# US 5,344,697 A · Fire-retardant barrier structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,344,697 A - Document ID: US5344697A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/621,369 - Filed: 1990-11-30 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1989-03-16 - Inventors: John C. Romanowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344697A ## CPC - B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents - A41D 31/085: {using layered materials} - Y10S 428/92: Fire or heat protection feature - Y10S 428/921: Fire or flameproofing - Y10T 442/169: Polyolefin film or sheet - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Fire-retardant barriers are described which are useful for protecting military personnel and equipment from both fire and chemical and/or biological agents. The fire-retardant barriers are multilayered structures having desirable flammability characteristics and resistance to chemical and/or biological agents. The preferred barriers also possess favorable durability properties and are printable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fire retardant barrier comprising: a first film component including a plurality of layers containing a fire retardant material, at least one of said plurality of layers being attached to at least one layer of polymeric material to provide resistance to chemical and biological agents; and a second component attached to the first component including a polymeric material layer for imparting strength to the fire retardant barrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first component contains at least three layers and the layer providing resistance to chemical and biological agents has layers on opposite sides thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) A barrier as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the second component includes a layer of scrim. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the scrim is woven from a high-density polyolefin material sandwiched between two layers of low-density polyolefin material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A barrier as claimed in claim 4 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A barrier as claimed in claim 4 wherein the high-density polyolefin material or at least one of the low-density polyolefin layers contains a fire retardant material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A barrier as claimed in claim 6 wherein all of the polyolefin material in the second component contains fire retardant material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first layer of the first component is a film selected from the group consisting of a five layered low density polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate/copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride/ethyl vinyl acetate/low density polyethylene film; a nylon/copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride hybrid film; ethylene vinyl alcohol film, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first layer of the first component is a five layered low density polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate/copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride/ethyl vinyl acetate/low density polyethylene film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A barrier as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fire retardant material in each of the respective layers are independently the same or different. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A barrier as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fire retardant material in at least one of the layers is antimony trioxide. ### Claim 12 A fire retardant barrier comprising: a first component including a first layer containing a fire retardant material for resisting chemical and biological agents, and second and third layers on opposite sides of the first layer at least one of which contains a fire retardant material; and a second component including a layer of scrim woven made of high-density polyethylene material and a layer of low-density polyethylene material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A barrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the second and third layers both contain a fire retardant material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A barrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein all of the polyethylene containing layers contain a fire retardant material. ### Claim 15 A multilaminate barrier having a flammability characteristic of less than about 60 seconds based on Federal Test Method 5903 and a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological agents of at least about 4 hours based on Chemical Research and Development Center - Special Procedure 84010; wherein said multilaminate barrier includes a first film component including a plurality of layers containing a fire retardant material, at least one of said plurality of layers being attached to at least one layer of polymeric material to provide resistance to chemical and biological agents; and a second component attached to the first component including a polymeric material layer for imparting strength to the fire retardant barrier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic of less than about 30 seconds. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic of less than about 20 seconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic of less than about 6 seconds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic of less than about 4 seconds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic of less than about 2 seconds. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a flammability characteristic approaching zero seconds. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological-agents of at least about 12 hours. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15, 18) A barrier as claimed in claims 15 or 18 having a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological agents of at least about 24 hours. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological agents of at least about 36 hours. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological agents of at least about 48 hours. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) A barrier as claimed in claim 15 having a resistance to mustard and thickened GD toxicological agents of at least about 72 hours. ### Claim 27 A multilaminate barrier having a flammability characteristic of less than about 20 seconds based on Federal Test Method 5903 and a resistance to mustard and GD toxicological agents of at least about 50 minutes based on IAW Military Standard - 282; wherein said multilaminate barrier includes a first film component including a plurality of layers containing a fire retardant material, at least one of said plurality of layers being attached to at least one layer of polymeric material to provide resistance to chemical and biological agents; and a second component attached to the first component including a polymeric material layer for imparting strength to the fire retardant barrier. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A barrier as claimed in claim 27 having a resistance to mustard and GB toxicological agents of at least about 100 minutes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A barrier as claimed in claim 27 having a resistance to mustard and GB toxicological agents of at least about 180 minutes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) A barrier as claimed in claim 27 having a resistance to mustard and GB toxicological agents of at least about 240 minutes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A barrier as claimed in claim 28 having a flammability characteristic of less than about six seconds. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first component includes about 10 to about 30% fire-retardant material. ### Claim 33 (depends on 3, 4) A barrier as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein said scrim comprises a substrate woven from tapes of approximately 950 denier and 10.times.10 count per inch in warp and fill. ### Claim 34 (depends on 3) A barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein said scrim includes 0.5 and 10% fire-retardant material. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first component is from about 1 to about six millimeters in thickness and said second component includes a scrim layer of about three millimeters in thickness. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A barrier as claimed in claim 35 and further including a top layer of about 0.5 to about 2.0 millimeters thick relatively low-density polyethylene material laminated to the first layer of said first component to add abrasion resistance and serve as a carrier of pigments. ### Claim 37 A fire-retardant barrier, comprising: a first component including a plurality of polyolefin-containing layers having a fire-retardant material combined therewith, at least one of said plurality of layers attached to at least one layer of polymeric film, and a second component attached to the first component, said second component including a multilayer system made of a high-density polymer sandwiched between two layers of low-density polymer. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The barrier of claim 37, wherein the high-density polymer and low-density polymer comprise polyolefins. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The barrier of claim 38, wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The barrier of claim 37, wherein the multilayer system comprises woven scrim.