Process for producing polyvinyl alcohol articles

• US 9,523,172 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lakeland Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lakeland Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Novis, Roberson, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Salvatore, Lynda
• Application Number:
  US13/317,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20150159322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 442 85- 86, 442172-173, 442/394, 442/396, 442/136, 442/399
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/023 Aromatic vinyl resin, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 Polyolefin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/3065 Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4026 within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4309 Polyvinyl alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/009 Condensation or reaction polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/11 by fluid jet
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 1/00 Applying liquids, gases or vapours onto textile materials to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing or impregnating mercerising D06B7/00; solvent-treatment D06B9/00; treatment of selected parts of textile materials D06B11/00; with aid of vibration D06B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06C 7/00 Heating or cooling textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/05 with water, e.g. steam; with heavy water
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/84 combined with mechanical treatment combined with mechanical tension, e.g. mercerising D06M11/40
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0011 using non-woven fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/04 with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/06 polymers of unsaturated alcohols, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, or of their acetals or ketals
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/024 : soluble
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/10 : porous
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 : Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2033 : Coating or impregnation formed in situ [e.g., by interfacial condensation, coagulation, precipitation, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2525 : Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/60 : Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 : Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel polyvinyl alcohol non-woven films and fabrics which have been modified so as to have a breathable coalesced lower porosity surface polyvinyl alcohol layer attached to a fibrous polyvinyl alcohol layer by a transition layer. The fabrics are useful as clothing or wraps for inert articles.

Claims

1. A non-woven breathable polyvinyl alcohol article comprising

three polyvinyl alcohol layers each formed from a common fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material, the article comprising:

a first layer consisting of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material as coalesced to have a reduced porosity relative to the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material, and that is more susceptible to thermal transfer than the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material;

a second layer consisting of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material in an unmodified state and having a higher porosity than the first layer; and

a transition layer interposed between the second layer of fibrous polyvinyl alcohol and the first layer and formed during modification of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol to make the first layer, wherein the transition layer comprises a mixture of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol and coalesced polyvinyl alcohol;

wherein the article comprises polyvinyl alcohol from the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol material extending throughout the first layer and transition layer.

2. The article of claim 1 comprising a further polyvinyl alcohol surface layer formed from a modified portion of the second layer of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol opposite the first layer, wherein the further surface layer is coalesced and has a reduced porosity relative to the second layer of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the first layer is formed with steam.

4. The article of claim 1 further comprising a thermoplastic polymer layer attached to the film along the second fibrous polyvinyl alcohol layer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer is formed from a material different from that of the fibrous polyvinyl alcohol.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer is a polyolefin.

6. The article of claim 1 having a degree of polymerization of 700 to 1500.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a water repelling composition disposed on the first surface layer.

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the film comprises an antimicrobial composition disposed on the first surface layer.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is cross-linked.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the first surface layer is substantially non porous.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has acetyl groups.

12. Clothing comprising the article of claim 1.

13. The clothing of claim 12 wherein the article contains a plasticizer.

14. The clothing of claim 12 including an antimicrobial coating.

15. The clothing of claim 14 which comprises medical clothing.

16. The clothing of claim 12 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is spun laced.

17. The article of claim 1 which is film.

18. The article of claim 1 which is a fabric.