GB2097433A - A fabric material - Google Patents

Abstract

A fabric material resistant to high temperatures up to 1400 DEG C includes a primary lattice of high-temperature resistant yarn 2. A secondary structure of yarn 4 of lower temperature resistance than the yarn 2 is woven into the same lattice weave construction as the primary lattice. Each warp thread of the combined lattices consists of a central thread of the yarn 2 and four outer threads of the yarn 4. In one construction the central and outer threads lie in substantially the same plane, and in an alternative construction the central thread of the yarn 2 is surrounded by four outer threads of the yarn 4. In another fabric material the secondary structure is introduced as a stuffing thread to increase the bulk of the resultant fabric material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A fabric material Description The present invention relates to a fabric material, and is particularly concerned with a fabric material which is resistant to high temperatures.

Presently available fabrics which are resistant to high temperatures tend to be difficult to manipulate and handle during manufacture and frequently cause irritation to the skin of an operator or user. In addition, these high temperature fabrics are found to lack the properties and benefits of the cheaper type of industrial fabric.

It is an aim of the invention to alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages, and accordingly there is provided a fabric material comprising a primary lattice of high temperature material and a secondary fabric structure of organic, inorganic or metallic industrial fibres or a mixture thereof.

The primary lattice may consist of ceramic, metallic, organic or inorganic fibres or mixtures thereof. These lattice materials should be capable of withstanding 1 4000C individually or in combination. The secondary fabric structure may be of the staple or continuous filament type which is texturised to produce a fairly high degree of bulk. The choice of type of fibres for this secondary fabric structure will be determined by the properties it is required to possess which are themselves determined by the intended use of the fabric material of the invention. Examples of a suitable use of this fabric material are to provide insulation, fire resistance, chemicai resistance, acoustic properties, splash and personnel protection and/or combinations of these.

The primary lattice material and the secondary fibres are woven into a fabric form using a suitable method of construction. The method employed is such that all the primary material in both the warp and weft directions is utilised to produce a latticetype construction. The secondary fibres can be employed as stuffer yarns or can be woven into the same lattice weave construction as the primary material, or these secondary fibres can be employed both as stuffer yarns and can also be woven into the primary lattice. The weave of the secondary fibres can be arranged to differ from that of the primary lattice weave in order to provide the desired end properties.

In one embodiment, the secondary fibres may be loosely integrated with the primary lattice. For example, threads of the secondary structure could penetrate the primary lattice at every sixth thread, as can be used in the manufacture of corduroy.

In another embodiment, the secondary structure may be woven intimately with the primary lattice but in a different weave pattern.

For example, a satin weave secondary structure could be woven into the primary lattice to alter the drape and flexibility of the end product and to render it more suitable for certain Applications.

A fabric material of the invention will enable the primary lattice structure to remain intact after a prolonged exposure of the fabric material to high temperatures. This feature ensures that the primary lattice of the fabric material remains intact thereby preventing complete collapse of the fabric material. A fabric material of the invention has been used successfully for prolonged periods of time at temperatures up to 14000 C.

Advantages of a fabric material of the invention include possessing the feel and drape of standard industrial fabrics without the tendency for these standard fabrics to disintegrate or fuse at high temperatures. The fabric material of the invention can possess improved feel and appearance over that of existing high temperature resistant fabrics, and the ease of fabrication of the finished product is considerably improved.

In operation, it is found that due to its high initial and retain strength that the primary lattice retains its form and construction after exposure to excessive heat while the secondary fabric structure has been degraded.

One method of making a fabric material of the invention includes introducing the secondary fabric structure into the primary lattice without causing excessive filamentation and damage to the material of the primary lattice.

The bulking of the secondary fabric structure improves the high temperature insulation capabilities as well as the fire resistance properties of the resultant fabric material.

In other high temperature fabrics it is extremely difficult to texturise ceramic yarns without filamenting them thereby increasing skin irritation of a wearer, user or operator.

A fabric material of the invention constitutes an economic method of utilising expensive hightemperature fibres.

Embodiments of a fabric material constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one fabric material of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a cross-section along the line A-A of a thread construction of the fabric material of Figure 1, and FIGURE 3 is a qross-section of another thread construction of another fabric material of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a fabric material of the invention comprises a primary lattice of hightemperature resistant yarn 2, and a secondary structure of yarn 4 of lower temperature resistance than the yarn 2. The secondary structure is woven into the same lattice weave construction as the primary lattice.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, each warp thread of the combined lattices consists of a central thread of the yarn 2 and four outer threads of the yarn 4; the central and outer threads lying substantially in the same plane with two outer threads on either side of the central thread.

Referring to Figure 3, an alternative construction of the combined lattices consists of a central thread of the yarn 2 surrounded by four outer threads of the yarn 4. This thread construction will reduce filamentation and damage to the material.

In this illustrated embodiment, the primary lattice and the secondary structure are woven into the same lattice weave construction. In another fabric material of the invention the secondary structure may be introduced as a stuffing thread to increase the bulk of the resultant fabric material.

This could conveniently be of the Bedford Cord type.

A fabric material of the illustrated embodiment is inherently stronger than standard industrial fabrics both before and after exposure to high temperatures.

The fabric material of the invention is not restricted to the abovementioned thread construction of one central thread of the yarn 2 and four outer threads of the yarn 4. The number of either or both the central and outer threads of the yarns 2 and 4 can be varied as required.

Claims (20)

1. A fabric material comprising a primary lattice of high temperature material and a secondary fabric structure of organic, inorganic or metallic industrial fibres or a mixture thereof.

2. A material as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary lattice comprises ceramic fibres.

3. A material as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary lattice comprises metallic fibres.

4. A material as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary lattice comprises organic fibres.

5. A material as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary lattice comprises inorganic fibres.

6. A material as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary lattice comprises a mixture of at least some of the fibres as claimed in Claims 2 to 5.

7. A material as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the secondary fabric structure is of the staple or continuous filament type texturised to achieve bulk.

8. A material as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the secondary fabric structure comprises secondary fibres employed as stuffer yarns.

9. A material as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the secondary fabric structure comprises fibres woven into the same lattice weave construction as the material of the primary lattice.

10. A material as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the secondary fabric structure comprises secondary fibres which are employed both as stuffer yarns and also woven into the primary lattice.

11. A material as claimed in Claim 9 to Claim 10, in which the wave of the secondary fibres is different from that of the primary lattice.

12. A material as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, in which the secondary fibres are loosely integrated with the primary lattice.

13. A material as claimed in Claim 12, in which the threads of the secondary fabric structure penetrate the primary lattice at infrequent intervals.

14. A material as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 1 0, in which the secondary fabric structure is woven intimateiy with the primary lattice but in a different weave pattern.

1 5. A material as claimed in Claim 9, in which each warp thread of the combined lattices comprises at least one central thread of the primary lattice fabric and at least one outer thread of the secondary fabric on either side of the central thread.

1 6. A material as claimed in Claim 1 5 in which the central and outer threads lie in substantially the same plane.

17. A material as claimed in Claim 9 in which each warp thread of the combined lattices comprises at least one central thread of the primary lattice fabric surrounded by a plurality of outer threads of the secQndary fabric.

1 8. A method of making a fabric material as claimed in any preceding Claim, comprising introducing the secondary fabric structure into the primary lattice without causing excessive filamentation and damage to the material of the primary lattice.

1 9. A fabric material substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawing.

20. A method of making a fabric material substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.