High strength lightweight composite fabric with low gas permeability

A laminated, load bearing structure with a designated high pressure interior side and low pressure exterior side, said structure comprising a multiplicity of flexible layers continuously bonded together wherein said layers comprise:

• a load bearing layer of flexible woven fabric, said flexible woven fabric having an aggregate strength of greater than 10 grams per denier, the yams of said flexible woven fabric having a yarn twist of less than 6 turns per inch, and a yarn height to width ratio of between about 1:2 and 1:7, said flexible woven fabric having not more than 50% of available crossing points formed;
• an interior side gas barrier layer on one side of said load bearing layer, said gas barrier layer comprising a layer of polyurethane;
• and
• an exterior side layer on the other side of said load bearing layer, said exterior side layer comprising in sequence,
• a first layer of polymeric material,
• a layer of film,
• a second layer of polymeric material,
• an outermost layer of polymeric material;
• said laminated structure having a gas transmission rate of not more than about 5 liters in 24 hours through a one meter square area at a one atmosphere pressure differential.

A laminated, load bearing structure with a designated high pressure interior side and low pressure exterior side, said structure comprising a multiplicity of flexible layers continuously bonded together wherein said layers comprise:

• a load bearing layer of flexible woven fabric, said flexible woven fabric having an aggregate strength of greater than 10 grams per denier, the yarns of said flexible woven fabric having a yarn twist of less than 6 turns per inch, and a yarn height to width ratio of between about 1:2 and 1:7, said flexible woven fabric having not more than 50% of available crossing points formed;
• an additional fabric layer comprising at least one sheet of yarns, the threadlines of which are not aligned with the threadlines of said flexible woven fabric;
• an interior side gas barrier layer on one side of said load bearing layer, said gas barrier layer comprising a layer of polymeric material;
• and
• an exterior side layer on the other side of said load bearing layer, said exterior side layer comprising in sequence,
• a first layer of polymeric material,
• a layer of film,
• a second layer of polymeric material,
• an outermost layer of polymeric material;
• said laminated structure having a gas transmission rate of not more than about 5 liters in 24 hours through a one meter square area at a one atmosphere pressure differential.