Protective laminates
Protective laminates are provided that include (a) a layer that is breathable, free-standing, and highly impermeable to chemicals to a degree that is subject to reduction upon flexing of the highly impermeable layer alone; and (b) a non-textile layer attached to the highly impermeable layer, the non-textile layer tending to mitigate the reduction in the impermeability of the highly impermeable layer if the laminate is flexed. The laminates may, for example, be attached to textiles and used in protective fabrics.
1 . A protective laminate comprising
a layer that is breathable, free-standing, and highly impermeable to chemicals to a degree that is subject to reduction upon flexing of the highly impermeable layer alone; and
a non-textile layer attached to the highly impermeable layer, the non-textile layer tending to mitigate the reduction in the impermeability of the highly impermeable layer if the laminate is flexed.
2 . The protective laminate of claim 1 further comprising a second non-textile layer, wherein the highly impermeable layer is interposed between the non-textile layers.
3 . The protective laminate of claim 1 further comprising a second highly impermeable layer, wherein the non-textile layer is interposed between the highly impermeable layers.
4 . The protective laminate of claim 1 further comprising a textile layer attached to the highly impermeable layer.
5 . The protective laminate of claim 1 further comprising a textile layer attached to the non-textile layer.