GB2067134A

GB2067134A - Fireproof material

Info

Publication number: GB2067134A
Application number: GB8100823A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FONTANI V
Current assignee: FONTANI V
Priority date: 1980-01-11
Filing date: 1981-01-12
Publication date: 1981-07-22
Also published as: FR2473321B3; IT8009313A0; DE3100603A1; FR2473321A1

Abstract

A manufactured antifire and heat-resistant material for working and sports garments (motor sports; petrochemical and metallurgical industries; fuel distribution and the like), and for furnishings and linings, which allow perspiration; it is formed by joining two antifire fabrics to opposite sides of a layer of permeable porous foam material of the type used for air filters, fan coils and the like.

Description

SPECIFICATION Fireproof material Many attempts have been made to form antifire garments able to provide at least a partial or temporary defence against flames, in order to prevent damage to persons in the case of accidents at work or in the exercising of certain sports, such as motor sports, in the petrochemical industry, in the metallurgical industry and in all other sectors in which man is directly or indirectly exposed to the danger of contact with flames, incendiary materials, fuels and supporters of combustion, and also dust damaging to the skin.

The object of the invention is to provide a manufactured material which, besides offering high resistance and defence to flames, also has a high permeability to air, so offering substantial comfort to the person wearing garments made from the manufactured material in question.

This manufactured material is constituted substantially by joining at least one typical antifire fabric to a layer of permeable porous foam material of the type produced for air filters, fan coils and the like, such as those known by the commercial names of VILEDON, AIRTON, SIF, FLOWTEX, ROLL-O-MATIC and the like.

In practice, the manufactured material can be constituted advantageously by two fabrics at least one of the which is antifire, and preferably both of which are antifire, and by an intermediate layer of filter foam material.

The antifire fabric is preferably of the type known commercially as HERO KFR or equivalent.

In order to form a manufactured material as heretofore described for heat-resistant, antifire and self-extinguishing garments - a layer of porous foam material for air filters of the like, of the defined type is joined to at least one porous antifire fabric of the type heretofore identified, using adhesive which maintains the porosity, or using sewing threads of antifire or normal type.

With the aforesaid manufactured material surprising results have been obtained, both with regard to heat resistance and defence against flames, and with regard to comfort and perspirability while still attaining the said antifire effects.

After research and tests on porous materials for disposing between the two antifire fabrics, tests have been carried out with the VILEDON filter panel, and some relevant data relating to the tests and indicative of the choice of porous material and of the results obtained are given below.

On passing the "Viledon" through an oxyacetylene flame (1880-1900'C) there is immediate penetration but no flame development nor melting of the material. On joining the fabric thereto and subjecting the assembly to the oxyacetylene flame - at a distance corresponding to the blue zone of the flame - a delay in perforation of 1-2 seconds and immediate selfextinguishing after removing the flame were noticed. A considerable increase in the time of perforation is obtained as the distance from the mouth of the torch increases, until a time of 15-20 seconds is reached at a distance of 50 cm. The combustion residues are only in the form of light ashes which can maintain the shape of the original manufactured material.

During the test with the oxy-gas flame, a slow heat transfer was noted at a distance from the direct zone of action of the flame (at 5 cm, temperature measured 42-44"C; beyond 6 cm, 39-40"C; beyond 1 5 cm, 35-38"C).

This test was repeated after soaking the manufactured material, consisting of three joined layers (two antifire fabrics and a filter layer) with a mixture of liquid fuels based on petrol and gas oil. Immediate triggering with a flash effect was obtained due to the petrol vapours, with good extinguishing on striking with a gloved hand. If the gloved hand operation is not carried out, the flame is triggered at about 10 mm from the fabric surface (blue zone) and about 1-2 minutes pass before the process of incineration of the composite material begins. Heat transfer and the residues of combustion are also as stated heretofore during this test.

The composite material offers good regenerability without limit, if passed under a compressed air jet before every wash. Washing tests at iow temperature (below 1 00 C) are also good and give increased filtering and regenerating power to the interspace, if rinsing is carried out with water to remove all those detergent portions which have not undergone biodegradation (normal in the case of washing with hard water).

Sewing (with normal cotton of antifire sewing thread) and ironing are satisfactory. This latter is satisfactory if carried out by means of a steam iron with very little water inside. A greater softness of the assembly is noticed, together with a slight swelling of the interspace, which is well held by the normal sewing thread, and a soft feed of the fabric is obtained. After repeated washing and ironing, the durability of the shape of the assembly and its regenerability improve.

The manufactured material offers the following advantages, together with others which will be apparent to the expert: - increase in the perforation time because of the interspace of selfextinguishing type, which maintains this characteristic unaltered with time; - heat insulation offered by said porous interspace; - ensured perspiration, because of the use of an air filter material; - elimination of dusts in contact with the human body; --:possibility of temperature control, and thus maintenance of the body temperature for a longer time, even-under stress; - complete elimination of melting of material on to the skin, and limited damage even in the immediate vicinity of the zone where the flame acts.

The manufactured material can also be used for furnishings and linings which require antifire protection. It can be used for buildings, motor vehicles, caravans and the like.

The invention can undergo variations and modifications within the scope of the concepts described and claimed.

The antifire fabric may be composed of viscose fibres with an anti-flame agent incorporated in the fibres. Examples of specific fabrics will now be given: 1) Loornstate constructions of viscose for cloths examples: A) UK 25 Z 35.5 x 24/cm nm 34/28 + BG 206 Z approx. 210 g/m2 finished B) KFR 44.5 x 24/cm nm 34/20 approx. 320 g/m2 finished C) Doppelpilot 35.5 x 39/cm nm 20/20 approx. 420 g/m2 pre-shrunk 2) Finishing Dressed and pre-shrunk 3) Type of fibre modified viscose (= natural fibre) with anti-flame agent incorporated in fibre The layer of porous foam may be composed of synthetic fibres, for example in the form of an unwoven fabric, with a binding resin, particularly an acrylic resin and with open cells. The thickness may be 1 or 2 cm. An example of a specific foam will now be given: Viledon P15/500 labyrinth unwoven cloth of synthetic fibres with binding acrylic resin, open structure cells, density 250-500 g/m2 with 2 cm thickness.

Claims

1. A manufactured antifire and heat-resistant material for working and sports garments where there exists the danger of fire or the presence of high temperature materials (motor sports; petrochemicai and metallurgical industries; fuel distribution and the like) and for furnishings and linings and the like, which allow perspiration, characterised by being constituted by joining a typical antifire fabric to a layer of permeable porous foam material of the type produced for air filters, fan coils and the like, such as those known by the commercial names of VILEDON, AIRTON, SIF, FLOWTEX, ROLL-O-MATIC and the like.

2. A manufactured material as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised by being constituted by two fabrics, at least one of which is antifire, and by an intermediate layer of filter foam material.

3. A manufactured material as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that both the fabrics are of antifire type.

4. A manufactured material as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the antifire fabric is of the type known commercially as HERO KFR or equivalent.

5. A manufactured material as described and illustrated and for the objects specified.

6. A process for forming a manufactured material as claimed in the preceding claims for heat-resistant, antifire and self-extinguishing garments, characterised in that a layer of porous foam material for air filters or the like, or the defined type, is joined to at least one porous antifire fabric of the type heretofore identified, using adhesive which maintains the porosity.

7. A process as defined.