Flame resistant fabrics are provided that exhibit improved protection from molten metal spills, metal splatter, electric arc, and related thermal hazards illustratively including open flame and radiant heat. The flame resistant fabrics are made from a combination of cellulosic fibers and thermoplastic fibers, where the flame resistant fabric forms a char layer that does not become brittle when contacted by molten metal, metal splatter, electric arc, and related thermal hazards. By not becoming brittle the likelihood of break out of the fabric is minimized, thereby improving the level of protection to the user. As a result, the flame resistant fabric retains the desirable properties of fibers formed of organic materials in terms of comfort, weight, and durability.

Flame resistant fabrics are provided that exhibit improved protection from molten metal spills, metal splatter, electric arc, and related thermal hazards illustratively including open flame and radiant heat. The flame resistant fabrics are made from a combination of cellulosic fibers and thermoplastic fibers, where the flame resistant fabric forms a char layer that does not become brittle when contacted by molten metal, metal splatter, electric arc, and related thermal hazards. By not becoming brittle the likelihood of break out of the fabric is minimized, thereby improving the level of protection to the user. As a result, the flame resistant fabric retains the desirable properties of fibers formed of organic materials in terms of comfort, weight, and durability.

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.

A flame-resistant garment comprising a flame-resistant fabric, and the flame resistant fabric, each comprising a yarn comprising a) 85 to 97 weight percent of a meta-aramid fiber component, and b) 3 to 15 weight percent of a fiber made from para-aramid polymer, based on the total amount of a) and b) in the yarn; wherein the meta-aramid fiber component is: i) 50 to 100 weight percent fiber made from a polymer blend of meta-aramid polymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer, the polymer blend comprising 88 to 95 weight percent meta-aramid polymer and 5 to 12 weight percent PVP polymer, and ii) 0 to 50 weight percent fiber made solely from meta-aramid polymer, based on the total amount of i) and ii) in the meta-aramid fiber component.

For providing a fabric that has a low frictional property and can exhibit long-term tribological properties even when the fabric is subjected to a high-speed frictional force under a high load, there is provided a fabric according to the present invention is a fabric in which a composite yarn of fluororesin fibers A and fibers B other than fluororesin fibers is used for at least one of a warp yarn and a weft yarn, and the fabric is characterized in that a mass ratio α of the fluororesin fibers A in the composite yarn is 5 to 70%, and a ratio of the area ratio X of the fluororesin fibers in a fabric surface to a mass ratio Y of the fluororesin fibers in the fabric is 1 or more and 5 or less. This fabric can be usefully used for a cable cover for a robot arm.

For providing a fabric that has a low frictional property and can exhibit long-term tribological properties even when the fabric is subjected to a high-speed frictional force under a high load, there is provided a fabric according to the present invention is a fabric in which a composite yarn of fluororesin fibers A and fibers B other than fluororesin fibers is used for at least one of a warp yarn and a weft yarn, and the fabric is characterized in that a mass ratio α of the fluororesin fibers A in the composite yarn is 5 to 70%, and a ratio of the area ratio X of the fluororesin fibers in a fabric surface to a mass ratio Y of the fluororesin fibers in the fabric is 1 or more and 5 or less. This fabric can be usefully used for a cable cover for a robot arm.

Yarns including an elastomeric filament and fabrics including elastomeric filaments are described herein. A yarn may comprise an elastomeric filament and a blend of fibers, the blend of fibers comprising modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, anti-static fibers, and/or para-aramid fibers.

Yarns including an elastomeric filament and fabrics including elastomeric filaments are described herein. A yarn may comprise an elastomeric filament and a blend of fibers, the blend of fibers comprising modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, anti-static fibers, and/or para-aramid fibers.

Yarns and fabrics that include modacrylic fibers are described herein. A yarn and/or fabric may include modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, anti-static fibers, and optionally para-aramid fibers. In some embodiments, the modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, and, if present, para-aramid fibers, may each be fiber dyed, optionally solution-dyed.

Yarns and fabrics that include modacrylic fibers are described herein. A yarn and/or fabric may include modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, anti-static fibers, and optionally para-aramid fibers. In some embodiments, the modacrylic fibers, meta-aramid fibers, and, if present, para-aramid fibers, may each be fiber dyed, optionally solution-dyed.