Impact resistant garment

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein step (v) comprises heating the heat-curable composition to from 70% to 90% cure, preferably 75% cure to 85% cure, and most preferably to 80% cure, in relation to the fully cured polyurethane composition.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat-curable composition comprises a polyol composition and an isocyanate composition.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the polyol composition and isocyanate composition are contacted so as to form the heat-curable composition prior to introduction of the heat-curable composition into the mold.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the process further comprises a step of degassing the heat-curable composition, isocyanate composition, polyol composition, or any combination thereof, by applying vacuum prior to introduction into the mold, such that said compositions are substantially free of air.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the polyol composition and isocyanate composition are contacted so as to form the heat-curable composition prior to introduction of the heat-curable composition into the mold, and wherein the process further comprises mixing the heat-curable composition prior to step (iii) of introducing the heat-curable composition into the mold.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein prior to step (iii) of introducing the heat-curable composition to the mold, the heat-curable composition is mixed for a time period, preferably wherein the time period is from 2 to 4 minutes, more preferably from 2 to 3 minutes, and most preferably from 2.5 to 3 minutes.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein step (v) of heating the heat-curable composition within the mold comprises heating the heat-curable composition to a temperature of from 30° C. to 150° C., more preferably 75 ° to 150° C. and most preferably from 100° C. to 130° C.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein step (v) of heating the heat-curable composition within the mold comprises heating the heat-curable composition for a time period of from 5 minutes to 10 minutes, preferably from 400 seconds to 550 seconds, and most preferably from 450 seconds to 550 seconds.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the partially cured composition and fabric are pressed together for a time period of from 300 seconds to 800 seconds, preferably from 350 seconds to 700 seconds, and most preferably from 500 seconds to 700 seconds.

A process according to any preceding claim, further comprising a step of removing the impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, from the mold.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the mold is not an injection mold, and the process does not comprise injection molding.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the mold comprises at least three discrete non-interconnected mold cavities, and may contain at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9 or 10 discrete non-interconnected mold cavities.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, comprises at least five non-inter connected impact resistant segments upon an outer surface of the fabric.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the mold comprises at least one mold cavity, wherein the at least one cavity has a depth of at least 3 mm at its deepest part, and wherein the at least one cavity comprises one or more regions shaped as a perimeter ditch surrounding an area of a surface of the mold.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the process further comprises a step of cleaning the mold prior to step (iii) of introducing the heat curable composition to the mold, preferably wherein the step of cleaning the mold comprises spraying the mold with a cleaning liquid.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the impact resistant textile-supported garment is a glove and passes an EN388 impact resistance test, or, wherein the glove passes an ISEA 138 test at level 1, level 2 or level 3.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the impact resistant textile-supported garment is a glove comprising the fabric, wherein the glove comprises a main cavity for receiving a hand therein, interconnected to a plurality of smaller cavities for receiving each finger and the thumb of the hand;

• wherein the fabric defines an inner surface of the glove;
• and wherein each section of the fabric that defines each smaller cavity for receiving each finger and thumb of the hand, comprises at least two non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments upon the outer surface thereof, wherein the at least two non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments have dimensions smaller than 1.75 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm.

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the impact resistant textile-supported garment is a glove, and wherein the process further comprises a step of forming the fabric into a glove shape, and applying said glove shaped fabric onto a hand shaped mold, and wherein step (iv) of applying the fabric to the partially cured composition comprises applying the hand shaped mold with the glove shaped fabric applied thereon onto the partially cured composition, and pressing together the hand shaped mold with the glove shaped fabric applied thereon and the partially cured composition.

An impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, obtainable or obtained by a method according to any preceding claim.

An impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, comprising a fabric layer, and (i) at least five non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments upon an outer surface of the fabric layer, wherein at least two of the non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments has a depth of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, and wherein at least five of the plurality of non-interconnected segments have dimensions smaller than 1.75 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm;

• or (ii) at least one non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segment, wherein the at least one segment has a depth of at least 3 mm at its deepest part, and wherein the at least one segment is a hollow segment comprising one or more regions defined by an outer polyurethane perimeter, surrounding a region of fabric that is not covered by polyurethane.