Chemical Protective Fabric
A chemical protective fabric garment includes a first fabric layer, and a barrier layer bonded to the first fabric layer. The barrier layer includes a nonwoven membrane that is formed of fibers with embedded particles having one or more detoxifying properties, such as being absorptive of hazardous gases and/or being catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
1 . A chemical protective fabric garment, comprising:
a first fabric layer; and
a barrier layer bonded to the first fabric layer, the barrier layer comprising a nonwoven membrane formed of fibers with embedded particles,
wherein the embedded particles are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
2 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the particles have catalytic destructive properties, for catalytic destruction of absorbed hazardous gases.
3 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise magnetite nanoparticles.
4 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 3 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.
5 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 3 , wherein the magnetite nanoparticles comprise oxime-modified magnetite particles.
6 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the particles are modified with an antidote selected from 2-pralidoxime and poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-phenacyloxime-co-acrylic acid).
7 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the particles are configured to catalyze hydrolysis of an organophosphate compound, at neutral pH.
8 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 7 , wherein the particles are configured to catalyze the hydrolysis of an organophosphate compound in a temperature range of about 50° F. to about 120° F.
9 . The chemical protect fabric garment of claim 7 , wherein the organophosphate compound comprises organophosphate ester.
10 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 7 , wherein the organophosphate compound is an organophosphorus pesticide or a chemical warfare agent.
11 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has an air permeability of about 0 ft 3 /ft 2 /min to about 20 ft 3 /ft 2 /min, tested according to ASTM D-737, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the barrier layer.
12 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a water resistance of about 500 mm of water to about 15,000 mm of water, tested according to AATCC 127-2003, option 2.
13 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of about 2,000 g/m 2 /24 hrs to about 12,000 g/m 2 /24 hrs, tested according to ASTM E96 inverted cup.
14 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a weight of about 2 grams per square meter to about 20 grams per square meter.
15 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of about 1 micrometer to about 50 micrometers.
16 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven membrane is a nanofiber membrane.
17 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven membrane is an electrospun nanofiber membrane.
18 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 17 , wherein the electrospun nanofiber membrane is formed of fibers having fiber diameters in the range of about 50 nanometers to about 1,500 nanometers.
19 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 18 , wherein the particles have an average particle size of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.
20 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven membrane is a melt blown membrane.
21 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 20 , wherein the melt blown membrane is formed of fibers having fiber diameters in the range of about 300 nanometers to about 2,000 nanometers.
22 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven membrane comprises multiple nonwoven membrane layers.
23 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the nonwoven membrane layers is a melt blown membrane.
24 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the nonwoven membrane layers is an electrospun membrane.
25 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 22 , wherein the nonwoven membrane layers comprise one or more melt blown membrane layers and one or more electrospun membrane layers.
26 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric layer is formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles of activated carbon.
27 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric layer is formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
28 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 1 , further comprising a second fabric layer, wherein the barrier layer is disposed between the first and second fabric layers.
29 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 28 , wherein the first fabric layer and/or the second fabric layer are formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles of activated carbon.
30 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 28 , wherein the first fabric layer and/or the second fabric layer are formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
31 . A method of forming a chemical protective fabric, the method comprising:
bonding a barrier layer comprising a nonwoven membrane formed of fibers with embedded particles to a first fabric layer,
wherein the embedded particles are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising forming the barrier layer.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein forming the barrier layer comprises forming nanofibers with the particles embedded therein.
34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein forming the barrier layer comprises stacking multiple membrane layers on top of each other, and mechanically processing the stack of membrane layers.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein mechanically processing the stack of membrane layers comprises applying heat and pressure to the stack of membrane layers.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein pressure is applied by passing the stack of membrane layers through a plurality of rollers.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the rollers are heated.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein stacking the multiple membrane layers comprises electrospinning a nonwoven membrane layer onto a carrier membrane layer.
39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising forming the carrier membrane out of a melt-blown non-woven membrane.
40 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the particles comprise magnetite particles.
41 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the particles comprise oxime-modified magnetite particles.
42 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising bonding the barrier layer to a second fabric layer.
43 . A chemical protective fabric garment system, comprising:
an inner layer garment having an inner surface, towards a wearer's skin, brushed for increased surface area to provide enhanced absorption and reduced touching points upon the skin;
a thermal fabric garment configured to be worn over the inner layer garment, the thermal fabric garment having at least one raised surface; and
an outer shell garment configured to be worn over the thermal fabric garment, the outer shell garment comprising:
a first fabric layer; and
a barrier layer bonded to the first fabric layer, the barrier layer comprising a nonwoven membrane formed of fibers with embedded particles,
wherein the embedded particles are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
44 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the particles comprise magnetite particles.
45 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 44 , wherein the magnetite particles comprise magnetite nanoparticles.
46 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 44 , wherein the magnetite particles comprise oxime-modified magnetite particles.
47 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the nonwoven membrane comprises an electrospun nanofiber membrane.
48 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the nonwoven membrane comprises a melt blown membrane.
49 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the nonwoven membrane comprises multiple membrane layers.
50 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 49 , wherein at least one of the membrane layers is a melt blown membrane.
51 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 49 , wherein at least one of the membrane layers is an electrospun membrane.
52 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 49 , wherein the membrane layers comprise one or more melt blown membrane layers and one or more electrospun membrane layers.
53 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the first fabric layer is formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles of activated carbon.
54 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 43 , wherein the first fabric layer is formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
55 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the outer shell garment further comprises a second fabric layer, wherein the barrier layer is disposed between the first and second fabric layers.
56 . The chemical protective fabric garment of claim 55 , wherein the first fabric layer and/or the second fabric layer are formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles of activated carbon.
57 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 55 , wherein the first fabric layer and/or the second fabric layer are formed of yarns or fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
58 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the thermal fabric garment is formed of one or more yarns made of fibers carrying activated carbon particles.
59 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the thermal fabric garment is formed of one or more yarns made of fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases
60 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the thermal fabric garment is formed of synthetic yarns or fibers with embedded particles of activated carbon or active carbon fiber.
61 . The chemical protective fabric garment system of claim 43 , wherein the thermal fabric garment is formed of synthetic yarns or fibers with embedded particles that are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.
62 . A chemical protective fabric garment, comprising:
a first fabric layer;
a second fabric layer; and
a barrier layer disposed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, the barrier layer comprising a nonwoven membrane formed of fibers with embedded particles,
wherein the embedded particles are absorptive of hazardous gases and/or are catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.