Heat sealable, flame and abrasion resistant coated fabric

• US 4,284,682 A
• Filed: 04/30/1980
• Issued: 08/18/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frosch Robert A Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Kenneth R. Sidman, Richard P. Tschirch
• Original Assignee: Frosch Robert A Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Kenneth R. Sidman, Richard P. Tschirch
• Inventors: Tschirch, Richard P., Sidman, Kenneth R., Frosch, Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of
• Primary Examiner(s): Lusignan, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US06/145,107
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 427/393.3, 428/245, 428/267, 428/289, 428/290, 428/423.5, 428/263, 428/264, 428/265, 428/272, 260/45.7 R, 106/18.23, 106/18.16, 106/18.24
• US Class Current: 442/139
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/22 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/2279 of antimony
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/32 Phosphorus-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/06 Ethers; Acetals; Ketals; Ortho-esters
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/28 Non-macromolecular organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/54 Inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 175/04 Polyurethanes
• 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 13/156 containing halogen atoms
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/292 Mono-, di- or triesters of phosphoric or phosphorous acids; Salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/564 Polyureas, polyurethanes or other polymers having ureide or urethane links; Precondensation products forming them
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2656 Antimony containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/273 Coating or impregnation provides wear or abrasion resistance

Abstract

Flame retardant, abrasion resistant elastomeric compositions comprised of thermoplastic polyurethane polymer and flame retarding amounts of a filler selected from decabromodiphenyloxide and antimony oxide in a 3:1 weight ratio, and decabromodiphenyloxide, antimony oxide, and ammonium polyphosphate in a 3:1:3 weight ratio respectively. Also, flame retardant, abrasion resistant, and heat sealable coated fabrics employing such elastomeric compositions as coating film.

Claims

1. A flexible, abrasion resistant, flame retardant coated fabric capable of being joined by heat or dielectric sealing procedures which coated fabric comprises a fabric substrate, selected from the group consisting of the woven, knitted and bonded web fabrics of synthetic and natural fibers, bonded to a flame retardant coating of an elastomeric composition comprising about 30 to about 60 wt. percent of a soluble, thermoplastic polyurethane and from about 70 to about 40 weight percent of a flame retardant additive selected from the group consisting of decabromodiphenyloxide and antimony oxide in a weight ratio of about 3:

1, respectively, and decabromodiphenyloxide, antimony oxide and ammonium polyphosphate in a weight ratio of about 3;

1;

3, respectively.

2. The coated fabric of claim 1 wherein the fabric substrate is selected from the group consisting of woven and knitted fabrics of nylon fibers.

3. The coated fabric of claim 1 wherein the soluble, thermoplastic polyurethane is a polyester-type polyurethane, the weight ratio of polyurethane to flame retardant additive in said elastomeric composition being about 30:

70, respectively.

4. A flame retardant coated fabric capable of being joined by heat sealing which comprises a fabric substrate bonded to a flame retardant polymer film which does not possess heat sealing characteristics, and a coating, bonded to said polymer coating, of an elastomeric composition comprising about 30 to about 60 wt. percent soluble, thermoplastic polyurethane and about 70 to about 40 wt. percent of a flame retardant additive selected from the group consisting of decabromodiphenyloxide and antimony oxide in a weight ratio of about 3:

1, respectively, and decabromodiphenyloxide, antimony oxide, and ammonium polyphosphate in a weight ratio of about 3;

1;

3, respectively.

5. The coated fabric of claim 4 wherein the flame retardant polymer film is neoprene.

6. A method for producing a flame retardant, abrasion resistant coated fabric capable of being heat sealed, which method comprises:

bonding to a fabric substrate a coating of an elastomeric composition comprising about 30 to about 60 wt. percent of a soluble, thermoplastic polyurethane and about 70 to about 40 weight percent of a flame retardant additive selected from the group consisting of decabromodiphenyloxide and antimony oxide in a weight ratio of about 3;

1, respectively, and decabromodiphenyloxide, antimony oxide and ammonium polyphosphate in a weight ratio of about 3;

1;

3, respectively.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said elastomeric composition is dissolved in a solvent to produce a solution containing about 20 to 40 wt percent solids, wherein said solution is cast as a film on a release substrate and solvent is evaporated therefrom, wherein said film is contacted with said fabric under conditions of elevated temperature and applied pressure for a dwell time sufficient to effect a bond between said film and said fabric, and wherein said release substrate is removed to yield a coated fabric.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein bonding temperature, applied pressure and dwell time are selected to ensure a bond between said film and said fabric and to minimize strike-in of said elastomeric composition into the web of said fabric.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the bonding temperature is about 400°

F., the applied pressure is about 30 psi, and the dwell time is about 10 seconds.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein a coating of said elastomeric composition is bonded to both sides of said fabric substrate for improving flame retardant properties of said coated fabric.