Abstract: Lightweight, flexible protective fabrics for protecting a person, animal or other object from hot burning materials, hot high heat capacity and/or hot corrosive materials, such as hot molten metal, hot oily liquids (e.g., heating oil), hot gels, hot solids, hot sparks, and hot acids. The lightweight protective fabrics can be used to protect a person, animal or other object from hot molten metals, such as liquid metal zinc heated to a temperature of about 950° F. (510° C.) or greater, hot molten aluminum heated to a temperature of about 1150° F. (620° C.) or greater, burning phosphorus at temperature of about 1550° F. (843° C.) or greater, hot solid iron having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, hot heating oil having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, and hot hydrochloric acid having a temperature of about 300° F. (150° C.) or greater.

Abstract: Lightweight, flexible protective fabrics for protecting a person, animal or other object from hot burning materials, hot high heat capacity and/or hot corrosive materials, such as hot molten metal, hot oily liquids (e.g., heating oil), hot gels, hot solids, hot sparks, and hot acids. The lightweight protective fabrics can be used to protect a person, animal or other object from hot molten metals, such as liquid metal zinc heated to a temperature of about 950° F. (510° C.) or greater, hot molten aluminum heated to a temperature of about 1150° F. (620° C.) or greater, burning phosphorus at temperature of about 1550° F. (843° C.) or greater, hot solid iron having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, hot heating oil having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, and hot hydrochloric acid having a temperature of about 300° F. (150° C.) or greater.

Abstract: Methods of protecting a person, animal or other object from hot high heat capacity and/or hot corrosive materials, such as hot molten metal, hot oily liquids (e.g., heating oil), hot gels, hot solids, hot sparks, and hot acids. The methods include protecting a person, animal or other object from hot molten metals, such as liquid metal zinc heated to a temperature of about 950° F. (510° C.) or greater, hot molten aluminum heated to a temperature of about 1150° F. (620° C.) or greater, burning phosphorus at temperature of about 1550° F. (843° C.) or greater, hot solid iron having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, hot heating oil having a temperature of about 500° F. (260° C.) or greater, and hot hydrochloric acid having a temperature of about 300° F. (150° C.) or greater. The ability to protect a wearer from heat from hot high heat capacity materials and/or hot corrosive materials is quite different from simply shedding liquids, even flammable liquids, such as gasoline is unexpected.

Abstract: A composite fire-resistant and heat blocking article. The article includes at least two layers of a fire-retardant and heat-resistant fabric with a heat-barrier and/or heat-absorbing core material disposed between the fabric layers. The composite fire-resistant and heat blocking article provides durability, fire resistance, and the ability to withstand high heat exposure on one face for an extended period of time without transferring significant heat to the opposite face. Combining fire-retardant fabrics with a heat-barrier and/or heat-absorbing core material achieves a true synergy by offering greater fire and heat protection to persons and structures than either component can offer alone.

Abstract: A composite fire-resistant, heat-diffusing, and heat-reflective article. The article includes at least two layers of a fire-retardant and heat-resistant fabric with a heat diffusing and/or heat-reflective core disposed between the fabric layers. The core may include at least one layer of a thin metal foil (e.g., thin aluminum foil). The composite fire-resistant, heat-diffusing, and heat-reflective article provides durability, fire resistance, and the ability to withstand high heat exposure on one face for an extended period of time without transferring significant heat to the opposite face. Combining fire-retardant fabrics with a heat diffusing and/or heat-reflective core achieves a true synergy by offering greater fire and heat protection to persons and structures than either component can offer alone.

Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns and fabrics include an inner core comprised of oxidized polyacrylonitrile encapsulated by an outer shell comprised of a liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material. The liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material includes one or more types of cured silicone polymer resin. A fluorchemical may be at least partially impregnated into the inner core prior to applying the liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material in order to further enhance the liquid shedding properties of the yarns or fabric. Because the silicone polymer resin only encapsulates the yarn, but does not form a continuous coating over the whole fabric, the treated fabric is still able to breath through pores and spaces between individual yarn strands that make up the fabric. The liquid-resistant and strengthening polymer material increases the strength, abrasion resistance, durability and liquid and gel shedding capability of the fire retardant heat resistant yarn or fabric.

Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends incorporate one or more fire retardant and heat resistant strands comprising oxidized polyacrylonitrile and one or more strengthening filaments such as metallic filaments (e.g., stainless steel), high strength ceramic filaments, or high strength polymer filaments. Such yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends have a superior tensile strength, cut resistance, abrasion resistance, LOI, TPP and continuous operating temperature compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends are also more soft, supple, breathable and moisture absorbent and are therefore more comfortable to wear, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The inventive yarns may be woven, knitted or otherwise assembled into a desired fabric or other article of manufacture.

Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends incorporate one or more fire retardant and heat resistant strands comprising oxidized polyacrylonitrile and one or more strengthening filaments such as metallic filaments (e.g., stainless steel), high strength ceramic filaments, or high strength polymer filaments. Such yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends have a superior tensile strength, cut resistance, abrasion resistance, LOI, TPP and continuous operating temperature compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, and other fibrous blends are also more soft, supple, breathable and moisture absorbent and are therefore more comfortable to wear, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The inventive yarns may be woven, knitted or otherwise assembled into a desired fabric or other article of manufacture.

Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends which incorporate high amounts of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. Such yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends have a superior LOI, TPP and continuous operating temperature compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends are also more soft and supple, and are therefore more comfortable to wear, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends incorporate up to 99.9% oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers, together with at least one additional fiber, such as p-aramid, in order to provide increased tensile strength and abrasion resistance of the inventive yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends. The yarns may be woven, knitted or otherwise assembled into a desired fabric.

Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends which incorporate high amounts of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. Such yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends have a superior LOI, TPP and continuous operating temperature, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous: blends are also more soft and supple, and are therefore more comfortable to wear, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends incorporate up to 99.9% oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers, together with at least one additional fiber, such as p-aramid, in order to provide increased tensile strength and abrasion resistance of the inventive yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends. The yarns may be woven, knitted or otherwise assembled into a desired fabric.