Laminate for restraining organic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents

• US 5,743,775 A
• Filed: 08/29/1995
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Membrana GmbH (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V. (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Baurmeister, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): MORRIS, TERREL H
• Application Number:
  US08/521,341
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 428/532, 442/76, 442/77, 442/86, 442/121, 442/122, 442/123, 2/2
• US Class Current: 442/77
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/102 Waterproof and breathable
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 5/00 Composition of materials for coverings or clothing affording protection against harmful chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/048 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/10 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/026 Porous
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/724 Permeability to gases, adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/02 Gloves, shoes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/04 Caps, helmets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31971 Of carbohydrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2139 Coating or impregnation specified as porous or permeable to a specific substance [e.g., water vapor, air, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2148 Coating or impregnation is specified as microporous but is not a foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2221 Coating or impregnation is specified as water proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2508 : Coating or impregnation absorbs chemical material other than water
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2516 : Chemical material is one used in biological or chemical warfare
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2525 : Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]

Abstract

A laminate that restrains organic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents, where at least one layer is implemented as a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is implemented from cellulose-based polymers over its entire surface and the laminate is water-vapor permeable, as well as to the application of the laminate in clothing articles such as work clothing, work safety clothing, military protective clothing, gloves, work shoes, head coverings, and sweat suits, and in construction components for delimiting spaces, tents, emergency shelters, and storage sites for toxic materials is disclosed.

Claims

1. A laminate for restraining organic vapors, aerosols and biological agents which is permeable to water vapor comprising at least three layers, wherein at least one layer is a barrier layer comprising cellulose-based polymers over the entire surface thereof which is permeable to water vapor and which restrains organic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents and wherein at least two layers are separation layers which substantially prevent the penetration of water in liquid form, but which are water-vapor permeable, at least one of said separation layers being on each side of said barrier layer.

2. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one layer is a textile flat structure.

3. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said barrier is producible by saturating and/or coating a layer making up said laminate with cellulose-based polymers.

4. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said separation layers comprises copolyether ester based polymers.

5. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said barrier layer has an ultrafiltration rate equal to or less than 1 ml/h×

m² mm Hg.

6. The laminate in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one of said separation layers is producible by saturating and/or coating a layer making up said laminate with copolyether ester based polymers.

7. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said barrier layer is an adhesive.

8. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said barrier layer is a membrane.

9. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said separation layers comprises a membrane.

10. The laminate in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one of said separation layers is a microporous hydrophobic membrane.

11. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said laminate has a hydrostatic pressure resistance equal to or greater than 1.3802×

10⁵ Pa (20 psi).

12. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said separation layers is double-layered.

13. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one layer is saturated and/or coated with a water-vapor-permeable hydrophobic agent.

14. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein a mass for spinning, coating, or molding to produce said barrier layer contains cellulose-based polymers producible using copper oxide/ammonia solution, copper/ethylenediamine complex solution, or xanthate solution as a solvent for cellulose.

15. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein a mass for spinning, coating, or molding to produce said barrier layer contains cellulose-based polymers producible using tertiary amine oxide solution as a solvent for cellulose.

16. The laminate in accordance with claim 15, wherein said mass for spinning, coating, or molding comprises cellulose-based polymers containing from 4.99 to 25% by weight cellulose, from 95 to 50% by weight of a tertiary amine oxide, up to 25% by weight of a non-solvent for said cellulose-based polymers, in each case with respect to the weight of said molding or spinning mass, and organic compounds as additives that have at least 4 carbon atoms and at least two conjugated double bonds and at least two groups in the form of hydroxyl and/or amino groups with at least one unsubstituted hydrogen atom, and/or glyceraldehyde, individually or in mixture.

17. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cellulose-based polymers comprise an additive of glycerin, PEG, PVP, derivatives, or mixtures thereof, of less than 20% by weight with respect to the weight of said cellulose-based polymers.

18. The laminate in accordance with claim 17, wherein said additive is from 0.1 to 15% by weight with respect to the weight of said cellulose-based polymers.

19. The laminate in accordance with claim 18, wherein said PEG, PVP, derivatives, or mixtures thereof have a mole mass of greater than 10,000 g/mol.

20. The laminate in accordance with claim 19, wherein said the mole mass of PEG, PVP, derivatives or mixtures thereof is from 60,000 to 120,000 g/mol.

21. The laminate in accordance with claim 17, wherein said PEG, PVP, derivatives, or mixtures thereof are cross-linked.

22. The laminate in accordance with claim 4, wherein said copolyether ester based polymers are copolyether esters derived from long-chain polyglycols, short-chain glycols having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and dicarboxylic acids.

23. The laminate in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more layers are glued to one another at least at discrete locations using an adhesive.

24. The laminate in accordance with claim 23, wherein said adhesive is water-vapor permeable and/or impermeable to organic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents.

25. The laminate in accordance with claim 23, wherein more than two layers are glued to one another at discrete locations and said discrete locations are superimposed.

26. Articles of clothing being waterproof and providing water-vapor-permeable protection against toxic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents, wherein said articles of clothing contain said laminate in accordance with claim 1.

27. Articles of clothing in accordance with claim 26, wherein said articles of clothing are work clothing, work safety clothing, military protective clothing, gloves, work shoes, head coverings, or sweatsuits.