FR2811520A1 - THERMAL PROTECTION FABRIC - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a fabric comprising a weave of warp yarns in one direction and of weft yarns in the perpendicular direction. Said fabric comprises, in one direction, yarns consisting of alternating continuous filaments and spun yarns, and in the other direction, yarns produced from spun yarns, the various continuous filaments being produced in flame retardant and non-fusible materials.

Description

i The subject of the present invention is a thermal protection fabric,

  in particular a fabric which can be used for the realization of

  clothing used by firefighters.

  The firefighters' intervention jackets are obtained by assembling several layers of materials aimed at providing a level of protection in accordance with standards, in particular the

EN469 standard in force in Europe.

  An interventional textile jacket generally comprises an outer layer consisting of an aramid or equivalent fabric, a sealing barrier laminated on a non-fire felt, an insulation system consisting of a knitted or an aramid felt or equivalent and

an inner lining.

  Such a jacket has a number of disadvantages in use. Such a jacket is very heavy, and poses problems of ergonomics and ease of wearing due to the stacking of several layers. Finally, such a jacket is difficult to maintain, and can present

  appearance problems after washing.

  Document US Pat. No. 5,299,602 describes an outer fabric for a firefighter jacket, the warp of which comprises continuous meta-aramid filaments (known under the brand Nomex) alternated with paraaramid multifilaments, as known under the brand Kevlar, and a weft comprising meta-aramid fiber yarns of Nomex type alternated with para-aramid multifilaments of Kevlar type, the whole being linked by

a cross type armor.

  The use of warped Kevlar type para-aramid multifilaments, at the rate of one thread in two, has drawbacks for the following reasons:

  - It is known and demonstrated that the multifilaments of para-

  aramid are very sensitive to hydrolysis. They do not support the washing conditions in an aqueous medium poorly, they therefore quickly lose their mechanical performance, and become more sensitive to abrasion thereby causing fibrillation which is a deterioration of the yarn resulting in the appearance

  whitish pollution on the fabric.

  - Para-aramid multifilaments are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and to part of the visible spectrum, for wavelengths between 300 and 450 nm, in the presence of which they quickly lose their original mechanical properties. - Economically, the use of para-aramid multilaments leads to a significant additional cost when making this fabric

  compared to using another type of material.

  The object of the invention is to provide a thermal protection fabric having good qualities of thermal protection and mechanical protection, resistant to washing well and having a good surface appearance after washing, resistant to radiation, such as ultraviolet rays. , and offering a satin or shiny surface appearance making it possible to identify the wearer of a garment produced using such a fabric in poor visibility conditions, in particular during

  intervention in a smoky area.

  To this end, the thermal protection fabric which it concerns, comprising a weave of warp threads in one direction and of weft threads in the perpendicular direction, is characterized in that it comprises, in one direction, threads made up alternating continuous filaments and spun yarns, and in the other direction, yarns made from spun yarns, the various continuous filaments and spun yarns

  fibers being made of fireproof and non-fusible materials.

  According to one possibility - the continuous filaments are made of metaaramide, as known under the trade name Nomex, - the yarns of fibers associated alternately with the continuous filaments are made of metaaramide, as known under the trade name Nomex, and - the threads formed by yarns of fibers in the other direction include metaaramid fibers, as known under the brand

  Nomex and para-aramid fibers, as known under the brand name Kevlar.

  The combination of continuous filaments and fiber yarns in one direction of the fabric with fiber yarns in the other direction provides very good thermal protection, while ensuring the fabric

  excellent mechanical properties.

  The very good mechanical performance of the constituent yarns of this fabric makes it possible to produce a fabric having properties

balanced mechanics.

  According to one embodiment of this fabric, the paraffin fibers

  aramid are arranged in core and the meta-aramid fibers are arranged in cover. Advantageously, the threads are produced from yarns of fibers comprising approximately 1/3 of para-aramid fibers and 2/3 of

meta-aramid fibers.

  This arrangement is advantageous, since the paraaramid fibers provide the fabric with high mechanical properties, without risk of fibrillation problem or loss of strength, since the para-aramid fibers are protected by the meta-aramid fibers

arranged on the cover.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of this fabric, the different threads in the two directions are combined so as to form a complex double-faced weave of satin type, such that the outer face of the fabric is composed essentially of continuous filaments and the face

  interior is mainly composed of fiber yarns.

  The presence of continuous filaments on the outer face of the fabric makes it possible to obtain a closed, smooth and uniform surface, since the constituent filaments of each of the threads tend to spread out and occupy the maximum available surface, thereby causing the formation of a

  barrier to radiant heat flow.

  The surface thus formed has a very shiny appearance compared to that obtained with fiber yarns, this effect giving rise to excellent reflection by radiant heat. In addition, this shiny surface allows the wearer of the garment to be easily identified in the middle of smoke, fire or in the dark, since the continuous filaments reflect light, unlike the traditional outer layers which remain

matt.

  In addition, this smooth outer layer improves ease of wear by reducing the friction of the different parts of the jacket during

  movements relative to each other.

  Finally, thanks to the presence of continuous filaments on the outside of the fabric, the maintenance of the garment is facilitated, since during its use, the outer layer does not form a bonding surface, dust and debris not coming not stick to this surface. Insofar as a large proportion of yarns of fibers appear mainly on the rear face of the fabric, they participate in the resistance to the propagation of the flame. Advantageously, the yarns of fibers dispersed among the continuous filaments in one direction bind to the yarns in the other direction on the rear face of the fabric, and they are more important than the continuous filaments. Insofar as the yarns of fibers present on the rear face of the fabric have a higher count than the continuous filaments, they provide a relief effect with the formation of thickeners which, once in contact with the second layer of the textile complex,

  delimit an air space which contributes to the thermal insulation of the garment.

  In order to provide the fabric with the most closed appearance possible on its outer face, the threads, in one direction, are constituted by an alternation of continuous filaments and fiber yarns in proportions

5 to 1.

  Electrostatic properties can be obtained in this type of fabric by combining wires or dissipative fibers or

  electrostatic in either direction.

  It is given below, by way of nonlimiting example, a form

  for producing a fabric according to the invention.

  This fabric comprises warp threads made up of continuous filaments of meta-aramid, of Nomex type, of 220 dtex title and of threads of meta-aramid fibers, of Nomex type of title Nm 60/2 in the proportion of 5 to 1. , and weft yarns made of fibers of Nm 55/2 titer made

  according to the core wire technique, composed of approximately 33% para-

  aramid type Kevlar in the core and 67% meta-aramid fibers type Nomex on the cover, the weave being satin type with the filaments on the right side, while the yarns of fibers appear mainly on the reverse side o they are linked with the weft threads to form a reinforcement grid, the fabric possibly undergoing a waterproofing type finishing treatment making it possible to provide water repellency characteristics. To form a three-layer complex that can be used

  for the production of protective clothing, for example for sappers-

  firefighters, this fabric can be combined with an intermediate layer consisting of a membrane laminated to a felt and an inner layer

formed by a lining.

  An assembly, as defined above, has been tested and shows excellent thermal performance in comparison with known complexes comprising four layers with an outer layer made of 100% aramid or equivalent. It is therefore possible to save a layer in the assembly, while ensuring a

  excellent protection for the wearer, and providing better comfort.

  In addition, the satin effect facilitates the maintenance of the garment, and participates in the identification and location of the wearer in poor conditions

  outdoor environment, such as smoke or darkness.

  As it goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this fabric, described above by way of example, on the contrary it embraces all the variants remaining within the framework of

  claims. This is especially how other materials with character

  non-flammable and non-fusible can be used, such as belonging to the families of aramids, polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polybenzazoles.

Claims (10)

  1. Thermal protection fabric comprising a weave of warp threads in one direction and of weft threads in the perpendicular direction, characterized in that it comprises, in one direction, threads made up of alternating continuous filaments and yarns of fibers, and in the other direction, yarns made from yarns of fibers, the various continuous filaments and yarns of fibers being made of materials not fire and not fusible.   2. Fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous filaments are made of meta-aramid, as known under the Nomex brand.   3. Fabric according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   that the yarns of fibers alternately associated with the continuous filaments are   made of meta-aramid, as known under the brand Nomex.   4. Fabric according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   that the yarns constituted by yarns of fibers in the other direction comprise meta-aramid fibers, as known under the brand   Nomex and para-aramid fibers, as known under the brand name Kevlar.   5. Fabric according to claim 4, characterized in that the para-aramid fibers are arranged in the core and the meta-aramid fibers are arranged on the cover.   6. Fabric according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that   that the different threads in the two directions are combined so as to form a complex double-faced weave of satin type, such that the outside face of the fabric is composed essentially of continuous filaments and   the inner face is mainly composed of fiber yarns.   7. Fabric according to claim 6, characterized in that the yarns of fibers dispersed among the continuous filaments in one direction, bind with the yarns in the other direction on the rear face of the fabric, and in that they   are more important than continuous filaments.   8. Fabric according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   that, in one direction, the wires consist of alternating   continuous filaments and yarns of fibers in proportions of 5 to 1.   9. Fabric according to claim 4, characterized in that, in one direction, the threads are made from spun fibers comprising   about 1/3 of para-aramid fibers and 2/3 of meta-aramid fibers.   10. Fabric according to all of claims 1 to 9, characterized   in that it comprises warp threads made up of continuous filaments of meta-aramid, of Nomex type, of 220 dtex title and of yarns of meta-aramid fibers, of Nomex type of Nm 60/2 title in the proportion of 5 for 1, and weft yarns made of yarns of Nm 55/2 title made using the core yarn technique, composed of approximately 33% pararamid fibers of Kevlar type in core and 67% of fibers of meta-aramid of Nomex type on the cover, the weave being of the satin type with the filaments on the right side, while the fiber yarns mainly appear on the reverse side where they are linked with the weft threads to form a grid reinforcement, the fabric possibly undergoing a waterproofing type finishing treatment making it possible to provide water repellency characteristics.