably made into gloves, for example medical or industrial gloves.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical glove having improved cut resistance comprising:
 at least three dipped formed elastomeric layers combined to form the entire glove, the at least three elastomeric layers including an innermost layer, an outermost layer, and a middle layer, wherein the middle layer contains a three dimensional network of chopped fibers randomly dispersed throughout for enhancing the glove's cut resistance. 
 
     
     
       2. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , where said fibers for enhancing the glove's cut resistance are selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, steel fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, particle filled polymeric fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said fibers are particle filled polymeric fibers. 
     
     
       4. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said fibers are ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. 
     
     
       5. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of said at least three elastomeric layers comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polychloroprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethane, polyurea, nitrile rubber, vinyl chloride based polymers and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said polymer is natural latex. 
     
     
       7. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said polymer is a mixture of styrene-isoprene-styrene and styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymers. 
     
     
       8. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said glove's cut resistance is increased by at least about 20 percent by the addition of about 2 to about 20 weight percent of said fibers. 
     
     
       9. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said at least three elastomeric layers comprises a polymer that is a mixture of styrene-butadiene-styrene and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers. 
     
     
       10. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said glove contains from about 2 to about 20 percent fiber based on the entire weight of the glove. 
     
     
       11. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said at least three elastomeric layers define a single layer palm thickness of the glove from about 0.08 to about 0.4 mm, a single layer finger thickness from about 0.08 to about 0.45 mm, and a single layer cuff thickness of the glove from about 0.08 to about 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       12. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength of the glove is at least about 17 MPa, the elongation of the glove is at least about 650 percent, and the 500% modulus of the glove is less than about 7 MPa. 
     
     
       13. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength of the glove is at least about 24 MPa, the elongation of the glove is at least about 750 percent, and the 500% modulus of the glove is less than about 5.5 MPa. 
     
     
       14. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , where said fibers have a length of from about 0.1 mm to about 5.0 mm. 
     
     
       15. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 1 , where said fibers have a denier that is from about 1 to about 10. 
     
     
       16. A glove having increased cut resistance comprising:
 at least one polymeric film layer, wherein the at least one polymeric film layer includes chopped fibers that are randomly dispersed therein thus forming a fiber-containing polymeric film layer that yields a glove having cut and puncture resistance throughout. 
 
     
     
       17. A glove, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said polymeric layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polychloroprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethane, polyurea, nitrile rubber, vinyl chloride based polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       18. A glove, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said fibers are selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, steel fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, particle filled polymeric fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       19. A glove, as set forth in  claim 16 , where a single layer palm thickness of the glove is from about 0.08 to about 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       20. A medical glove having improved cut resistance comprising an innermost layer, an outermost layer, and a middle layer therebetween, where the middle layer extends throughout the entire glove and includes a three dimensional network of chopped fibers randomly dispersed throughout for enhancing the cut resistance of the glove, wherein at least one of the innermost layer and the outermost layer is a polymeric film layer. 
     
     
       21. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of chopped fibers has a thickness dimension ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm and includes a length dimension from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
       22. A medical glove, as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of chopped fibers has a denier ranging from about 1 to about 10. 
     
     
       23. A medical glove according to claim 1, wherein the middle elastomeric layer includes from 70 to 98% by weight of at least one polymer. 
     
     
       24. A medical glove according to claim 23, wherein the middle elastomeric layer further includes from 2 to 30% by weight fibers. 
     
     
       25. A glove according to claim 16, wherein the polymeric layer includes from 70 to 98% by weight of at least one polymer. 
     
     
       26. A glove according to claim 25, wherein the polymeric layer further includes from 2 to 30% by weight fibers. 
     
     
       27. A flexible polymeric film having increased cut resistance comprising:
 a flexible polymeric film layer, wherein the flexible polymeric film layer includes chopped fibers that are randomly dispersed therein thus forming a flexible polymeric film having cut and puncture resistance throughout; and   a flexible polymeric film layer substantially devoid of chopped fibers.   
     
     
       28. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the flexible polymeric layer comprises a polymer selected from natural rubber, polychloroprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethane, polyurea, nitrile rubber, vinyl chloride based polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       29. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the fibers are selected from glass fibers, steel fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, particle filled polymeric fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       30. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the fibers are particle filled polymeric fibers. 
     
     
       31. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the flexible polymeric film's cut resistance is increased by at least about 20 percent by the addition of about 2 to about 20 weight percent of the fibers. 
     
     
       32. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the tensile strength of the flexible polymeric film is at least about 17 MPa, the elongation of the flexible polymeric film is at least about 650 percent, and 500% modulus of the flexible polymer film is less than about 7 MPa. 
     
     
       33. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the tensile strength of the flexible polymeric film is at least about 24 MPa, the elongation of the flexible polymeric film is at least about 750 percent, and the 500% modulus of the flexible polymeric film is less than about 5.5 MPa. 
     
     
       34. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein each of the chopped fibers has a denier ranging from about 1 to about 10. 
     
     
       35. The flexible polymeric film, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the chopped fibers have a length of from about 0.1 mm to about 5.0 mm. 
     
     
       36. A polymeric film according to claim 27, wherein the flexible polymeric layer includes from 70 to 98% by weight of at least one polymer. 
     
     
       37. A polymeric film as in claim 36, wherein the flexible polymeric layer further includes from 2 to 30% by weight fibers. 
     
     
       38. An article formed from a flexible polymeric film having increased cut resistance, the flexible polymeric film comprising:
 a flexible polymeric film layer, wherein the flexible polymeric film layer includes chopped fibers that are randomly dispersed therein to form a flexible polymeric film having cut and puncture resistance throughout; and   a flexible polymeric film layer substantially devoid of chopped fibers.   
     
     
       39. An article, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the flexible polymeric layer comprises a polymer selected from natural rubber, polychloroprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethane, polyurea, nitrile rubber, vinyl chloride based polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       40. An article, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the fibers are selected from glass fibers, steel fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, particle filled polymeric fibers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       41. An article according to claim 38, wherein the flexible polymeric layer includes from 70 to 98% by weight of at least one polymer. 
     
     
       42. An article according to claim 41, wherein the flexible polymeric layer further includes from 2 to 30% by weight fibers.