Embodiments include a wearable item comprising a water-dissolvable material that forms at least a majority of the wearable item. In examples, the wearable item corresponds to a covering for a portion of a person's body. In specific examples, the wearable item is in the form of a glove, mitten, protective mask or a hospital gown.

A wettable SMS material for personal protective equipment, such as a SMS fabric that has been treated to improve the wettability and absorbency properties of the SMS fabric is provided. A treated SMS fabric for personal protective equipment can retain its durability, breathability, and comfort, and may also provide the fabric with wettability and absorption properties. An article for personal protective equipment formed from a wettable SMS fabric is also provided.

A sheet-like filter includes a first fiber that is mainly composed of polylactic acid, and a second fiber that is mainly composed of polylactic acid and has a core portion and a cover layer covering the core portion, in which the cover layer functions as a binder for fusing the first fiber and the second fiber. In addition, when a melting point of the core portion is denoted by Tm1 and a melting point of the cover layer is denoted by Tm2, it may be Tm2<Tm1.

A construction for a glove or other article of clothing for use in hazardous environments is disclosed, comprising a first layer comprising a laminate that includes an inner layer comprising a woven, nonwoven, or knit material, an intermediate layer comprising a barrier to the passage therethrough of liquids that overlies the inner layer, and a thermal layer affixed to and overlying the intermediate layer in at least a portion of a bridge area. The thermal layer is approximately 0.30 mm thick. The construction also includes a second layer attached to and overlying the first layer to form an outer portion for the glove or other article of clothing. The first layer and the second layer combined provides a thermal protection performance (TPP) of at least approximately 75% greater than a reference combination of the first and the second layer that does not include the thermal layer.

Laminates providing a simultaneous benefit of desirable breathability and puncture resistance are provided. The laminates include a nonwoven fabric and a vapor-permeable and liquid impermeable (VPLI) film bonded to the nonwoven fabric by an adhesive layer that is located between the nonwoven fabric and the VPLI film. The VPLI film has (i) a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least about 2000 Mocon or g/m.sup.2/24 hours as determined according to EDNA/INDA Worldwide Strategic Methods: WSP 70.4(08) and/or (ii) a puncture resistance of at least about 5 N as determined according to UNI EN 863:1997+UNI EN 14325:2005 Par. 4.10+UNI EN 13034:2009 Par. 4.1 with test conditions of (20+/−2)° C. at (65+/−4)% U.R. with an extension rate of 100 mm/min.

Mesh materials for the controlled release of antimicrobial and antiviral compounds, with high antiviral activity and efficacy, predominantly against coronavirus, and a method for producing mesh materials with inclusion compounds of bisbiguanide:cyclodextrin, using mesh materials selected from polymers, fibers, nonwoven fabric, fabrics, paper and cellulose, individually or in combination, or a combination of one or more of these mesh materials with adhesives. The mesh materials impregnated, extruded, saturated, coated or laminated with inclusion compounds have been shown to be effective in the deactivation/destruction of viral particles. In fabrics, the inclusion compounds exhibited virucidal activity for all of the viruses in the coronavirus group for contact times of above 2 minutes, with the effect thereof lasting for more than 30 days. The mesh materials for controlled release of antivirals have displayed activity which is up to 1000 times more effective than the use of unencapsulated chlorhexidine.

An apparatus and method for use of an improved face shield assembly which prevents foreign materials or contaminants from vertically migrating from the above a wearer's head to the area around a wearer's face, eyes, nose and mouth.

Fabric materials are disclosed that have been treated with a water resistant treatment and an oil resistant treatment. The water resistant treatment includes a durable water resistant composition that is substantially fluorocarbon free. The oil resistant treatment includes an elastomeric coating that may include a silicone polymer. Protective garments can be made from the fabric that provide resistance to oil and water. The fabric materials can optionally include an antiviral agent, providing resistance against airborne pathogens by preventing penetration through the fabric material and by destroying any pathogens that land upon the fabric.

A protective hand covering has a flexible shell with an open end and a closed end, and a constricted region between the open and closed ends. The constricted region defines a passage for receiving the child's hand. The hand covering may be worn by an infant or small child during sleeping or other activities, A gripping material is disposed on an inside surface of the shell at the constricted region and around the passage. The gripping material has a coefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of the material of the flexible shell, such that the hand covering is discouraged from coming off of the child's hand.

A protective garment is constructed with a fibrous material. The fibrous material comprises a first nonwoven layer, a second nonwoven layer, and a nanofiber layer laminated between the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven layer. The fibrous material has a mean flow pore size greater than or equal to about 0.02 micron and less than or equal to about 0.5 microns, and a water vapor transmission rate greater than or equal to about 10000 g/m.sup.2/day and less than or equal to about 100000 g/m.sup.2/day. In a method of making a fibrous layer, a first nonwoven layer and a nanofiber layer are provided. A polyurethane reactive resin is applied to the first nonwoven layer in an amount of 2 to 30 g/m.sup.2. The nanofiber layer is then laminated to the first nonwoven layer applied with the polyurethane reactive resin and pressed to form the fibrous layer.