Fibers and fabrics with insulating, water-proofing, and flame-resistant properties

• US 20040142168A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Hrubesh, Lawrence W., Poco, John F., Coronado, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US10/746,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/375
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/413 containing granules other than absorbent substances
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43916 microcellular fibres, e.g. porous or foamed fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/45 Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 3 or 13 of the Periodic Table; Aluminates
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/46 Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 4 or 14 of the Periodic Table; Titanates; Zirconates; Stannates; Plumbates
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/47 Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 5 or 15 of the Periodic Table; Vanadates; Niobates; Tantalates; Arsenates; Antimonates; Bismuthates
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/73 with carbon or compounds thereof D06M11/67 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/79 with silicon dioxide, silicic acids or their salts
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/30 Flame or heat resistance, fire retardancy properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/40 Reduced friction resistance, lubricant properties; Sizing compositions
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/08 Processes in which the treating agent is applied in powder or granular form adhesives for multi-layer textile fabrics D06M17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/10 Processes in which the treating agent is dissolved or dispersed in organic solvents; Processes for the recovery of organic solvents thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2907 with coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2915 including textile, cloth or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2973 Particular cross section

Abstract

Fibers, and fabrics produced from the fibers, are made water repellent, fire-retardant and/or thermally insulating by filling void spaces in the fibers and/or fabrics with a powdered material. When the powder is sufficiently finely divided, it clings tenaciously to the fabric'"'"'s fibers and to itself, resisting the tendency to be removed from the fabric.

Claims

1. A single fiber strand, comprising:

a porous fiber strand having voids, and

at least some of said voids at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.

2. The single fiber strand of claim 1, wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following:

a porous material, or

a nanoporous material, or

a nanoporous powdered material, or

a solgel derived material, or

an aerogel-like material, or

an aerogel, or

an inorganic material, or

aggregates of inorganic particle material, or

combinations of said materials.

3. The single fiber strand of claim 1, wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following:

an insulating material, or

a thermally insulating material, or

a water repellant material, or

a hydrophobic material, or

a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or

a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or

other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or

laminates of aerogel powder, or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

4. A single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, comprising:

a multiplicity of smaller single porous fiber strands having voids,

at least some of said voids at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm, and

said multiplicity of smaller single porous fiber strands associated with each other to form a single fiber.

5. The single fiber strand of claim 4, wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following:

a porous material, or

a nanoporous material, or

a nanoporous powdered material, or

a solgel derived material, or

an aerogel-like material, or

an aerogel, or

an inorganic material, or

aggregates of inorganic particle material, or

an insulating material, or

a thermally insulating material, or

a water repellant material, or

a hydrophobic material, or

a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or

a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or

laminates of aerogel powder, or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

6. A single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, comprising:

a multiplicity of smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands having a void volume between said smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands,

at least a portion of said void volume at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm, and

said multiplicity of smaller single porous or non-porous fiber strands associated with each other to form a single fiber.

7. The single fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, claim 6, wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following:

a porous material, or

a nanoporous material, or

a nanoporous powdered material, or

a solgel derived material, or

an aerogel-like material, or

an aerogel, or

an inorganic material, or

aggregates of inorganic particle material, or

an insulating material, or

a thermally insulating material, or

a water repellant material, or

a hydrophobic material, or

a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or

a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or

other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

8. A fabric, comprising:

a multiplicity of fibers,

said multiplicity of fibers associated with each other to form said fabric,

said fibers containing a void volume located either in said fibers or between said fibers or both in said fibers and between said fibers, and

at least a portion of said void volume at least partially filled with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.

9. The fabric of claim 8, wherein said particles are at least partially composed of at least one of the following:

a porous material, or

a nanoporous material, or

a nanoporous powdered material, or

a solgel derived material, or

an aerogel-like material, or

an aerogel, or

an inorganic material, or

aggregates of inorganic particle material, or

an insulating material, or

a thermally insulating material, or

a water repellant material, or

a hydrophobic material, or

a hydrophobic, nanoporous powdered material, or

a hydrophobic silica aerogel, or

other metal oxide aerogels such as alumina, zirconia, tantala, titania, etc., or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.