Ceramic fabrics and methods for making them

1. A treated fabric that is protective against molten metal, the treated fabric comprising a base fabric comprising non-melting fibres, the base fabric being treated on one or both sides with a cross-linkable polymer cross-linked to form a matrix with the fibres of the base fabric, ceramic particles suspended in the matrix, a flame retardant, and optionally a silicone elastomer and/or glyoxal, wherein the ceramic particles are silicon carbide.

2. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the base fabric comprises aramid fibres.

3. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the base fabric comprises p-aramid fibres.

4. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane.

5. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane, comprising the monomers hexamethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) and a polyesterpolyol having a linear or branched polyester component, and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000-10,000 g/mol.

6. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent selected from polyisocyanates.

7. The treated fabric of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic particles have a particle size distribution between at or about 0.1 to 10 microns.

8. A garment for protecting the wearer against molten metal, the garment comprising the treated fabric of claim 1 .

9. A method for manufacturing a fabric protective against molten metals, the method comprising the steps:

(1) providing a base fabric comprising non-melting fibres;

(2) treating the base fabric with:

a cross-linkable polymer;

a cross-linking agent;

ceramic particles which are silicon carbide;

a flame retardant;

and optionally a silicone elastomer; and/or glyoxal;

(3) cross-linking the polymer to form a matrix with the fibres of the base fabric with the ceramic particles suspended therein.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the base fabric comprises aramid fibres.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the base fabric comprises p-aramid fibres.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane, comprising the monomers hexamethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) and a polyesterpolyol having a linear or branched polyester component, and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000-10,000 g/mol.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent selected from polyisocyanates.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ceramic particles have a particle size distribution between at or about 0.1 to 10 microns.

16. A method for protecting a person from molten metal, comprising the step of providing the person with a garment comprising a treated fabric, wherein the treated fabric comprises a base fabric comprising non-melting fibres, the base fabric being treated on one or both sides with a composition comprising a cross-linked polymer cross-linked to form a matrix with the fibres of the base fabric, ceramic particles which are silicon carbide suspended in the matrix and a flame retardant.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the base fabric comprises aramid fibres.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the base fabric comprises p-aramid fibres.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked polyurethane, comprising the monomers hexamethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) and a polyesterpolyol having a linear or branched polyester component, and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000-10,000 g/mol.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cross-linked polymer is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent selected from polyisocyanates.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the ceramic particles have a particle size distribution between at or about 0.1 to 10 microns.