Fabric and articles having fire-resistance, cut-resistance, and elastic recovery and processes for making same

A ply-twisted yarn suitable for use in a flame-retardant, cut-resistant fabric, the ply-twisted yarn comprising:

• (a) at least one first yarn comprising at least 50 weight percent heat-resistant polymeric fiber, wherein at least 30 weight percent of the heat-resistant polymeric fiber present in the at least one first yarn is a cut-resistant heat-resistant polymeric fiber having a cut resistance of 500 grams force or higher per ASTM F2992-15, wherein the at least one first yarn has a sheath/core construction with a sheath comprising the cut-resistant heat-resistant polymeric fiber and a core comprising an inorganic fiber, wherein the heat-resistant polymeric fibers are para-aramid fibers;
• and
• (b) at least one second yarn having a sheath/core construction with a sheath of halogenated self-extinguishing staple fibers and a core comprising at least one continuous elastomeric filament,
• wherein 60 to 95 weight percent of the at least one second yarn is halogenated self-extinguishing fiber, and the halogenated self-extinguishing fiber is in contact with the at least one continuous elastomeric filament, the at least one second yarn being free or substantially free of inorganic fibers;
• wherein the sheath of the at least one second yarn consists of halogenated self-extinguishing staple fibers;
• wherein the halogenated self-extinguishing staple fibers are made from a modacrylic polymer having less than 1.5 weight percent antimony oxide or antimony oxides,
• wherein at least 90% of the core is covered by the sheath.