An article comprising a fabric comprising: (a) a blended yarn comprising: (i) from about 10% to about 85% by weight of at least one biregional fiber comprising an oxidized polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile based homopolymers, acrylonitrile based copolymers, acrylonitrile based terpolymers, and combinations thereof; (ii) at least one companion fiber selected from the group consisting of FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, p-aramid, modacrylic, novoloid, melamine, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, antistatic fiber, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO), polybenzimidazole (PBI), polysulphonamide (PSA), and combinations thereof; and (b) optionally including a companion yarn different from said blended yarn; wherein said companion yarn includes p-aramid in an amount less than 20% of the fabric weight; and
wherein the fabric has a weight from about 3 oz/yd.sup.2 to about 12 oz/yd.sup.2.

A fabric for use in arc and flame protection, and a process for producing a fire resistant fabric are provided. The fabric is comprised of at least 70 weight percent (wt%) aramid fiber; less than 40 wt% modacrylic; 8 wt% nylon; and 2 wt% anti-static. The process comprises shredding recycled fire resistant garments into fibers; creating yarn from the shredded fibers; weaving the yarn into fabric; and knitting the yarn to produce new garments. The fabric may be used to produce fire-resistant garments worn by workers in many industries such as the oil and gas.

Fabrics and garments are disclosed that have dual protection against molten metal splashes and electrical arc flashes. The fabrics can be made from spun yarns containing an intimate blend of fibers. The fibers contained in each yarn can include wool fibers, flame resistant cellulose fibers, and nylon fibers. In one aspect, relatively long wool fibers are incorporated into the yarns.

Fabrics and garments are disclosed that have dual protection against molten metal splashes and electrical arc flashes. The fabrics can be made from spun yarns containing an intimate blend of fibers. The fibers contained in each yarn can include wool fibers, flame resistant cellulose fibers, and nylon fibers. In one aspect, relatively long wool fibers are incorporated into the yarns.

An intimate blend of staple fibers, and a yarn, fabric, and article of clothing providing surprising arc performance and coloration capability, comprising a mixture of a first staple fiber made from a flame resistant polymer that retains at least 90 percent of its weight when heated to 425 degrees Celsius at a rate of 10 degrees per minute and comprises 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles; and either (a) a second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration, or (b) a second staple fiber blend being free of discrete carbon particles and comprising at least one second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration; the mixture having a total content of 0.5 to 3 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

An arc resistant acrylic fiber includes an acrylic polymer. The arc resistant acrylic fiber also includes an infrared absorber in an amount of 1 wt % to 30 wt % with respect to a total weight of the acrylic polymer.

Fireproof fabric comprising a set of warp threads (C1, . . . C6) and a set of weft threads, wherein said warp threads (C1, . . . C6) are arranged on a plurality of warp levels (A, B, C); all said warp levels are bound together by at least one weft thread (T5) acting as a binding thread and arranged so as to prevent relative slipping of said levels, and at least one of the set of weft threads and the set of warp threads is formed by elasticized threads, comprising a core of elastically deformable material lined with a fireproof material.

In order to provide a fabric and a fiber product, which have hygroscopicity and durability as well as flame retardancy, a hydrophilizing agent is added to a fabric containing aramid fibers.

A flame resistant fabric for the use in the construction of aviation airbags comprises a polyester fiber substrate which is treated with a first flame retardant. A polyurethane coating is applied to the polyester fiber substrate, which has been treated with the first flame retardant, to impart high pressure permeability resistance to the flame resistant fabric. The polyurethane coating comprises a second flame retardant to insure that the flame resistant fabric complies with Federal Aviation Requirement 25.853. The flame resistant fabric further comprises sufficient high pressure permeability resistance which is measured as a pressure of not less than about 198 kPa after five seconds from an initial inflation and pressurization to about 200 kPa, such as may be encountered in and during an inflation of aviation airbag assemblies.

A fabric construct consists of a woven fabric of weft and warp yarns, and the fabric has an area defined by plurality of zones consisting of at least one zone of a first zone type, optionally, at least one zone of a second zone type; and at least one zone of a third zone type. The third zone is a transition zone disposed adjacent the first and/or second zones. All the zones are formed in a unitary woven construct, with adjacent zones seamlessly joined together. The transition zone includes a plurality of bands of sets of weft and/or warp yarns that collectively provide a progressive transition for an attribute of the first zone type through at least the transition zone and to the second zone type, if present. The fabric construct may be used in various end products and is particularly suited for use in apparel applications.