# US 10,870,932 B2 · Flame resistant fabrics for protection against molten metal splash > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,932 B2 - Document ID: US10870932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/271,162 - Filed: 2019-02-08 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-08 - Assignees: Southern Mills, Inc. - Applicants: Southern Mills, Inc. - Inventors: Michael T. Stanhope; Dominique Janay Adams; Charles S. Dunn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870932B2 ## CPC - D03D 1/0035: {Protective fabrics} - D03D 13/004: {with weave pattern being non-standard or providing special effects} - D03D 15/225: artificial, e.g. viscose - D03D 15/233: protein-based, e.g. wool or silk - D03D 15/283: synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres (cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225) - D03D 15/47: multicomponent, e.g. blended yarns or threads (multicomponent fibres or filaments D03D15/292) - D03D 15/513: heat-resistant or fireproof - D03D 15/54: coloured - D10B 2201/22: made from cellulose solutions - D10B 2201/24: Viscose - D10B 2211/02: Wool - D10B 2321/101: modacrylic - D10B 2331/02: polyamides (D10B2331/08 takes precedence) - D10B 2401/04: Heat-responsive characteristics - D03D: WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract Flame resistant fabrics that provide protection against molten metal splash but that have improved comfort at a lower cost by predominantly locating the protective molten metal shedding fibers on the front face of the fabric. Concentrating the protective fibers predominantly on the front face of the fabric still provides good protection against molten metal adherence and allows for more comfortable and less expensive fibers to be used on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection, for example ≥8 cal/cm2 arc rating whether ATPV or EBT. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fabric formed by a first group of yarns and a second group of yarns, wherein the fabric has a face side, a body side, a first direction, and a second direction opposite the first direction and wherein: i. the first group of yarns comprises a first fiber blend, wherein the first fiber blend comprises molten metal shedding fibers; ii. the second group of yarns comprises a second fiber blend that is different from the first fiber blend and that comprises cellulosic fibers; iii. the first group of yarns is predominantly exposed on the face side of the fabric; iv. the second group of yarns is predominantly exposed on the body side of the fabric; v. the fabric has a breaking strength of at least 50 pounds force in both the first direction and the second direction when tested in accordance with ASTM D5034 (2009); vi. the fabric has a tearing strength of at least 5 pounds force in both the first direction and the second direction when tested in accordance with ASTM D1424 (2009); vii. the fabric has a char length of at least 6 inches and an afterflame of 2 seconds or less when tested pursuant to ASTM D6413 (2015); viii. the fabric has a fabric weight between 6 to 14 ounces per square yard, inclusive; and ix. the fabric has an arc rating of at least 8 cal/cm2 when tested pursuant to ASTM F1959 (2014). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a woven fabric having a warp direction and a fill direction, wherein the first direction is the warp direction, the second direction is the fill direction, the first group of yarns is provided only in one of the warp direction or the fill direction, and the second group of yarns is provided only in the other of the warp direction or the fill direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the molten metal shedding fibers comprise wool and cellulosic fibers and wherein the first fiber blend comprises approximately 40-70% wool fibers, inclusive, and approximately 30-50% cellulosic fibers, inclusive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fabric of claim 3, wherein the first fiber blend comprises approximately 40-60% wool fibers, inclusive, and approximately 25-45% cellulosic fibers, inclusive, and wherein the first fiber blend further comprises approximately 10-20% nylon fibers, inclusive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fabric of claim 3, wherein at least some of the cellulosic fibers in the first fiber blend comprise flame resistant cellulosic fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fabric of claim 5, wherein at least some of the flame resistant cellulosic fibers comprise additive containing flame resistant cellulosic fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fabric of claim 6, wherein at least some of the additive containing flame resistant cellulosic fibers are producer-colored flame resistant cellulosic fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fabric of claim 7, wherein the producer-colored flame resistant cellulosic fibers comprise rayon fibers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fiber blend is devoid of aramid fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the first fiber blend is devoid of modacrylic fibers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the second fiber blend comprises approximately 50-80% cellulosic fibers, inclusive, and further comprises approximately 10-40% modacrylic fibers, inclusive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fabric of claim 11, wherein the second fiber blend comprises approximately 15-30% modacrylic fibers, inclusive, and approximately 60-80% cellulosic fibers, inclusive, and wherein the second fiber blend further comprises approximately 10-20% nylon fibers, inclusive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the second fiber blend is devoid of aramid fibers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the second fiber blend is devoid of wool fibers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the second fiber blend further comprises 40% or less of modacrylic fibers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric weight is between 8.5 and 12.5 ounces per square yard, inclusive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric achieves a metal splash performance level rating as set forth in ISO 11612 (2015) of at least D2 or E2 when tested according to ISO 9185 (2007). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric achieves a numerical rating of 3 or less when tested for molten substance sticking, material shrinkage, and material breakopen pursuant to ASTM F955 (2015). ### Claim 19 A woven fabric formed by a first group of yarns and a second group of yarns, wherein the fabric has a face side, a body side, a warp direction, and a fill direction opposite the first direction and wherein: i. the first group of yarns comprises a first fiber blend, wherein the first fiber blend comprises wool fibers, cellulosic fibers, and nylon fibers, and wherein the first fiber blend is devoid of modacrylic and aramid fibers; ii. the second group of yarns comprises a second fiber blend that is different from the first fiber blend and that comprises cellulosic fibers, modacrylic fibers, and nylon fibers, wherein the second fiber blend is devoid of aramid fibers; iii. at least some of the cellulosic fibers in at least one of the first fiber blend or the second fiber blend comprise producer-colored flame resistant rayon fibers; iv. the first group of yarns is predominantly exposed on the face side of the fabric; v. the second group of yarns is predominantly exposed on the body side of the fabric; vi. the fabric has a breaking strength of at least 50 pounds force in both the first direction and the second direction when tested in accordance with ASTM D5034 (2009); vii. the fabric has a tearing strength of at least 5 pounds force in both the first direction and the second direction when tested in accordance with ASTM D1424 (2009); viii. the fabric has a char length of at least 6 inches and an afterflame of 2 seconds or less when tested pursuant to ASTM D6413 (2015); ix. the fabric has a fabric weight between 8.5 to 12.5 ounces per square yard, inclusive; x. the fabric has an arc rating of at least 8 cal/cm2 when tested pursuant to ASTM F1959 (2014); and xi. the fabric achieves a metal splash performance level rating as set forth in ISO 11612 (2015) of at least D2 or E2 when tested according to ISO 9185 (2007). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The woven fabric of claim 19, wherein the first group of yarns is provided only in one of the warp direction or the fill direction and the second group of yarns is provided only in the other of the warp direction or the fill direction.