Unique blends of fibers that incorporate synthetic cellulosic fibers to render fabrics made with such blends more durable than fabrics made with natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton. While more durable than cotton, the synthetic cellulosic fibers used in the blends are still inexpensive and comfortable to the wearer. Thus, the benefits of cotton (affordability and comfort) are still attained while a drawback of cotton—low durability—is avoided. In one embodiment, the fiber blend includes FR modacrylic fibers and synthetic cellulosic fibers, preferably, but not necessarily non-FR lyocell fibers such as TENCEL™ and TENCEL A100™. Other fibers may be added to the blend, including, but not limited to, additional types of inherently FR fibers, anti-static fibers, anti-microbial fibers, stretch fibers, and/or high tenacity fibers. The fiber blends disclosed herein may be used to form various types of FR fabrics. Desired colors may be imparted in a variety of ways and with a variety of dyes to the fabrics disclosed herein. Fabrics having the fibers blends disclosed herein can be used to construct the entirety of, or various portions of, a variety of protective garments for protecting the wearer against electrical arc flash and flames, including, but not limited to, coveralls, jumpsuits, shirts, jackets, vests, and trousers.

Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.

A woven flame-resistant fabric for garments, the warp and fill yarns being made up of at least about 30 wt. % inherently flame-resistant fibers. The fabric is woven from a plurality of warp yarn groups consecutively arranged across the width direction in a recurring pattern, each warp yarn group consisting of a plurality of adjacent consecutively arranged warp yarns. At least one warp yarn in each warp yarn group is woven with the fill yarns in a plain (1/1) weave and at least one warp yarn in each warp yarn group is woven in one or more non-plain weaves each selected from the group consisting of 1/2, 2/1, 2/2, 1/3, and 3/1. Approximately half of the warp yarns in the fabric are woven in a plain (1/1) weave and the remaining warp yarns in the fabric are woven in the one or more non-plain weaves, in an alternating fashion.

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.

A fireproof, translucent, flexible coated fabric composite material for use in fire curtains. The composite material meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in terms of fire endurance and allows transmissivity of necessary amounts of light. The process of the present disclosure combines a silica fabric with a special refractory index controlled resin. This unique combination of materials can transform an opaque high temperature fabric into a translucent, and even transparent, composite which as the ability to resist high temperature, flame and smoke penetration that fills a needed gap in technology between visibility and fire resistance in the field of fire and smoke curtains used in civil construction.

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 personal protection device for the protection of a portion of the body of a user is described. The device has an inflatable member intended to protect at least partially a zone of the body of a user. The personal protection device includes at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are superimposed in a corresponding overlapping area or superimposition area. In the personal protection device the height or thickness of at least one, or each, of the first portion and the second portion is, in the overlapping area or superimposition area, smaller than the height or thickness of a remaining part of the inflatable member.