Selectively permeable protective structure and articles therefrom

1. An article comprising a substrate and a selectively permeable membrane wherein

the article is selectively permeable to moisture having a moisture vapor transmission rate, measured according to ASTM F2298, of at least 1800 g/m 2 /24 h;

the substrate comprises textile or porous sheet material;

the membrane comprises or is produced from a composition that comprises or is produced from an organic acid-modified ionomer and optionally a non-ionomeric polymer;

the organic acid-modified ionomer comprises one or more E/X/Y copolymers and an organic acid or salt thereof where E is derived from ethylene, X is derived from at least one C 3 -C 8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Y is derived from a softening comonomer;

at least 60% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and organic acid is neutralized with an alkali metal; and

the softening comonomer includes an alkyl (meth)acrylate.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 4 Kg/m 2 /24 hours; the organic acids or salt thereof is present in the composition from 1 to 50 weight % and includes one or more saturated or unsaturated monobasic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms; and at least 80% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and organic acid is neutralized with an alkali metal.

3. The article of claim 2 further comprises a layer including fabrics of aramid, glass fiber, or combinations thereof.

4. The article of claim 2 wherein the substrate is one or more porous films flash spun non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, scrims, or filter materials.

5. The article of claim 2 wherein the substrate is one or more flash spun polypropylene or woven fabrics of synthetic fibers, or natural fibers.

6. The article of claim 2 wherein the membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 5 Kg/m 2 /24 hours and at least 90% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and organic acid is neutralized with an alkali metal.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 10 Kg/m 2 /24 hours and the metal ion is preponderantly potassium ions.

8. The article of claim 1 including apparel for patient visitors, operating room, medical applications, or dental applications.

9. The article of claim 2 including one or more gowns, aprons, shirts, trousers, overcoats, gloves, shoes, boots, overboots, socks, hoods, hats, caps, masks, eye goggles, drapes, helmets, or breathable dressings.

10. The article of claim 2 including garments used in protection from biological agents, chemical agents, irritants, or combinations of two or more thereof.

11. The article of claim 4 wherein the article is the fabric used in tents or shelters.

12. An article comprises a substrate having impregnated therein, incorporated therein, or laminated thereon a selectively permeable composition or membrane wherein

the composition or membrane is selectively permeable to moisture having a moisture vapor transmission rate, measured according to ASTM F2298, of at least 1.800 Kg/m 2 /24 h;

the substrate comprises textile or porous sheet material;

the composition or membrane comprises or is produced from a composition that comprises or is produced from an organic acid-modified ionomer and optionally a non-ionomeric polymer;

the organic acid-modified ionomer comprises one or more E/X/Y copolymers and an organic acid or salt thereof where E is derived from ethylene, X is derived from at least one C 3 -C 8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Y is derived from a softening comonomer;

at least 90% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and organic acid is neutralized with an alkali metal; and

the softening comonomer includes an alkyl (meth)acrylate.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the composition or membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 4 Kg/m 2 /24 hours; the organic acids or salt thereof is present in the composition from 1 to 50 weight % and includes one or more saturated or unsaturated monobasic having fewer than 36 carbon atoms; and optionally, 100% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and organic acid is neutralized with an alkali metal.

14. The article of claim 13 wherein the substrate includes one or more polyurethane films, flash spun non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics of synthetic fibers, woven fabrics of natural fibers, or filter materials.

15. The article of claim 13 wherein the substrate is one or more flash spun polypropylene, woven fabrics of synthetic fibers, or natural fibers.

16. The article of claim 13 wherein the composition or membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 5 Kg/m 2 /24 hours and at least of 60% of the acid moiety in the E/X/Y copolymer and the organic acid is neutralized with one or more alkali metal ions.

17. The article of claim 16 wherein the composition or membrane has moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 10 Kg/m 2 /24 hours and the metal ion is preponderantly potassium ions.

18. The article of claim 12 including one or more apparels or more gowns, aprons, shirts, trousers, overcoats, gloves, shoes, boots, overboots, socks, hoods, hats, caps, masks, eye goggles, drapes, helmets, or breathable dressings wherein the apparel is for patient visitor, operating room, medical applications, or dental applications.

19. The article of claim 13 including garments used in protection from biological agents, chemical agents, irritants, or combinations of two or more thereof.

20. The article of claim 13 further comprises one or more functional additives including chemical stabilizers, bio-active species, metals, activated carbon, nano-carbon tube, nano-silica, nano-clay, nano-TiO 2 , zeolites, halogen compounds, or combinations of two or more thereof.

21. The article of claim 13 further comprises at least one heat insulation textile layer including fabrics of aramid or glass fiber.