Composite for breathable protective clothing with thin polyurethane layer - which is hydrophilic and non-swelling over waterproof layer bonded to textile

摘要

Composite for breathable protective clothing has an outer layer (I), less than 10 microns thick, of hydrophilic polyurethane, which does not swell or hardly swells in water; a main layer (II) of hydrophilic polyurethane, which swells strongly, is waterproof and has high water vapour permeability (WVP); an adhesive layer (III) of hydrophilic polyurethane, which swells strongly, is washable and resistant to dry cleaning and has high WVP; and an inner textile support (IV). Pref. (II) and (III) consist of hydrophilised aromatic or aliphatic polyurethanes, (II) being of the one component and (III) of the 2-component type. Pref. (I) is 1.5-10, pref. 3-8, esp. 4-6 microns thick, whilst the other layers have a mass/unit area of (II) 10-50, pref. 20-40, (III) 10-50, pref. 20-40 g/sq. m. The swelling in water is (I) less than 10%, (II) over 60%. (III) over 60, esp. 80-100%; and water vapour permeability (II) over 1000, pref. over 1500, (III) over 1000, esp. over 1500 g/sq.m-day. ADVANTAGE - (I) is insensitive to water, light-fast, resistant to abrasion and washable but is thin enough to have no marked effect on the overall WVP. (II) ensures very good WVP combined with high water-proofness. The composite has high mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, washability and resistance to dry cleaning and high WVP. It also has satisfactory appearance when wet.