Ultraviolet-resistant fabrics and methods for making them
Embodiments of the invention can provide a protective fabric includes a plurality of inherently flame resistant fibers, and at least one ultraviolet-resistant additive incorporated into the inherently flame resistant fibers through a dye process using a carrier, wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive significantly increases at least one of the strength retention and the colorfastness of the fabric when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
1. A protective fabric, comprising:
a plurality of inherently flame resistant fibers; and
at least one ultraviolet-resistant additive incorporated within at least some of the inherently flame resistant fibers through a dye process using a carrier;
wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive increases at least one of the strength retention and the colorfastness of the fabric after exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
2. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include aramid fibers.
3. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include para-aramid fibers.
4. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include meta-aramid fibers.
5. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include polybenzoxazole (PBO) fibers, polybenzimidazole (PBI) fibers, melamine fibers, polyimide fibers, polyimideamide fibers, modacrylic fibers, or a blend thereof.
6. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises an ultraviolet light absorber.
7. The fabric of claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet light absorber comprises at a benzophenone compound, a triazsole compound, a benzoic acid compound, or a mixture thereof.
8. The fabric of claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet light absorber comprises a benzophenone compound.
9. The fabric of claim 6 , wherein the ultraviolet light absorber is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers in a dye process in a concentration of about 0.5 percent to about 6 percent on weight of fabric.
10. The fabric of claim 6 , wherein the hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers in a dye process in a concentration of about 0.5 percent to about 3 percent on weight of fabric.
11. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises a hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer.
12. The fabric of claim 11 , wherein the hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer comprises an amide compound, a piperidine compound, or a mixture thereof.
13. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises both an ultraviolet light absorber and a hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer.
14. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers using aryl ether, benzyl alcohol, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone (CHP), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), dimethylformamide (DMF), dibutyl acetamide (DBA), Isophorone, Acetophenone, Dimethylacetamide, and Dibutylformamide, or a mixture thereof.
15. The fabric of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fibers including FR rayon fibers, FR acetate fibers, FR triacetate fibers, FR lyocell fibers, or a blend thereof.
16. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 9% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 14 days in accordance with ASTM D5733-99.
17. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 18% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 14 days in accordance with ASTM D5733-99.
18. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 17% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 30 days in accordance with ASTM D1424-96.
19. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 30% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 30 days in accordance with ASTM D1424-96.
20. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 20 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.
21. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 40 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.
22. The fabric of claim 1 , wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 60 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.
23. A protective garment, comprising:
a fabric comprising a plurality of inherently flame resistant fibers, and at least one ultraviolet-resistant additive incorporated within at least some of the inherently flame resistant fibers through a dye process using a carrier;
wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive increases at least one of the strength retention and the colorfastness of the fabric when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
24. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include aramid fibers.
25. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers include polybenzoxazole (PBO) fibers, polybenzimidazole (PBI) fibers, melamine, polyimide fibers, polyimideamide fibers, and modacrylic fibers, or a blend thereof.
26. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises an ultraviolet light absorber.
27. The garment of claim 26 , wherein the ultraviolet light absorber comprises a benzophenone compound, a triazsole compound, a benzoic acid compound, or a mixture thereof.
28. The garment of claim 26 , wherein the ultraviolet light absorber is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers in a dye process in a concentration of about 0.5 percent to about 6 percent on weight of fabric.
29. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises a hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer.
30. The garment of claim 29 , wherein the hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer comprises an amide compound, a piperidine compound, or a mixture thereof.
31. The garment of claim 29 , wherein the hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers in a dye process in a concentration of about 0.5 percent to about 3 percent on weight of fabric.
32. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive comprises both an ultraviolet light absorber and a hindered amine light (HAL) stabilizer.
33. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the ultraviolet-resistant additive is incorporated within the inherently flame resistant fibers using aryl ether, benzyl alcohol, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone (CHP), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), dimethylformamide (DMF), dibutyl acetamide (DBA), Isophorone, Acetophenone, Dimethylacetamide, and Dibutylformamide, or a mixture thereof.
34. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric further comprises a plurality of fibers including FR rayon fibers, FR acetate fibers, FR triacetate fibers, FR lyocell fibers, or a blend thereof.
35. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the garment is a firefighter turnout gear garment.
36. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the garment is a utility lineman garment.
37. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 9% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 14 days in accordance with ASTM D5733-99.
38. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 18% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 14 days in accordance with ASTM D5733-99.
39. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 17% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 30 days in accordance with ASTM D1424-96.
40. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric retains at least about 30% more of its strength than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 30 days in accordance with ASTM D1424-96.
41. The garment of claim 23 wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 20 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.
42. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 40 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.
43. The garment of claim 23 , wherein the fabric would rate at least ½ grade higher in its colorfastness than untreated fabric when both fabrics are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for 60 hours in accordance with AATCC Test Method 16-2003, Option 3.