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

• US 6,723,378 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Poco, John F., Hrubesh, Lawrence W., Coronado, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMERON, ERMA C
• Application Number:
  US10/002,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 427/180, 427/393.4
• US Class Current: 427/180
• 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 method of producing a fiber, comprising the steps of:

providing a porous fiber strand, said porous fiber strand containing voids, and

filling the voids with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.

2. The method 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 derived 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

metal oxide aerogels including alumina, zirconia, tantala, and titania, or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

3. The method of claim 1, including the step of:

filling the voids with a solution which precipitates particles as it dries, or

filling the voids with a solution containing a colloidal suspension of particles which remain when the liquid dries, or

filling the voids with a dry powder by passing the fibers through the powder in a manner in which the particles attach to said fibers, or

filling the voids with a dry powder by passing the powder over said fibers in a manner in which the particles attach to said fibers, or

filling the voids with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter the space using rollers, or

filling the voids with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter the space using a press, or

combinations of said steps.

4. A method of producing a fiber made up of multiplicity of smaller single fiber strands, comprising the steps of:

providing an assembly of said single fiber strands, said assembly having a void volume between said smaller single fiber strands, and

filling said void volume with particles in the size range of 1-500 nm.

5. The method 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 derived 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

metal oxide aerogels including alumina, zirconia, tantala, and titania, or

laminates of aerogel powder, or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

6. The method of claim 5, including the step of:

filling said void volume with a solution which precipitates particles as it dries, or

filling said void volume with a solution containing a colloidal suspension of particles which remain when said liquid dries, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by passing said fibers through said powder in a manner in which said particles attach to said fibers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by passing said powder over said fibers in a manner in which said particles attach to said fibers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter said space using rollers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter said void volume using a press, or

combination of said steps.

7. A method of producing a fabric, comprising the steps of:

providing a multiplicity of fibers,

positioning said multiplicity of fibers in association 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

filling at least a portion of said void volume with particles in the size range of 1-100 nm.

8. The method of claim 7, 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 derived 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

metal oxide aerogels including alumina, zirconia, tantala, and titania, or

a fire resistant material, or

combinations of said materials.

9. The method of claim 7, including the step of:

filling said void volume with a solution which precipitates particles as it dries, or

filling said void volume with a solution containing a colloidal suspension of particles which remain when said liquid dries, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by passing said fibers through said powder in a manner in which said particles attach to said fibers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by passing said powder over said fibers in a manner in which said particles attach to said fibers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter said space using rollers, or

filling said void volume with a dry powder by forcing dry powder to enter said void volume using a press, or

combination of said steps.