Blended fiber yarns and fabrics including oxidized polymeric fibers

An article comprising:

• (a) a blended yarn, wherein the blended yarn comprises at least one oxidized polymeric fiber and at least three companion fibers selected from the group consisting of FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, p-aramid, modacrylic, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, antistatic fiber, and combinations thereof;
• and
• (b) a companion yarn different from said blended yarn;
• wherein said companion yarn consists essentially of staple fibers comprising
• (i) p-aramid, wherein the p-aramid is present in an amount less than 20% of the fabric weight;
• and
• (ii) at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, modacrylic, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, antistatic fiber, and a combination thereof;
• wherein the article is a woven fabric;
• wherein the article has an arc rating to weight ratio of greater than 1;
• and
• said fabric meets the standards for HRC level 2.

A method comprising:

• (a) providing at least one fiber comprising an oxidized polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile based homopolymers, acrylonitrile based copolymers, acrylonitrile based terpolymers, and combinations thereof;
• (b) providing at least two companion fibers selected from FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, p-aramid, modacrylic, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, antistatic fiber, and combinations thereof;
• and
• (c) combining said fiber comprising oxidized polymeric fiber and said at least one companion fiber to form a blended yarn;
• wherein said fiber comprising the oxidized polymer is present in an amount from about 10% to about 85% by weight of the yarn;
• (d) providing a companion yarn different from said blended yarn;
• wherein said companion yarn consists essentially of staple fibers comprising:
• (i) p-aramid, wherein the p-aramid is present in an amount less than 20% of the fabric weight;
• and
• (ii) at least one fiber selected from FR polyester, FR nylon, FR rayon, FR treated cellulose, m-aramid, modacrylic, wool, nylon, regenerated cellulose, antistatic fiber, and a combination thereof;
• (e) combining the blended yarn with the companion yarn to form a fabric;
• and wherein a ratio of arc rating to weight is greater than 1.