DE2816135A1 - SET OF UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE, MATTRESSES OR DGL. AND PROCEDURES FOR PROTECTING COVERING FABRICS, UPHOLSTERY OR DGL. - Google Patents

Description

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce National Technical Information Service, V7ashington D.C. 20004, USA

Set of upholstered furniture, mattresses or the like. And methods for protecting upholstery fabrics, upholstery or the like.

The invention relates to a set of upholstered furniture, mattresses or the like. _F a method for protecting upholstery fabrics or the like from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, wool and mixed fabrics against smoldering burns, and a material for use in Upholstered furniture.

It is known that mattresses and upholstered furniture

75/16

Bremen office:

P.O. Box 10 71 27, Feldstrasse D-2800 Bremen 1 Telephone: (0421) * 74044 Telex: 244958 bopald Tclegr. : Diagram, Bremen

809844/0717

Bremen accounts:
Bremer BanlcBremen
(BLZ 29080010) 1001449

PSchA Hamburg

(BLZ 20010020) 126083-202

Munich office: Schlotlhauer Straße 3 D-8000 Munich 90 Telephone: (089) 652321

Telegr .: Telepatent. Munich

BOEHMERr & BOEhMHFH

Show dangerous smoldering and smoking opportunities entirely dissimilar to fire hazard properties other flammable materials often found in the home. Deadly and others terrible fires often result from smoking in bed because the smoker often falls asleep and his lit cigarette then falls on the bedclothes, where there is a slow and steady growth Smoldering fire creates asphyxiating gases and noxious smoke. Lately have been extensive Efforts are being made to counter the smoldering tendencies in the manufacture of mattresses and sofa units materials used to overcome. Only recently has the newly discovered ability of sulfur to reduce the tendency to smolder in upholstery fabrics revealed, see p. for example, see an article in the June 1977 issue of Bedding Magazine entitled "Sulfur Against Cigarette Burns (Sulfur vs. Cigarette Ignition), where it is stated that "the Consumer Goods Safety Commission An upholstered furniture flammability standard is currently being drawn up which would require all upholstered furniture

Il

are resistant to cigarette burns.

Earlier efforts and attempts to reduce the smoldering tendency of polyurethane foams and cellulosic materials are described in the literature, see McCarter, "Smoldering of Flexible Polyurethane Foam", The Journal of Consumer Product Flammability, Volume 3, 1976, Pages 128 to 140 _/ and McCarter, "Smoldering Combustion of Cotton and Rayon", Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Symposium on

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Textile Flammability, April 20-21, 1977.

While these recent attempts have led directly to the subject of the invention, the earlier patent literature relates the flame retardation of cellulose and polymeric foamed materials. For example, the ÜS-PS 3 542 701 discloses a method Polystyrene foams are flame retardant by introducing sulfur into the premix of the polystyrene beads close. U.S. Patent 1,853,818 suggests the addition of diphenyl as a flame retardant in the case of sulfur-treated ones Pulp and paper products. The flame retardant can be diphenyl or chlorinated diphenyl or a mixture of both. While this method of controlling flame resistance of upholstery materials have had some success, none of the methods described are aimed at Patent literature on the problem of smoldering fires in such materials.

The invention is based on the object of a smoldering Upholstered furniture or mattress set and a To create a method of carbonization of the composite materials of such trimmings, the Manufacture of sulfur-resistant materials by very economical use of readily available substances at an appropriate step of what is usually given Manufacturing process should take place.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that of several layers of material, the inner surface of a first outer, normally easily smoldering, layer in close proximity There is contact with a second layer, the sulfur in a smoldering effect of the set Contains portion, the inventive method

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is characterized in that a normally smoldering material with a sulfur layer in a smoldering effecting portion is coated, covered or impregnated. A material according to the invention is thereby characterized in that a normally carbonizable material, carbonized fiber or foam material on at least a surface with sulfur in a smoldering the layer causing portion is coated or impregnated.

Surprisingly, it was found that the very presence of sulfur in the immediate vicinity of the sulphurable material, in particular conventional cellulose materials and polyurethane foams used in mattress and upholstered furniture sets prevents the smoldering fires from progressing.

Generally speaking, there is therefore the solution according to the invention the above object is to apply a layer of sulfur to the carbonizable material of the composition to apply in the immediate vicinity. Some preferred Process embodiments consist of a broad coating of the composite materials Forming area with sulfur, such as impregnating composite materials or of Films, fabrics and the like for placement between plies or layers of the composite materials. In each of these cases, the upholstered furniture or mattress set that is finally obtained is clearly robust against smoldering fires, the above objects and advantages of the invention together solved with further advantages respectively. which will become apparent from the following description can be achieved.

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In the case of the invention, it is assumed that the ability to swell can be defined as the oxidation of solid material without a visible flame and that this smoldering combustion is to be regarded as a heterogeneous surface reaction. This is a serious health hazard not only in the United States but also in the United States today all over the world as this smoldering because of the ability of the gaseous products to put people in their Surprising sleep is an insidious killer. Other names for smoldering are smoldering or non-flaming combustion.

The two areas of acute concern today regarding smoldering fires are (1) cellulose, such as Rayon, cotton, etc., which are used as upholstery or fabrics in upholstered furniture or beds, or celluloses in the form of lightweight fibreboard structures, and (2) flexible polyurethane foams as cushions in upholstered furniture or bedding.

The use of cellulose is the most important problem. Cellulose pyrolyzes. directly from the solid to the Steam without intervening plasticity and is therefore very smoldering. Cellulosic Materials Made From Of particular interest are cotton, rayon and synthetic fibers. It should be noted that cellulosic materials are relatively immune to smoldering in the absence of impurities; examples for this are absorbent cotton, ash-free filter paper, fresh undyed cotton or rayon fabrics.

Among the smoldering enhancing components in cellulosic materials are the hydroxides, chlorides and

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Bromides of monovalent alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb) and salts of iron, chromium and lead should be mentioned. Special Of the sodium salts, only the fluorides, sulphate and borate are ineffective as low carbon enhancers.

The smoldering of flexible polyurethane foam is a more varied and complex process than the smoldering of celluloses. Most foams only smolder in connection and interaction with other flammable materials, such as, for example, with layers of smoldering Upholstery fabrics,

In the vicinity of cellulose and polyurethane foam mattresses and upholstery materials, smoldering is Smoldering or non-flaming burning is most likely an oxidation reduction at the interface between a gas phase containing oxygen as reactant A and a carbon-rich solid as reactant B, whereby different gases are produced, namely reaction products C, such as colene monoxide and carbon dioxide:

Gas A + solid B> gases C.

In the area of the contact surface, there appear to be molecules or stable compounds such as 0 ~ / CO, CO 2 and H ₃ O and active atomic radicals such as 0, H, OH and HO 2, which go through various successive or chain reactions with each other and with the reacting solid , then the overall oxidation reaction results.

It can be assumed that a suppressor of smoldering burns through interaction with one or more of the active atomic radicals either in the. Gas or the solid phase acts, so the participation of these radicals

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to prevent, interrupt, terminate, or delay the chain editing, thereby making then the full Chain and overall reaction is slowed down or stopped.

It appears that this function is most likely carried out by the highly reactive vapor form of sulfur S ~ in the gas phase near the reaction surface or, but less likely, in the solid phase after the reaction and in the deposits on it. The function has been described as the action of a detergent for free radicals. Sulfur has a considerable vapor pressure (10 mm Hg *; 0.013 bar at 246 ⁰ C, 100 mm Hg ⁵ »0.133 bar at 333 ° C, 400 mm Hg =» 0.533 bar at 407 C). Sulfur is considered to be a particularly effective smoldering inhibitor because of its volatility or ability to sublimate and form an S2 vapor from surfaces in the vicinity of a smoldering zone, in which case the S ₂ is carried into the smoldering zone by the incoming air.

The dosage of sulfur caused by enamel deposits solids on the material, through vapor deposition, by liquid impregnation or by depositing a liquid carrier, such as a solution of a suspension emulsion or the like ^ can be applied in a proportion which is sufficient to prevent substantial smoldering of the material. According to a preferred Embodiment for protecting mattress and upholstery materials is provided that at least about 25 g / m of sulfur are present, with at least the area of the material that is the endangered area is adjacent, is coated or impregnated. Such a material surface can be flexible polyurethane foam with a layer of a smoldering substance or

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be an outer cellulose layer with a layer of a charring material. The smoldering Fabric extremely beneficially by applying sulfur in a conventional backing process be made smoldering, i.e. by applying a elastomeric coating on the underside of the fabric.

Practical dosages range from very low proportions that are effective on adjacent non-sulphurous materials are up to ranges from 25 to 300 g / m sulfur. Wood fiber boards can be protected with dosages, the other celluloses are comparable by removing the panels during or after the final production stage coated or impregnated.

The sulfur can be deposited on the materials during their manufacture or in the course of their assembly into bed or Furniture units are applied. The sulfur can be applied in different forms and ways, such as settling from a liquid or evaporation of the sulfur, by applying solid sulfur, for example in powder form, with subsequent melting at the point of application in order to achieve improved adhesion, if this is necessary, or by application from a liquid spray or liquids, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions and the like. Commonly used deposition solutions consist of Carbon disulfide or carbon tetrachloride. Latex carriers are also ideally suited for back coating. That The latex can be the usual backcoat latex or, in addition, low-temperature latex. The impregnation or coating should generally extend into the material to about 1 to 3 mm, or for thinner materials

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through the entire material.

Proposed standards for cigarette burn resistance from Upholstered furniture is contained in sheet PFF 6-76, part 1633. These proposed standards share upholstery fabrics in four categories, namely classes A, B, C and D. Class D substances are those that have one or more char sizes of 7.5 cm or more on test plates generate in fiber optic tests; such substances are said to be charring. During the mentioned attempt, the Test fabric on a fiberglass plate, and the length and proportion of smoldering obtained are measured. the other classes A, B and C show greater resistance to smoldering fires. It has been found that substances of Class D make up the vast majority of fabrics currently used in upholstered furniture in the United States but as such do not meet the minimum test requirements. With the addition of sulfur to the To prevent smoldering - such upholstery fabrics can be applied to materials such as cellulose or polyurethane foams be used. Consistent and corresponding standards relating to bed materials were obtained Force of law. In some cases where it is not desirable to coat the back of the fabric, it can the sulfur can be applied to an intermediate layer, i.e. a layer of material that is between the substance and the cushioning material is arranged. In such cases it should depend on the smoldering tendency of the neighboring Materials, the dosage can be increased by 25 to 100% if necessary.

The present invention thus envisages the addition of

2 sulfur in a proportion of up to 300 g / m, whereby

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measure preferred embodiments is provided that

Sulfur in a proportion of about 25 g / m up to about

2
250-300 g / m is present and that the sulfur extends to a depth of about 1 to 3 mm. The sulfur is preferably applied to the fabrics and fibers including cellulose, such as rayon, cotton wool-wood fibers and so on / as well as to such materials as flexible polyurethane foam, neoprene rubber and latex, in order to make the composite materials smoldering resistant that not in others Way are protected by treated conditions.

Upholstery materials are defined as a single layer, such as cotton padding or polyurethane foam or a multi-layer sandwich construction of the same materials which may have other layers as Polyester fibers, muslin fabric, neoprene rubber, etc. In this case, the material is covered or surrounded by a layer of fabric that can be smoldered.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the subclaims

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing, which consists of a single figure, shows a comparison of smoldering burns according to the first example below.

example 1

This example relates to the drawing and in particular to the four shown from left to right Pictures.

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The first attempt on the left shows a complete destruction of a cotton upholstery.

The second picture shows a sample in which cotton is treated with a boric anhydride by means of a process which is similar to one of the commonly used industrially. The results in this case show that the cigarette is completely burned with white ash and little destruction who leaves cotton behind. If a class D fabric were to rest on this upholstery, it would be it has been completely consumed by the glow produced by the cigarette.

The third picture shows dark gray material, which consists of a polyester-cotton fiber blend, as shown below under the name FLEXEL is sold by the Ramcom Company, Memphis, Tennessee, USA /. In this case burned the test cigarette completely, but the smoldering did not continue very far into the fabric. In turn a Class D fabric above the upholstery material would have been completely depleted.

The fourth picture, which is located on the far right, shows an ordinary cotton upholstery made with the invention Sulfur was treated. The test cigarette was extinguished at a third of its length. With a Class D fabric over the upholstery and under the cigarette would smother smoldering in the upholstery fabric be.

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Example 2

The following experiments were carried out on upholstered furniture sets with the minimal treatments with sulfur that has been applied to the surface or in the material, sufficient to to meet the proposed US federal standard (cigarette trial PFF6-76, part 1633).

Sitting test:

a) Class D.

Cotton upholstery

b) Class D fabric 2 layers of gauze
Cotton upholstery

c) Class D polyurethane foam substance

(1.27 cm thick)
Cotton upholstery

d) Class D fabric polyurethane foam

(1.27 cm thick)
Cotton upholstery

e) Class D substance polyurethane foam
(0.64 cm thick)

Cotton upholstery

f) Substance of class D Po Iy ure th an s ch aum
(0.64 cm thick)
Cotton padding 80g / m sulfur applied to the outer
Area of the cotton upholstery

300 g / m of sulfur applied to the gauze layers

40 g / m of sulfur applied to the outer surface of the polyurethane foam

50 g / m of sulfur applied to the inner surface of the polyurethane foam

50 g / m of sulfur applied to the outer surface of the polyurethane foam.

85 g / m of sulfur applied to the inner surface of the polyurethane foam

Tests on the seats and backs:

g) Class D substance polyurethane foam
(5.08 cm thick)

25 g / m of sulfur applied to the outer surface of the polyurethane foam

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h) Class D fabric polyester fiber filling Polyurethane foam (5.08 cm thick)

i) Class D substance P ο Iy ur e th an s ch aum (5.08 cm thick)

(Only on the back) 35 g / m sulfur applied to the polyester fiber filling

(Only on the seat)
25 g / m of sulfur applied to the outer surface of the polyurethane foam.

As this example shows, different amounts of sulfur are required for different types of cushioning material. This also depends on the area of application of the Sulfur. In certain applications, even sulfur

2 amounts of less than, for example, 25 g / m 2 are suitable.

Example 3

In this example, several samples of pieces of fabric were tested for their increased carbonization strength after treatment tested with sulfur in various processes of the back coating of fabrics. In any case the piece of fabric was a Class D upholstery fabric. A comparison was made with respect to the reverse side coating a completely untreated swatch with sulfur or a sulfur-containing composition and treating a conventionally backed fabric swatch with another backing from sulfur or a sulfur-containing composition. The sulfur substances used consisted of sulfur alone / sulfur and sodium silicate, sulfur and backing latex and sulfur with Sodium silicate and backing latex. The latex used was a commercial latex that is customarily used is used in upholstery fabrics. Backing latexes designated as common also include styrenes, butadienes /

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rubber-like latex and acrylic type latex. Whichever latex is used, the sulfur can be conveniently placed in the backing prior to the application of the backing Latex composition are distributed. On the other hand, the sulfur can also be found in sodium silicate or in water glass are suspended and applied to the fabric either separately or mixed with the latex and in a backing operation be applied. Special test samples show that substances of class D by an extremely advantageous and economical back coating with sulfur for passing the cigarette burn test higher could be classified. The back coating compositions were used as follows.

A. Powdered sulfur suspended in sodium silicate;

B. Powdered sulfur suspended in latex; and

C. Powdered sulfur suspended in a mixture of latex and sodium silicate.

Example 4

The same tests as shown in Example 3 were carried out by applying sulfur or a sulfur-containing coating on a polyurethane foam disc to test the cigarette burn resistance. Here again a simple coating process was shown as successful in ensuring a glow-resistant material.

As the above examples show, adding

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add sulfur in a sulphurous material adjacent layer effectively turns the material into a smoldering material, regardless of the particular Method of application of sulfur. While currently the most economical method is the addition of sulfur appears on a conventional backing, other application methods can be used in the dusting of powdered sulfur on the fabric foamed material or the like, fixing with heat, im Spraying on the material as a liquid or in a solution, suspension or emulsion, dipping the material in a sulfur-containing composition or in adding the sulfur to the cushioning material exist during assembly. It is of course beneficial to keep the sulfur level in one area as much as possible to concentrate near the possible source of combustion, and accordingly is the process of back coating the material layer the most advantageous from the point of view of effectiveness and economy.

Higher-rated upholstery fabrics with increased fatigue strength can also be used in the upholstery repair industry will. For this purpose, a back-coated fabric layer with sulfur can be used in an effective way Proportion to be used. Other options are / sulfur-treated foam cushion material and sulfur-treated Cellulose upholstery material can easily be arranged directly under the upholstery fabric. It should also be noted that compositions of backing coating solutions can be made available so that any fabric or pillow-like upholstery material can be treated during reupholstery. Example- j, an aerosol spray of a sulfur-containing latex

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or back coating solution onto the fabric overlay applied and dried or heat treated before reupholstering.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawing and in the claims can be used both individually and in any combination for the implementation of the invention in their various embodiments may be essential.

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Claims (35)

EXPECTATIONS 1. Set of upholstered furniture, mattresses or the like., characterized in that, of several layers of material, the inner surface of a first outer, normally light, surface smoldering layer is in close contact with a second layer, the sulfur in a smoldering the set contains effecting portion. 2. Set according to claim 1, characterized in that the layers consist of material that consists of the substances Fibers, foam made from synthetic resins, natural or synthetic rubber, Layers and films is selected from polymers or their combinations. 3. Set according to claim 2, characterized in that the fabrics are made from one of cotton, rayon, polyamide, ■ polyolefin, wool and blended fabrics from this group are selected. 4. Set according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that the sulphurous layer is a material layer is. 8098U / 0737 ORiGiM INSPECTED BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT 5. Set according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized characterized in that the sulfur-containing layer is a polyurethane foam layer. 6. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sulfur-containing layer is a fiber layer is. 7. Set according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the schv / efelhaltige layer has a latex back coating is. 8. Set according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sulfur-containing layer is a melted one Is a layer of elemental sulfur that adheres to a flexible support. 9. Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effective proportion of the Sulfur, which is in close contact with a normally heavy wearing. 2 smolderable layer, up to about 250 - 300 g / m 10. Set according to one of the preceding claims, there- 2 characterized in that at least about 25 g / m sulfur available. 11..Garnitur according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that with an outer layer of flexible polyurethane foam, an inner layer of cellulose fibers and a smolderable material layer, the outer surface of the polyurethane with at least about 25 g / m ² Schw <
acts is. 25 g / m of sulfur to a depth of 1 to 3 mm 809844/0737 BOEHMERT & BÜEHMER'I 12. Set according to claim 11, characterized in that the inner surface of the polyurethane foam with
Sulfur is treated. 13.Garnitur according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that with an outer layer of cellulose fibers, an inner layer of flexible polyurethane foam and a smolderable fabric cover the outer one 2 Area of the cellulose fiber layer with at least about 25 g / m 2 Sulfur is treated to a depth of about 1 to 3 mm. 14. Set according to claim 13, characterized in that that the inner surface of the cellulose fiber layer is treated with sulfur. 15. Set according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized characterized in that with a fibrous upholstery a sulphurous layer of material the outer surface of the 2
Filling with at least about 25 g / m sulfur up to a depth of about 1 to 3 mm is treated. 16. Set according to claim 15, characterized in that that the inner surface of the upholstery is treated with sulfur. 17. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that with an outer layer of fibers and a sulphurous layer of material, the back of the
Facing is provided with a sulfur-containing back coating composition. 18. Set according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized 4/073? BOEHMERT & IJOEHMERT characterized in that with an outer layer of polyurethane foam and a smolderable material layer, the back the overlay with a sulfur-containing backcoat composition is provided. : 19. Process for protecting upholstery fabrics or the like made of cotton, rayon, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, wool and blended fabrics Group against smoldering burns, characterized in that at least one surface of the substance is sulfur is coated or impregnated in a proportion causing the fabric to smolder. 20. Method of protecting fibrous upholstery or from the group of selected mattress cushions against smoldering fires consisting of cotton, rayon and polyester, characterized in that at least one surface of the padding is made by applying sulfur is coated or impregnated in a proportion causing the upholstery to become soakable. 21. Method of protecting from out of out flexible Polyurethane foam, latex and neoprene rubber, a group of selected upholstery or mattress materials or the like against smoldering fires, characterized in that at least one surface of the material coated by the application of sulfur in a proportion which causes the material to carbonize or is impregnated. 22. Material for use in upholstered furniture, characterized in that a normally smoldering material, BOEHMERT & BOEKMERT Smoldering fiber or foam material on at least one surface with sulfur in a smoldering the layer causing portion is coated or impregnated. : 23. Material according to claim 22, characterized in that 2 that sulfur in a proportion of about 25 g / m up to 2
about 250-300 g / m is available. 24. Material according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the sulfur to a depth of about 1 to 3 mm is enough. 25. A method for protecting mattresses, upholstered furniture or the like against smoldering, characterized in that that a normally smoldering material with a sulfur layer in a smoldering effect Portion is coated, covered or impregnated. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that a mattress or upholstery fabric cover on the back coated with a sulfur-containing composition and then conditions for drying the back coating is exposed. 27. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the normally smoldering material with a sulfur-treated fabric is covered. 28. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the normally smoldering material with sulfur or a sulfur-containing composition is impregnated. 8098A4 / 0737 BOEHMERT & BOEKWERT -ί- 29. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that sulfur on the normally Smolderable material is applied in a proportion of about 25 g / m up to about 250-300 g / m ^. 30. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, characterized characterized in that sulfur is applied to a depth of about 1 to 3 mm. 31. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that a latex coating for back coating Pad is used. 32. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 31, characterized characterized in that the simmering material is mattress or cushioning material that is made from Fabrics, fibers, synthetic resin foams, natural and synthetic rubbers, coatings and films polymeric material and their combinations consisting group is selected. 33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the fabrics are made from cotton, rayon, Polyamide, polyolefin, wool or blended fabrics are selected from this group. 34. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the fibers are made of cotton, rayon and Polyester existing group to be selected. 35. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that that the synthetic resin foam is a polyurethane foam is. 8098U / 0737