This invention is about the heat barrier that prevents the heat transfer, allows removal of the body moisture while preventing the ingress from the liquid and provides full protection against the heat stress when exposed to elevated temperatures.
This invention is especially about the protective, respirable, watertight, inflammable fabric that prevents the heat transfer when exposed to elevated temperatures and provides full protection against heat stress.
This invention is developed for use in clothing capable of resisting excessive heat. It provides protection in areas exposed to elevated temperatures in particular for clothing of the firefighters.
The protective clothing like the clothing for the firefighters is in general consisted of an exterior fabric, heat barrier and interior fabric. The biggest problems faced by the firefighters are the extreme heat generated, heat stress and the skin burns as a result of contact with the fluids used to extinguish and suppress the fire.
Today fire, flame, explosion and similar elevated temperatures and excessive heat give rise to injuries. The protective clothing of the firefighters exposed to excessive heat and elevated temperatures specific to the fire, flame and explosion in general consist of an exterior fabric; heat barrier and interior fabric. The biggest problems faced by the firefighters are the extreme heat generated, heat stress and the skin burns as a result of contact to the fluids used to extinguish and suppress the fire.
There are three types of heat transfer that gives rise to injuries upon occurance of a fire, flame and explosion generating excessive heat and elevated temperatures. They are conduction, convection and thermal radiation. The conduction is the transfer of heat by direct contact of the heat with an object. The convection is the transfer of heat via a medium (like air). The thermal radiation is, however, the transfer of the heat in the form of the light energy.
The water is a poor insulator and it transfers heat even without a contact. Wet protective clothing increases the risk of injury via conducted heat. Therefore, it is extremely crucial for a fabric to be watertight. Another type of conduction heat injury occurs as a result of rapid transfer of the heat on the surface through the layers of the clothing, since there is no air between the layers. This generally causes injuries on knees and arms. Therefore, the layers of the fabric should not be too close to each other. The convection heat transfer makes the heat to be felt even if there is no direct contact with the flame. Therefore, the protective clothing should be used, even if there is no contact with the flame or very hot objects. Thermal Radiation is a type of heat transfer, where the heat is conveyed from hot objects in the form of the light energy. Thermal Radiation may also take place if there is a latent heat. In such cases, the burns are likely, even if the temperature is only 80 degrees. Therefore, it will be necessary to use protective clothing against thermal radiation.
An example of a protective multi-layer heat barrier is disclosed in the document
This invention eliminates the heat stress. It has long service life. The barrier subject of this invention does not deteriorate the mobility when used as interior layer. It provides conform during use. It is watertight. Furthermore, it is inherently moisture/steam permeable. It is inflammable.
This invention is more effective compared with other barriers. It is cost effective, flexible, light and more durable even if it provides high degree of insulation. Furthermore, other heat barriers contain arimide nonwoven fabric. This, however, gives rise to various problems. The product subject of this invention, however, incorporates woven or nonwoven active carbon.
This invention is developed to be used for clothing capable of resisting excessive heat. In particular, such clothing provides protection against excessive heat and elevated temperature generated upon a fire, flame, explosion and the like.
This invention introduces multi-layer fabric. The fabric provides sufficient time to escape from the fire and delays the heat transfer. It provides comfort even under extremely elevated temperatures.
The fabric is consisted of multi-layers, however it is still light, flexible and durable. It does not catch fire. It is confortable, does not prevent mobility, and does not permeate the liquids; however it allows steam and air diffuse through it, features high strength, durable, can be washed, reduces heat stress and provides heat insulation.
Thanks to its multi-layer structure, this special fabric prevents the heat stress. In particular, the intermediate layer greatly reduces the heat the inner layer is exposed and reduces heat while expelling body moisture through the gap it provides, which ensures the air circulation.
Depending on the degree of the temperature exposed, the number of the layer or density of the fabric might be increased.
The invention is comprised of exterior fabric (1), membrane (3), barrier fabric (6), intermediate fabric (7) and interior fabric (4).
Exterior fabric (1) is made from inflammable material, since it may come into direct contact with the flame. Exterior fabric (1) may be made from either metaaramide, paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), carbon, inflammable viscon (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or mixture of these in braided, woven or nonwoven form.
Membrane (3) is made from respirable fabric that allows steam heat transfer, however, preventing the ingress of the liquids. The membrane (3) may be made from EPTF/PU.
Barrier fabric (6) may be made from braided, woven or nonwoven metaaramide, paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), carbon, inflammable viscon (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or the mixture of these.
Intermediate fabric (7) may be made from metaaramide, paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), carbon, inflammable viscon (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or their mixtures in braided, woven or nonwoven form, which can create gap in between.
Just like exterior fabric (1), interior fabric (4) may be made from paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), inflammable viscon (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or their mixtures in braided, woven or nonwoven form.
As shown in
As shown in
The silicone extrusions (5) are heat resistant and installed homogenously. Silicone extrusions (5) are about 0.5 ― 2.0 cm apart and extending to 0.5 ― 2.0 cm from the surface of the fabric. These extrusions (5) ensure the circulation of the air by creating air gaps between exterior fabric (1) and barrier. This provides ventilation. It delays the transfer of the hot air to come into contact with the body and ensures more effective protection by reducing the stress caused by the hot air. The insulation is enhanced thanks to the extrusions (5). Its overall specific weight is about 225± 25 g/m2.
The durability of 2-layer heat barrier (1) and 3-layer heat barrier (2) up to 300 degrees are tested. The firefighter clothing can be produced by making use of arimide as exterior fabric (3), 2-layer heat barrier (1) or 3-layer heat barrier (2) and arimide as interior fabric (4) (
As shown in
First layer is exterior fabric (1). Like exterior fabric (1), interior fabric (4) may also be made from metaaramide, paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), carbon, inflammable viscon (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or their mixture. Compared with exterior fabric, interior fabric (4) is exposed to the heat to a lesser degree and therefore might be lighter than exterior fabric. There is a membrane (3) on top of barrier fabric (6) to absorb the body moisture, ensure the steam transfer, however to prevent the ingress of liquids from outside to come into contact with both barrier (6) and body. This membrane (3) features water tightness, however allows the steam infusion, in addition to its resistance to excessive heats. Meanwhile, the membrane (3) enhances the strength of the fabric. The membrane (3) is glued to the fabric by using especially reactive polyurethane glue that is capable to resist excessive heat. Thus, it does not loose its laminated structure, come apart from the fabric or loose its properties when exposed to excessive heat. The laminated structure is resistant to washing. Intermediate fabric (7) between barrier fabric (6) and interior fabric (4) is exclusively made from metaaramide, paraaramide, PBO (Poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), PBI (Polybenzimidazole), inflammable (FR viscose), inflammable polyester or their mixture in braided, woven or nonwoven form, complete with the fabric that can create an air gap in between. This layer reduces the heat exposure to the interior fabric (5) that is in contact with the body, creates an air gap and enhances respiration. It prevents slipping of the barrier with its increased friction.
The descriptive examples of this invention are as follows.
The fabric (2) woven from the active carbon is glued to EPTF/PU membrane (3) on engraving lamination machine with dotted reactive polyurethane hot adhesion glue. PU side of EPTF membrane (3) faces outside. Polyurethane glue with special reactivity is used in the lamination to enhance the respirability. 50-100 dots per centimeter square are typical. The lamination provides the resistance up to 270 degree. No deterioration or peeling is observed during washing in 60-degree water.
The fabric (2) woven from the active carbon is used instead of the system provided under example 1 and no.2 meta aramide-para aramide mixture the unwoven fabric (2). The fabric (2) woven from the active carbon is glued to EPTF/PU membrane (3) at engraving lamination machine with dotted reactive polyurethane hot adhesion glue. PU side of EPTF membrane (3) faces outside. Polyurethane glue with special reactivity is used in the lamination to enhance the respirability. 50-100 dots per centimeter square are typical. The lamination provides the resistance up to 270 degree. No deterioration or peeling is observed during washing with 60-degree water.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.