Composite fabrics and process for making them

摘要

1,130,571. Foam and fabric laminates. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. 15 Nov., 1965 [19 Aug., 1964], No. 33872/64. Heading B5N. A fabric comprises a layer of flexible foam material sandwiched between, and secured to, two fibrous layers, each consisting of one or more fibrous webs, a proportion of the fibres from at least one fibrous layer extending in the thickness direction of the fabric from that layer through the flexible foam material and into the other fibrous layer, thereby securing the foam material to the two fibrous layers and at least some of the fibres extending in the thickness direction being retracted. The fabrics are made by assembling the components, at least one of the webs containing a proportion of retractable fibres, needle punching the assembly from one or both surfaces and retracting the retractable fibres. Either or both surfaces of the fabric may be provided with a pile by suitably arranging the depth of needling. The webs may be made from cotton, silk, wool, cellulose acetate, nylon-6: 6, nylon-7, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylic fibres. Specified retractable fibres are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide and polyester fibres and composite fibres. Specified foam materials are natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethanes, polyolefines, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate and silicones. The fabric may be made by a continuous process and retraction may be effected by the application of heat or by the use of a swelling agent.