Fabrics Containing a Blend of Polyarylene Sulfide and Textile Fibers

Abstract

A fabric that contains a blend of textile and polyarylene sulfide fibers is provided. At least a portion of the textile fibers, polyarylene sulfide fibers, or a combination thereof are coated with an emulsion copolymer that is crosslinked. The copolymer composition is cured after it is applied to the fibers to initiate the formation of crosslink bonds between the emulsion copolymer and create a three-dimensional network that is capable of coating and encapsulating the fibers. It is believed that this three-dimensional network is able to physically entrap disperse additives when applied to the fibers. Still further, the present inventors have discovered that the emulsion copolymer can uniformly coat the fibers and thus readily receive the additive, which eliminates the need for high temperatures and/or pressures during a dyeing process, for example, and can also result in a relatively uniform coating of the additive on the fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.