EP0364370B1 - Impermeable fire-proofed textile composite and cloth and seat comprising such a textile - Google Patents

Abstract

A composite textile is formed of a first non-woven needled textile layer, a second microporous film layer, and a discontinuous adhesive layer between the first and second layers to fix the first and second layers together. The first non-woven needled textile layer has a thermo-stable fiber basis, while the second microporous film layer is inflammable and is impermeable to liquid, but permeable to water vapor. Protective clothing is formed having an outer textile layer and a lining with an insert mounted loosely between the outer textile layer and lining. The insert comprises a composite textile as described above with the first layer of the composite textile facing towards the lining. The composite textile can also be used in a seat with the composite textile placed between an outer textile layer and the foam elements of the seat, with the first layer of the composite textile facing towards the foam elements of the seat.

Description

The development of new thermostable fibers has enabled rapid development of fire-resistant textiles.

These textiles, woven, knitted or nonwoven, generally have good fire resistance, but it is often necessary to make them waterproof.

This necessity has many origins. When these fire-resistant textiles are used for making protective clothing, for example intended for people fighting fire, these must be able to be permanently sprinkled with water and continue their activities with the maximum of 'ease. Patent FR-A 2,439,593, for example, describes a protective jacket. In other circumstances, the same garment must provide protection against oils or hydrocarbons. Furthermore, as will be developed later, during the manufacture of seats it may be desirable to provide a seal between the interior of the seat and a fire-resistant textile layer.

In order to solve this problem, various attempts have been made in which a flame-retardant textile undergoes a treatment after its manufacture, of hydro and oil repellency in order to avoid the penetration and possible wetting of the textile support by water or l 'oil.

This treatment has a certain number of drawbacks, it is likely to reduce the fire resistance capacity of the textile and moreover it generally withstands maintenance well. In particular, the waterproofing of the fabric obtained is not stable and decreases during washing or dry cleaning. It is difficult to obtain a resistance to a water column greater than 300mm in this way.

In the manufacture of seats, attempts have been made to flame retardant the foam used. Document FR-A 2 283 201 proposes for this purpose to cover the foam with a glass fiber fabric. Document DE-A 3,519,963 proposes the use of an external polyacrylate envelope.

Furthermore, films are known which are impermeable and permeable to water vapor and carbon dioxide, often called breathable (cf. DE-U 8 703 947, GB-A 2 143 151, Chemical Abstracts, vol. 102, no. 6, February 1985, page 70, summary no.47208p).

Document US-A-4302496 describes a textile composed of a layer of a fire-resistant polymer, an internal layer, woven fire-resistant and an intermediate layer, microporous.

Document EP 0 037 744 proposes the use of a particular continuous non-porous breathable film in the production of protective clothing. This film can enter into the composition of a composite structure comprising a textile layer.

The problem underlying the invention is the production of a waterproof fireproof composite textile having good performance and being stable over time. It must have good fire resistance, good impermeability and good mechanical resistance.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to the production of a garment or seat incorporating the textile of the invention so as to make the best use of its properties. The clothing and seat thus produced must be comfortable.

To this end, a composite textile is proposed comprising a first needled nonwoven textile layer based on thermostable fibers which comprises a second layer constituted by a microporous film, impermeable and permeable to water vapor, non-flammable and a layer d discontinuous adhesive, placed between the first textile layer and the second layer ensuring the fixing of the second layer on the first textile layer.

It is also proposed a protective garment comprising an external textile assembly constituting its external surface and a lining constituting its internal surface, characterized in that it comprises an insert mounted flywheel between the external textile and the lining, said insert being a composite textile waterproof fireproof, comprising a first non-woven, needle-punched textile layer based on thermostable fibers, a second layer constituted by a microporous film, waterproof, permeable to water vapor, non-flammable and a discontinuous adhesive layer, placed between the first textile layer and the second layer ensuring the fixing of the second layer on the first textile layer, the first layer of the composite textile being placed towards the lining.

There is also proposed a seat comprising a textile covering and foam elements, which comprises an insert mounted flywheel between the external textile and the foam elements, said insert being a waterproof fireproof composite textile, comprising a first nonwoven textile layer. , needled on the basis of thermostable fibers, a second layer consisting of a microporous film, impermeable, permeable to water vapor and carbon dioxide, and a discontinuous layer of adhesive, placed between the first textile layer and the second layer ensuring the fixing of the second layer on the first textile layer, the first layer of the composite textile being placed towards the textile coating.

• La figure 1 est une représentation en coupe d'un textile composite selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une représentation en coupe partielle d'un vêtement selon l'invention dans un premier mode de réalisation.
• La figure 3 est une représentation en coupe partielle d'un vêtement selon l'invention dans un deuxième mode de réalisation.
• La figure 4 est une représentation en coupe partielle d'un vêtement selon l'invention dans un troisième mode de réalisation.

The invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a sectional representation of a composite textile according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a partial sectional representation of a garment according to the invention in a first embodiment.
• Figure 3 is a partial sectional representation of a garment according to the invention in a second embodiment.
• Figure 4 is a partial sectional representation of a garment according to the invention in a third embodiment.

The textile of the invention comprises a first needled nonwoven textile layer 1 based on thermostable fibers.

The use of a needled nonwoven containing a large volume of air makes it possible to obtain excellent fire resistance for a relatively low weight. For example, a weight of 100 to 150g per m² makes it possible to obtain a textile having very good properties.

The use of a needle punch also makes it possible to avoid a chemical bond of the fibers which can reduce the qualities of fire resistance. The fibers used can be either thermostable by nature or flame retarded after their manufacture.

The fibers are for example in meta or para aramid, polyamideimide, polyacrylate, polybenzimidazole, aromatic copolyimide, polyacrylonitryl oxide, polyacrylate, phenylene polysulfide, polyester ether ketone, FR viscose, cotton, Zirpo or in a phenolic compound, or also fluorocarbons, or modacrylic. A mixture of these thermostable fibers is also usable.

These fibers can also be chlorofibers, viscoses, polyesters or wool. They must then have been subjected to flame retardant treatment.

By way of example, the first layer 1 can be a needled nonwoven layer based on thermostable polyamide imide fibers. These fibers with a cutting length of 40 to 60mm for a denier of 2.2 to 3 decitex.

Thus for a grammage of 200g / m² and a thickness of 4mm, this felt contains 40 to 50% of air volume trapped between the fibers, thus offering excellent thermal insulation in cold or fire.

The second layer 2 consists of a film connected to the first by a discontinuous adhesive layer 3. This layer is impermeable and permeable to water vapor. This type of layer is often called "breathable". It is a layer impermeable to liquid but allowing free circulation of water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Thus this layer while playing a role of barrier to the liquid makes it possible to avoid the condensation of perspiration and ensures a great comfort for the user. It consists of an impermeable waterproof film, for example of polyurethane or polyamino acid, having micro-perforations or pores with a diameter of 0.2 microns which allow the circulation of the water and gas molecule carbon dioxide but not liquid water.

Preferably, this breathable film is based on flame-retardant polyurethane, for example by adding a nitrogen and phosphorus additive. This film produced by a coagulation method has a microporous structure with pores of about 0.2 microns and has a thickness of 25 to 50 microns depending on the final requirements of the composite textile.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first textile layer 1 and the second layer 2 of the composite textile of the invention constituted by a film are bonded together using a layer of adhesive 3.

Many bonding methods can be used. However, it is necessary for the adhesive layer to be discontinuous, for example consisting of adhesion points so as to ensure the circulation of water vapor through the bonding means and therefore through the whole of the textile. composite.

By using known means, a bonding can be obtained which has a high resistance to cleaning and washing.

Bonding may be carried out by points comprising thermoplastic polymers, of the polyamide, polyester, polyurethane type, polymers which can be crosslinked by themselves such as two-component polyurethanes, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, terpolymers ethylene-acrylic ester-maleic anhydride ..., or by the action of crosslinking agents incorporated into the adhesive such as a melamine formaldehyde resin, a urea formaldehyde resin, a phenol formaldehyde resin, an alkali metal hydroxide, a zinc or zirconium complex, polyamines, epoxies, polyfunctional aziridines ....

Preferably, the thermoadhesive polymer used will itself be non-flammable. The addition of chlorinated antimony trioxide gives it this quality. This arrangement which improves the quality of the composite textile is not always necessary.

The points are deposited in the form of a paste or powder or else sprinkled on one of the two layers 1, 2 and the association of the two layers 1, 2 is carried out in a conventional manner on a press.

It is thus possible to use a screen printing line for paste point in the aqueous phase followed by a calendering line.

Thus, using a perforated cylinder at 11 mesh or 23 holes / cm², a formulation based on crosslinkable polymer is deposited on one of the substrates, and preferably on the needled nonwoven.

Deposited at a speed of 15-20m / min about 30g / m² wet on the substrate, we obtain at the outlet of the oven set at 130 ° C a dry weight of 10-12g / m² on which we apply immediately at the outlet of the oven the microporous film using a cooled calender. By a subsequent heat treatment at 150 ° C for one minute, the definitive crosslinking of the bonding is obtained.

The composite textile exhibits, after 24 hours of rest, the qualities required to ensure perfect protection in fire-fighting clothing.

Bonding can also be obtained by using "foaming", that is to say by inserting an adhesive foam between the two layers 1, 2 by flaming on the two faces to be bonded.

The adhesive layer 3 can also be produced by spraying a liquid adhesive such as polyurethane, possibly capable of crosslinking. The spraying is then advantageously carried out on one of the supports, the second being applied to the first by calendering.

Adhesive layer 3 can also be produced by spraying with "Moisture Crosslinkable" with moisture having an application temperature of 80 to 110 ° C., it is sprayed onto the nonwoven needled or film using a battery of traditional pistols. Then, the second substrate is applied by cold calendering. The operation can be repeated a second time if one wishes to apply a jersey of thermostable fibers with a grammage of between 50 and 130 g / m² on the face of the film and / or on the face of the needled nonwoven which is still free.

The adhesive thus partially applied according to a grammage of 6 to 10 g / m² cross-links in 24 hours with humidity and makes it possible to obtain an adhesion resistant to the various cleaning interviews, an important flexibility of the complex by the punctual bonding, and thus allows by the assembly of the film and a light woven or knitted fabric made of heat-resistant or flame-retardant fibers improves the tear resistance of the needle-punched nonwoven and the abrasion resistance of the film during maintenance and wearing.

It is also possible to use, for the production of the adhesive layer 3, webs, films or iron-on grids to which each of the layers 1, 2 of the composite textile is applied under a press or even by simple calendering.

Thus, a composite textile according to the invention is a good hrydrofuge, a suitable choice of the second layer allows it to withstand without difficulty a column of water of about 7000mm.

The main tests are there to verify the good breathability of the complex and its impermeability vis-à-vis water and hrydrocarbons.

The water inlet pressure (hrydrostatic resistance) is measured according to Federal Standard 191, method 5 512 (MULLEN test) without external fabric or lining, and we obtain a value of 500kPa, when we consider the value of 310 kPa as sufficient to ensure complete waterproofing under all weather conditions.

The breathability of an impermeable and breathable complex is determined by measuring the resistance to wet vapor transmission according to DIN 54 101 part 1 and which gives a resistance to the passage of water vapor (HET) of 0.155m². mbar / w. According to the same standard, a value less than 0.200 is necessary to ensure good breathability of the complex.

The chemical resistance is measured according to standard NFS 74 302 and the impermeability to acids, bases and hydrocarbons is greater than 90%.

The convective protection index at a flame of 1050 ° C according to ISO DP 9 151 gives a protection index of 25 seconds while a leather jacket traditionally used by firefighters offers an index of 12 seconds, and that 'It is 2 to 4 times heavier than a jacket made with the composite textile of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the waterproof fireproof composite textile comprises a third textile layer 7, placed on the side opposite to the first textile layer relative to the second, a second discontinuous layer of adhesive 8, placed between the third textile layer and the second layer ensuring the fixing of the third textile layer on the second layer.

The adhesive layer 8 ensuring the fixing of the third textile layer on the breathable film 2 is of the same nature as the adhesive layer 3 described above. It can have any of the compositions described above with regard to the adhesive layer 3. The application of the adhesive layer 8 can also be carried out in a similar manner to that of the layer 3.

A particularly effective and light safety and / or fire-fighting garment can be produced with the composite textile of the invention.

Such protective clothing shown in Figures 2 to 4 comprises an outer textile assembly 4 constituting its outer surface and a lining 5 constituting its inner surface. It comprises an insert 6 mounted flywheel between the external textile 4 and the lining 5, said insert being a waterproof fireproof composite textile, comprising a first non-woven textile layer 1, needled based on thermostable fibers, a second layer consisting of a microporous film 2, impermeable, permeable to water vapor, non-flammable and a discontinuous layer of adhesive 3, placed between the first textile layer 1 and the second layer 2 ensuring the fixing of the second layer 2 on the first textile layer 1, the first composite textile layer 1 being placed towards the lining.

In this case, the second waterproof layer 2 is placed towards the outside of the garment. This arrangement allows the protection of layer 1 of thermostable fibers from water or any other liquid (hydrocarbon, etc.) when the garment is sprayed.

Thus, even when the garment is subjected to significant watering due to atmospheric conditions or to the technique of protecting firefighters during their fight against fire, the garment remains relatively light and does not hinder the movements of the wearer.

The insert 6 is mounted flywheel between the external textile 4 and the lining 5 which means that it is fixed simultaneously to the external textile 4 and to the lining by its periphery 9 during manufacture, for example by sewing along the lines of usual stitching of the lining 5 to the external textile 4. Outside these lines the insert 6 is free, between the external textile 4 and the lining 5 and without any other attachment to these elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the insert 6 and the lining 5 constitute an assembly 11 that can be separated from the exterior assembly 4. It can for example be connected to the exterior assembly by a zipper 12.

During maintenance of the jacket, the insert 6 and the lining 5 can be separated from the external textile 4. It is thus possible to subject these two elements to different cleaning modes. Generally the external textile which is, by its position, more exposed to dirt is more energetically and more often cleaned than the insert and the lining which are fragile.

The tightness of the garment is improved by the addition of waterproof strips on all its seams.

When the garment is subjected to excessive conditions causing deterioration of the impermeable layer 2, the user remains protected by the layer 1 based on thermostable fibers.

The invention also relates to a seat comprising a textile covering and foam elements. It comprises an insert mounted flywheel between the external textile and the foam elements, said insert being a waterproof fireproof composite textile, comprising a first non-woven textile layer, needled based on thermostable fibers, a second layer consisting of a film microporous, waterproof, permeable to water vapor and carbon dioxide, and a discontinuous layer of adhesive, placed between the first textile layer 1 and the second layer 2 ensuring the fixing of the second layer 2 on the first textile layer 1, the first layer 1 of the composite textile being placed towards the textile covering.

According to a preferred embodiment, this seat comprises elements consisting of foam injected in situ covered at least partially by the composite textile.

The production of elements composed of foam injected in situ results in the emission of gas and in particular carbon dioxide. The composite textile of the invention constitutes a barrier confining the foam in the space reserved for it and allows the carbon dioxide to be evacuated without difficulty. Indeed, the dimension of the carbon dioxide molecule is of the same order of magnitude as that of the water molecule and therefore the composite textiles permeable to water vapor are generally so with carbon dioxide.

The tightness of the seat will be improved by sticking waterproof strips on all its seams.

Claims (19)

1. Fireproof composite textile impermeable to water comprising a first textile layer (1) composed of a non-woven needled textile with a thermostable or fireproofed fibre base, having a confined volume of air sufficient to permit a good resistance to fire, and comprising a second layer (2) composed of a microporous film impermeable to water and permeable to water vapour and uninflammable, and a discontinuous adhesive layer (3) placed between the first textile layer (1) and the second layer (2) for fixing the second layer (2) to the first textile layer (1).
2. Composite textile according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a third textile layer (7) placed on the side opposite the first textile layer with respect to the second one, a second discontinuous adhesive layer (8) placed between the third textile layer (7) and the second layer (2) providing fixing of the third textile layer (7) to the second layer (2).
3. Composite textile according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of spots and are obtained by silk-screen coating.
4. Composite textile according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of a humidity cross-linkable polymer and that they are formed by hot spraying.
5. Composite textile according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first non-woven, needled textile layer (1) comprises thermostable polyamide-imide fibres.
6. Composite textile according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the second layer (2) formed of an microporous film impermeable to water and permeable to water vapour has a polyurethane base.
7. Protective clothing comprising an outer textile assembly forming its outer surface and a lining forming its inner surface, comprising an insert (6) mounted loosely between the outer textile (4) and the lining (5), said insert being a composite fireproof textile impermeable to water comprising a first non-woven, needled textile layer (1) with a thermostable or fireproofed fibre base, having a confined volume of air sufficient to permit a good resistance to fire, a second layer (2) formed of a microporous film impermeable to water and permeable to water vapour and uninflammable, and a discontinuous adhesive layer (3) placed between the first textile layer (1) and the second layer (2) for fixing the second layer (2) to the first textile layer (1), the first composite textile layer being placed towards the lining.
8. Clothing according to Claim 7, characterised in that the insert comprises a third textile layer (7) placed on the side opposite the first textile layer with respect to the second one, a second discontinuous adhesive layer (8) placed between the third textile layer and the second layer providing fixing of the third textile layer to the second layer.
9. Clothing according to any one of Claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of spots and are obtained by silk-screen coating.
10. Clothing according to any one of Claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of a humidity cross-linkable polymer and that they are formed by hot spraying.
11. Clothing according to any of one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the first non-woven needled textile layer (1) comprises thermostable polyamide-imide fibres.
12. Clothing according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, charactersied in that the second layer, formed of an microporous film impermeable to water and permeable to water vapour, has a base of polyurethane fireproofed by addition of a nitrogeneous and phosphorous additive.
13. Clothing according to any one of Claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the insert and the lining form an assembly which can be dissociated, for example during maintenance of the clothing, from the outer textile assembly.
14. Clothing according to Claim 13, characterised in that the insert-lining assembly is fixed to the outer assembly by a sliding fastener.
15. Seat comprising a textile covering and foam elements comprising an insert mounted loosely between the outer textile and the foam elements, said insert being a composite fireproof textile impermeable to water comprising a first non-woven, needled textile layer with a thermostable or fireproofed fibre base, having a confined volume of air sufficient to permit a good resistance to fire, a second layer composed of a microporous film impermeable to water and permeable to water vapour, and a discontinuous adhesive layer placed between the first textile layer (1) and the second layer (2) for fixing the second layer (2) to the first textile layer (1) the first layer (1) of the composite textile being placed towards the textile covering.
16. Seat according to Claim 15, characterised in that the foam elements are made by in situ injection.
17. Seat according to any one of Claims 15 and 16, characterised in that the adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of spots and are obtained by silk-screen coating.
18. Seat according to any one of Claims 15 and 16, characterised in that the adhesive layer or layers (3, 8) are formed of a humidity crosslinkable polymer and that they are formed by hot spraying.
19. Seat according to any one of Claims 15 to 18, characterised in that the second layer, formed of an impermeable microporous film permeable to water vapour, has a polyurethane base.

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