Water resistant protective garment
Protective garments are disclosed having a fabric material treated with a durable water resistant treatment. In accordance with the present disclosure, the durable water resistant treatment is substantially free of fluorocarbon chemicals and yet provides not only excellent water resistance, but also has excellent durability properties.
1 . A protective garment comprising:
a fabric material that forms at least a portion of the protective garment, the fabric material comprising inherently flame resistant fibers, the inherently flame resistant fibers comprising at least one of para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, polybenzimidazole fibers, or poly(p-phenylene-2,6-bezobisoxazole) fibers, the fabric material being impregnated with a durable water resistant treatment, the fabric material containing fluorocarbon chemicals in an amount less than 0.1% by weight of the fabric material, the durable water resistant treatment being incorporated into the fabric material such that the fabric material maintains a spray rating of at least 70 after ten laundry cycles, the durable water resistant treatment comprising a dried and cured finish, the dried and cured finish being formed from a polyurethane polymer, a blocked isocyanate, an acrylic polymer, a wax, and optionally a softener, the polyurethane polymer comprising an anionic polyurethane that is aqueous dispersable, wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises an aliphatic polyester/ether polyurethane polymer, and further wherein the dried and cured finish comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of the polyurethane polymer and about 10% to about 70% by weight of a combination of the acrylic polymer and the wax.
2 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material maintains a spray rating of at least 90 after ten laundry cycles.
3 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material maintains a water absorption of less than about 15% after five laundry cycles, and wherein the fabric material exhibits a water absorption of less than 5% when tested according to NFPA 1971 8.25.
4 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the blocked isocyanate comprises an oxime-blocked isocyanate.
5 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the softener is present in the cured finish and comprises a non-ionic polyethylene polymer.
6 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the wax comprises a paraffin wax.
7 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material comprises greater than about 50% by weight inherently flame resistant fibers.
8 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the inherently flame resistant fibers contained in the fabric material comprise:
para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, or mixtures thereof, or
polybenzimidazole fibers or poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibers, or
a mixture of aramid fibers and polybenzimidazole fibers.
9 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material comprises:
spun yarns and multifilament yarns, or
only spun yarns, or
only multi filament yarns,
and wherein:
the fabric material comprises an inner lining, or
the protective garment comprises a hood, footwear or a glove, or
the protective garment is a single fabric layer garment, the single fabric layer being the fabric material.
10 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material contains fluorine in an amount less than about 1,000 ppm.
11 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material forms an exterior surface of the protective garment and comprises an outer shell material.
12 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric material, when tested according to EN ISO 6530, exhibits an index of repellency against a 30% sulfuric acid solution of greater than 85% and an index penetration of less than 1%, exhibits an index of penetration against a 10% saline hydroxide solution of greater than 90% and an index of penetration of less than 1%, and exhibits an index of repellency against artificial blood of greater than about 85% and an index of penetration of less than about 1.5%.
13 . A protective garment as defined in claim 1 ,
wherein the fabric material has a basis weight of from about 5 osy to about 8.5 osy and exhibits an abrasion resistance of greater than 90,000 cycles when tested according to ASTM D4966 Test Method; or
wherein the fabric material has a basis weight of from about 2 osy to about 4 osy and exhibits an abrasion resistance of greater than 40,000 cycles when tested according to ASTM D4966 Test Method.
14 . A protective garment comprising:
a fabric material that forms at least a portion of the protective garment, the fabric material comprising inherently flame resistant fibers, the inherently flame resistant fibers comprising at least one of para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, polybenzimidazole fibers, or poly(p-phenylene-2,6-bezobisoxazole) fibers, the fabric material being impregnated with a durable water resistant treatment, the fabric material containing fluorocarbon chemicals in an amount less than 0.1% by weight of the fabric material, the durable water resistant treatment being incorporated into the fabric material such that the fabric material maintains a spray rating of at least 70 after ten laundry cycles, the durable water resistant treatment is a dried and cured finish and is formed from a durable water resistant treatment consisting of an aqueous dispersable and anionic polyurethane polymer, a blocked isocyanate, an acrylic polymer, optionally a wax, optionally a softener, water, and optionally a wetting agent, wherein the polyurethane polymer is an aliphatic polyester/ether polyurethane, and further wherein the dried and cured finish comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of the polyurethane polymer and about 10% to about 70% by weight of a combination of the acrylic polymer and the wax.
15 . A protective garment as defined in claim 14 , wherein the blocked isocyanate is an oxime-blocked isocyanate.
16 . A protective garment as defined in claim 14 , wherein the softener is present in the durable water resistant treatment composition.
17 . A protective garment comprising:
a fabric material that forms at least a portion of the protective garment, the fabric material comprising inherently flame resistant fibers, the inherently flame resistant fibers comprising at least one of para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, polybenzimidazole fibers, or poly(p-phenylene-2,6-bezobisoxazole) fibers, the fabric material being impregnated with a durable water resistant treatment, the fabric material containing fluorocarbon chemicals in an amount less than 0.1% by weight of the fabric material, the durable water resistant treatment being incorporated into the fabric material such that the fabric material maintains a spray rating of at least 70 after ten laundry cycles, the durable water resistant treatment comprising a dried and cured finish, the dried and cured finish being formed from a polyurethane polymer, a blocked isocyanate, an acrylic polymer, a wax, and optionally a softener, the polyurethane polymer comprising an anionic polyurethane that is aqueous dispersable, and wherein the dried and cured finish comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of the polyurethane polymer and about 10% to about 70% by weight of a combination of the acrylic polymer and the wax.