EP1147719A2

EP1147719A2 - Heat resistant fireproof material and variants

Info

Publication number: EP1147719A2
Application number: EP99928269A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sergei Vladimirovich Reznichenko; Vladimir Pavlovich Dubyaga; Tamara Ivanovna Puzdrashonkova; Igor Borisovich Besfamilny; Vyacheslav Grigorevich Karachevtsev; Vladimir Ivanovich Loginov; Alexei Leonidovich Zubov; Viktor Fedorovich Larionov; Pavel Albertovich Vdovin; Dmitry Petrovich Ignatiev
Original assignee: Aoot Nauchno- Issledovatelsky Institut Elastomernykh Materialov I Izdely; AOOT NII ELASTOMERNYKH MATERIA; Zakrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Nauchno-Tekhnichesky Tsentr "Vladipor"
Current assignee: Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo "nauchno-Issledov; Zakrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Nauchno-Tekhniche
Priority date: 1998-07-31
Filing date: 1999-06-10
Publication date: 2001-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-10
Also published as: WO2000009213B1; EP1147719A4; WO2000009213A3; CN1106274C; RU2136504C1; WO2000009213A2; DE69905620D1; CN1311733A; DE69905620T2; EP1147719B1

Abstract

The invention relates to multilayer protective materials used to sew clothes for firemen and rescue workers operating in areas of high temperature and open fire, and may be used in the manufacture of other articles, such as capes, covers, and blankets, which must show increased heat resistance for operation in areas of intense heat radiation and also open fire during fire suppression, including the suppression of burning sources of oil, gas and other substances.
The essence of the invention is that in a heat-resistant fireproof material comprising a heat-resistant fiber substrate and a layer of moisture-resistant material with a metal coating layer applied thereon, according to the invention, the layer of moisture-resistant material is made of two layers, one of which comprises a sterically linked polymer having a liquid diffusion coefficient equal to or less than 10^-9 cm²/sec, the other--a hermetic layer--is made of a rubber-based elastomeric material. In accordance with a variant of the invention, it comprises a porous material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fluorine-, chlorine- or silicon-containing polymers with a pore size of 0.01-1.0 µm as the layer of moisture-resistant material, and aluminum, copper, titanium nitride with a layer thickness of 0.05-0.25 µm as the metal coating layer. The technical result which is achieved when the invention is carried out is enhancement of the comfort of protective clothes made of the proposed material, which is due to the creation of conditions ensuring the removal of vapors of surplus moisture of the body directly through the heat-resistant material, enhancement of the fire resistant properties, which is due to an increase of the resistance to the action of open fire, preservation of the strength of the material within the period of heat action, an increase of the service life of the clothes, and also simplification of the structure of the material for sewing the clothes, enhancement of its operating properties and effectiveness of the protective action.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to multilayer protective materials used to sew clothes for firemen and rescue workers operating in areas of high temperature and open fire. The invention may be used in the manufacture of other articles, such as capes, covers, and blankets, which must show increased heat resistance for operation in areas of intense heat radiation and also open fire during fire suppression, including the suppression of burning sources of oil, gas and other substances.

Background Art

In order to make protective clothes for firemen operating in areas of high temperatures and open fire, materials have been developed which are multilayer constructions comprising layers of heat-resistant fibers, hermetic and heat-reflecting polymeric and metal-polymeric layers. The known materials do not let water, which falls on the clothes in the process of extinguishing fires, pass through, but they are also impermeable in respect to moisture vapors released by the human body, and this creates difficult working conditions for the firemen.
Protective clothes made from fire-resistant materials should provide certain comfort when work is being carried on in an emergency area: they should be elastic, sufficiently light, so that they would not constrain movement, be heat-reflective to such a degree that the temperature in the under-the-clothes area would not exceed the value at which a heat stroke may occur, i.e. not be more than 50°C, preferably not more than 30-35°C.
A fire-resistant material is known which is made by joining a metallized polyethylene terephthalate film to a cloth of hollow nonprofiled threads, which are partially filled with air (Patent RF No. 2008044, A 62 B 17/00, 1994).
A drawback of the known material is its instability when it falls into an open fire, during a sudden increase of a flow of heat, i.e. the polyethylene terephthalate film melts, baring the cloth, and is subjected to thermal destruction, this affecting the properties of the metal coating: it warps, exfoliates, as a result of which the heat-resistant properties of the clothes are impaired.
A heat-reflecting material is known, which comprises a fibrous layer in the form of cloth of heat-resistant material on which a layer of hermetic material, made of filled fluorine-containing rubber, is applied. The latter is joined to a heat-reflecting layer made of one of the metals: aluminum, nickel, chromium, applied by the vacuum deposition method. The layer of metal is coated with a layer of unfilled fluorine-containing rubber (Patent RF 2082469, A 62 B 17/00, 1997).
Drawbacks of the known material are its impermeability in respect to moisture vapors released by the human body, a low thermal radiation reflection factor (50-60%), poor adhesion of the metal coating to the layer of fluorine-containing rubber, as a result of which metal particles fall off. In order to strengthen the metal layer, a layer of unfilled fluorine-containing rubber, which chars in open flame for 3-5 seconds, is additionally applied onto the surface of the metal. Wherein, the heat-resistant properties of the material are impaired, the clothes stop fulfilling their functions.
A material is known for heat-resistant clothes, which comprises a fabric base and a layer of volumetric metallized material. Fiber glass, which is metallized, applying aluminum in vacuum or by doubling with aluminum foil or with a chrome-plated polymeric film, is used as the volumetric material (Pat RF 2071659, A 41 D 31/00, 1997).
Drawbacks of the known material are its insufficiently high reflection factor, unsatisfactory properties in respect to permeability: where the material is doubled with a layer of metal or polymeric film, it acquires air- and vapor-impermeability, including that in respect to moisture vapors released by the human body; where the metal is applied by vacuum deposition onto glass fiber, it becomes moisture-permeable, including in respect to water that is used to extinguish a fire.
The material that is the most similar analog to the proposed material is the heat-resistant material comprising a layer of fibrous material, an outer layer of moisture-resistant material with a metallized layer coated with a protective fabric "nomex" of aramide applied thereon, and an inner vapor resistant layer (Patent U.S.A. No. 4502153, 2/81, A 41 D 11/00, 1985).
Drawbacks of the known material are the absence therein of vapor- and air-permeability, which does not make it possible to remove the excess moisture from the surface of the body, the low heat reflection factor, which does not make it possible to withstand the power of a heat flow of more than 10 kW/m² for a lengthy period, and the multilayer construction.

Summary of the Invention

The technical result which is achieved when the invention is carried out is enhancement of the comfort of protective clothes made of the proposed material, which is due to the creation of conditions ensuring the removal of vapors of surplus moisture of the body directly through the heat-resistant material, enhancement of the fire resistant properties, which is due to an increase of the resistance to the action of open fire, preservation of the strength of the material within the period of heat action, an increase of the service life of the clothes, and also simplification of the structure of the material for sewing the clothes, enhancement of its operating properties and effectiveness of the protective action.
This result is achieved in that a heat-resistant fireproof material comprising a heat-resistant fiber substrate and a layer of moisture-resistant material with a metal coating layer applied thereon, according to the invention, the layer of moisture-resistant material is made of two layers, one of which comprises a sterically linked polymer having a liquid diffusion coefficient equal or less than 10^-9 cm²/sec, the other--a hermetic layer--is made of a rubber-based elastomeric material. In accordance with a variant of the invention, the heat-resistant material comprises a porous material selected from the group of polyolefins, fluorine-, chlorine- or silicon-containing polymers with a pore size of 0.01-1.0 µm as the layer of moisture-resistant material, and aluminum, copper, titanium nitride with a layer thickness of 0.05-0.25 µm as the metal coating layer.
The selection of the composition of the layer of moisture-resistant material, made of a sterically linked polymer, on which the metal coating is deposited, is related to the strength characteristics of the heat-resistant/fireproof material. Where the liquid diffusion coefficient of the layer is increased to more than 10^-9 cm²/sec (10^-8-10^-6 cm²/sec), the heat reflection coefficient of the metal coating and the strength of its engagement with the hermetic layer are reduced. The polymer with the sterically linked structure has high resistance to bending as a result of the presence of crosslinkage, which ensures preservation of the original shape and size of the layer thereby formed during the action of heat. Furthermore, the sterically linked polymer has increased resistance to open fire.
Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, polysulfide polymers (thiocols) and others may be used as the cross-linked polymer.
Fluorine-containing, nitrile, polychloroprenene, natural or synthetic polyisoprene, acrylate, polyurethane, epichlorohydrin, silicon and other rubbers may be used as rubbers from which the hermetic layer of the moisture-resistant material, serving to join the fiber substrate and the layer of sterically linked polymer, is made.
The heat-resistant fiber substrate may be made from glass fiber, polyaramide, polyimide and other heat-resistant materials.
Aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium nitride, steel and others are used as the metal coating layer.
The thickness of the metal coating layer for material in which the moisture-resistant layer is made of two layers is 0.15-0.25 µm.
In accordance with a variant of the invention, the heat-resistant fireproof material containing a porous material with a pore size of 0.01-1.0 µm is impermeable for water in a liquid aggregate state.
Where there are pores having a size greater than 1.0 µm in the layer of moisture-resistant material, the permeability of the material sharply increases in respect to water, where the pores are less than 0.01 µm in size, it becomes virtually vapor-air-impermeable.
The heat-resistant fireproof material according to a variant of the invention, containing aluminum, copper, titanium nitride with a metal layer thickness of 0.05-0.25 µm as the metal coating layer, has a high thermal reflection coefficient. An increase of the thickness of the metal layer above 0.25 µm reduces the vapor-air permeability of the material, while a reduction of the thickness to less than 0.05 µm reduces the thermal reflection coefficient.
The invention is illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1

A heat-resistant fireproof material is produced by applying a hermetic layer of elastomeric material on the base of filled fluorine-containing rubber onto a cloth layer of glass fabric. A layer on the base of chlorosulfonated polyethylene having a thickness of 0.05 mm and a liquid diffusion coefficient equal to 10^-10 cm²/sec is applied onto the prepared cloth layer substrate, and a layer of metallic aluminum is applied onto this polyethylene layer by vacuum deposition.
The prepared material has a reflection coefficient of 93%, is stable against the action of open flame (temperature exceeding 1000°C) for 1.5 minutes.

Example 2

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a hermetic layer, made of an elastomeric material on the base of nitrile rubber, onto a fiber layer of polyaramide cloth. A layer on the base of a copolymer - polytetetrafluoroethylene, having a thickness of 3 mm and a liquid diffusion coefficient equal to 10^-9 cm²/sec, onto which metallic nickel is further deposited, is applied onto the nitrile rubber substrate. The coefficient of reflection of the prepared material is 96%, resistance against the action of open flame is 1 minute.

Example 3

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a polymeric layer on the base of fluorine-containing polymer having a pore size of 0.2 µm onto glass fiber. Then a layer of aluminum is applied onto the prepared substrate by vacuum deposition to a layer thickness of 0.1 µm.
The prepared material is characterized by a coefficient of thermal reflection equal to 90%. Resistance against the action of open flame - 30 sec. The material maintains water impermeability to a water column pressure of 0.3 MPa. Air permeability of the material reaches 150 m³/m²·h·MPa.

Example 4

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a layer on the base of a fluorine-containing polymer, having a pore size of 0.01 µm onto a fabric on the base of polyaramide fibers. Further a layer of aluminum is applied to a layer thickness of 0.2 µm onto the first layer by magnetron deposition. The coefficient of heat reflection of the material is 97%. Resistance to the action of open flame is more than 30 sec. The air permeability of the material is 40 m³/m²·h·MPa. The material maintains water impermeability to a water column pressure of 0.6 MPa.

Example 5

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a layer on the base of a silicon-containing polymer to form a porous layer on a fabric on the base of polyamide fibers with a pore size of 1.0 µm, and subsequently applying thereon a copper layer to a layer thickness of 0.25 µm by vacuum deposition. The coefficient of heat reflection of the material is 96%. Resistance to the action of open fire is 25 sec. Air permeability is 120 m³/m²·h·MPa. Water impermeability is maintained to a water jet pressure corresponding to a value of 0.6 MPa.

Example 6

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying chlorosulfopolyethylene onto glass fiber to form a layer with a pore size of 0.05 µm with subsequent vacuum deposition thereon of an aluminum layer having a thickness of 0.15 µm. The coefficient of heat reflection of the prepared material is 92%. Resistance to the action of open flame is 25 sec. Air permeability is 60 m³/m²·h·MPa. Water impermeability of the material is maintained to 0.6 MPa.

Example 7

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a layer on the base of chlorosulfopolyethylene, having a pore size of 0.01 µm, onto glass fiber and subsequently applying thereon a layer of titanium nitride, having a thickness of 0.05 µm, by magnetron deposition. The coefficient of heat reflection of the prepared material is 80%. Resistance to the action of open flame is 20 sec. Air permeability is 50 m³/m²·h·MPa. Water impermeability is maintained to water column pressure of 0.5 MPa.

Example 8

A heat-resistant fireproof material is prepared by applying a layer of chlorosulfopolyethylene onto glass fiber to form a porous layer with a pore size of 0.75 µm. Subsequently, a copper layer is applied thereon by vacuum deposition to a layer thickness of 0.1 µm. The coefficient of heat reflection of the prepared material is 85%. Resistance to the action of open flame is 20 sec. Air permeability is equal to 170 m³/m²·h·MPa. Water impermeability is maintained to 0.2 MPa.

Industrial Applicability

Use of the present material for the making of protective clothing for firemen ensures the maintenance of a temperature which does not exceed 24-26°C (with a permissible norm of 50°C) in the under-the-clothing space when there are heat flows with a power of 40 KW/m² present.
Clothes made of the proposed material are elastic and comfortable during multiple use due to the lengthy maintenance of heat- and fire-resistant properties.
Thus, as a result of the use of the proposed structure of the material as compared with the material taken as the prototype, the number of layers therein and its weight are reduced, the length of time a person can be in clothes sewed from the proposed material, when working in a zone of high temperatures and open fire, is increased by 2-3 times, the ergonomic parameters of the protective clothes are improved.

Claims

A heat-resistant fireproof material comprising a heat-resistant fiber substrate and a layer of moisture-resistant material with a metal coating layer applied thereon, characterized in that the layer of moisture-resistant material is made of two layers, one of which comprises a sterically linked polymer having a liquid diffusion coefficient equal to or less than 10^-9 cm²/sec, the other--a hermetic layer--is made of a rubber-based elastomeric material.
A heat-resistant fireproof material comprising a heat-resistant fiber substrate and a layer of moisture-resistant material with a metal coating layer applied thereon, characterized in that it comprises a porous material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fluorine-, chlorine- or silicon-containing polymers with a pore size of 0.01-1.0 µm as the layer of moisture-resistant material, and aluminum, copper, titanium nitride with a layer thickness of 0.05-0.25 µm as the metal coating layer.