An acrylic fiber for artificial hair includes an acrylic copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride and/or vinylidene chloride, and a sulfonic acid group-containing vinyl monomer; and an organic solvent that can dissolve the acrylic copolymer, where the organic solvent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 3% by mass with respect to the total mass of the acrylic fiber for artificial hair. The acrylic fiber for artificial hair has an average surface roughness of 5900 μm.sup.2 or less in an area of 40 μm long and 80 μm wide of the side surface of the fiber.

A flame-resistant fabric containing staple yarns which contain non-FR cellulosic fibers, modacrylic fibers, and non-flammable fibers intimately blended together. At least a portion of the non-flammable fibers comprise an energy absorbing additive to form energy absorbing fibers. The fabric comprises less than 14 wt. % of energy absorbing fibers and the fabric has an arc resistance according to ASTM F1959/F1959M-14e1 of at least 1.33 calories per square centimeter per ounce per square yard of fabric.

A yarn comprises a blend of two or more types of fibers. Fibers of viscose incorporating silica compose 50-85% by weight of the yarn. Fibers of modacrylic compose 15-50% by weight of the yarn. A composite yarn with a core being defined by the yarn is also provided. The composite yarn has a sheath surrounding the core.

Flame resistant fabrics that provide protection against molten metal splash but that have improved comfort at a lower cost by predominantly locating the protective molten metal shedding fibers on the front face of the fabric. Concentrating the protective fibers predominantly on the front face of the fabric still provides good protection against molten metal adherence and allows for more comfortable and less expensive fibers to be used on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection, for example 8 cal/cm.sup.2 arc rating whether ATPV or EBT.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to flame resistant fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers that provide the requisite thermal and arc protection, that have improved comfort, and that, in some embodiments, are less expensive than other fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers. Improved comfort and lower cost can be achieved by predominantly locating the inherently flame resistant fibers on the front face of the fabric to impart the requisite thermal and arc protection and predominantly locating the more comfortable (and less expensive) fibers on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Some embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection.

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

Flame resistant fabrics that have incorporated into them cellulosic filament yarns. The cellulosic filament yarns may be flame resistant (either inherently FR or treated so as to be FR) or non-flame resistant. Fabrics according to some embodiments are formed entirely of cellulosic filament yarns. However, fabrics according to some embodiments include additional yarns to ensure that the fabric complies with NFPA 1971 and/or 2112.

A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to flame resistant fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers that provide the requisite thermal and arc protection, that have improved comfort, and that, in some embodiments, are less expensive than other fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers. Improved comfort and lower cost can be achieved by predominantly locating the inherently flame resistant fibers on the front face of the fabric to impart the requisite thermal and arc protection and predominantly locating the more comfortable (and less expensive) fibers on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Some embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection.