The present invention relates to a flame-retardant, waterproof, stretchable composite fabric, comprising at least one knitted textile layer and one impervious layer joined, wherein the said at least two joined layers also giving a breathable article.

The multi-layered fabric of the invention is intended to be used in the manufacturing of flame barriers for different articles, such as mattresses, pillows, seats and upholstered furniture.

In this description both the terms flame-resistant and flame-retardant should be considered as synonyms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

GB 2014204 A discloses a flame-and heat resistant pile fabric that comprises a base sheet made from flame-resistant and heat-resistant fibers, bearing on one or both faces a pile comprising yarn converted to a flame-resistant state and a flexible coating on the other face.

US 4513042 A discloses a non-flammable sliver knit high pile fabric comprising a backing fabric that is knitted from a flame retardant aramid spun yarn and pile fabrics composed of a mixture of flame-retardant rayon fibres and super washed wool fibres and the back coating is constituted of a flame retardant com- position. The fabric is especially useful in the manufacture of wearing apparel intended for use in extreme environments, such as fire fighting and cold weather military operations.

US 7666802 B2 discloses a woven fabric composed of nylon or polyester fibres having both liquid barrier properties and fire-retardant properties without sacrificing many of the desirable properties of the fabric. In one embodiment the invention is also directed to a breathable nylon or polyester fabric having good fluid barrier characteristics and fire retardant properties. It includes a fluid saturated comprising a fire resistant oligomer and oil and water repellent composition impregnating the fabric and covering the surfaces and a layer of fire resistant polyurethane coating with halogen components covering at least one surface of the fabric. The fabric has a moisture vapour transmission rate of at least 600 g/m ² and a hydrohead of at least 30 cm.

The multilayer fabric of this invention unlike what is explained in the cited

GB 2014204 A and US 4513042 A does not require a coating since the bonding between at least one knitted textile layer and one impervious layer is obtained by lamination; and it does not require a chemical flame-retardant treatment since it is flame-resistant inherently.

The multi-layered fabric of this invention has persistent flame-retardancy that does not disappear by washing (resistant to at least 50 washes at 92 °C according to UNE EN ISO 6330) or use and its textile layer is made of 100% cellulosic fabrics.

The multilayer fabric of the invention contains a textile layer made of 100% cellulosic fabrics and it is knitted instead of woven as in US 7666802 B2. The multilayer fabric of the invention is halogen-free and its hydrohead-test results are also much superior to the ones reached in the cited document.

US 2009/0075047 A discloses flame resistant textile knit fabrics for use in mattresses and household products, particularly bed clothing products such as pillows, comforters, bed spreads, mattress covers and mattress pad ticking. The document discloses a fabric made of yarn comprising about 50% to about 80% by weight of inherently flame retardant viscose rayon fibre, about 10% to about 25% of modacrylic fibre and about 10% to about 25% by weights of cellulosic fibre. US 2009/0075047 A is a mono-layered product and it is not waterproof.

The textile layer of the multilayer fabric of the current invention is made of

100% cellulosic fabrics, instead of a maximum of 25% in the US 2009/0075047 A, has with regard to this antecedent a higher elastic recovery according to UNE 40-395 and it is a waterproof product, with at least 400 cm hydrohead.

EP 1413213 A1 discloses a waterproof, fireproof composite textile com- prising a first textile layer with a thermo-stable fibre base, a second layer comprising a non-flammable membrane impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapour and a third discontinuous adhesive layer placed between said first and second layers securing the second layer on the first layer, wherein the face of the first layer comprises a net of raised yarns said yarns being at a distance from each other so as to enable the inclusion of an air volume between said first layer and a layer arranged opposite. The cited net of raised yarns determine that the cited composite textile is hardly extensible and many of the fi- bres used in the first textile layer such as polyamide, polyacrylate, copolymide are not thermo-stable at temperatures occurring in a fire or burning situation and they need to be fireproof treated.

WO 99/35926 A discloses a waterproof and thermal barrier material comprising a textile assembly including a shell fabric and a layer of a carrier fabric to which a polymer is adhered wherein the protection is provided by an air space within the assembly. Moreover the disclosed textile assembly does not provide a flame-retardant effect.

Both EP 1413213 A1 and WO 99/35926 A provide an air layer and are intended for fire fighter garments.

The composite fabric of this invention comprises a knitted structure selected among Single Jersey or Interlock type providing a multidirectional extensibility and the impervious layer is of biaxial elastic condition, so that the multilayer stretchable fabric has at least 85% of elastic recovery in both fabric directions, according to UNE EN 15977, as well as taken a persistent flame-retardancy.

Moreover the composite fabric of this invention was specially intended to provide a flame barrier for pillows or mattresses including at least one textile layer providing in case of burning a carbonized layer that acts as a protective screen that safeguards mattresses and pillows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flame-retardant, waterproof, stretchable and breathable multi-layered fabric suitable as a flame barrier for different articles, such as mattresses, pillows, seats and upholstered furniture, made from a plurality of joined layers and comprising at least one textile layer and at least one impervious layer. The different layers are joined using any kind of adhesive system, being flame retardant or not. Preferably the bonding between the different layers is obtained by lamination.

The textile layer comprises any kind of knitted structure, preferably selected among Single Jersey or Interlock type, providing a multidirectional extensibility and is made of 100% cellulose fibres of natural renewable resources (preferably the majority, i.e. at least a 90% amount coming from wood or cotton), of which at least 50% and potentially up to 85% are cellulose flame-retardant fibres.

The WO 2011/045673 A discloses flame-retardant lyocell fibres, which include incorporated inorganic additives which are particularly suited for use in flame barriers for articles of manufacture, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture applications which can be used in the current invention.

The impervious layer may consist of a plastic material, preferably polyurethane or polyester incorporating a flame-retardant additive or a flame inhibitor.

Due to the fact that the flame-retardant additive/ingredient is mass incorporated in both the cellulose fibres of the knitted material and in the plastic material, the proposed multi-layered fabric obtained is a permanent flame- retardant product that fulfils completely the standards EN597, ISO12952 and BS7175. Therefore the flame-retardant characteristics do not disappear during washing, this meaning they are highly resistant to washing.

Moreover the final flame-retardant additive or flame inhibitor used in both the textile layer and impervious layer (incorporated in mass) is halogen free.

According to a preferred embodiment the flame-retardant waterproof stretchable composite fabric, of this invention, is obtained from a plurality of joined breathable layers comprising at least one textile layer and one impervious layer joined, wherein:

- the textile layer is made of 100 % cellulose fibres of natural renewable resources, said cellulose fibres comprising at least 50% of cellulose flame- retardant fibres incorporating a known flame-inhibitor additive selected among Kaolin, calcium carbonate, aluminium hydroxide or an organic phosphorous-based pigment;

- the textile layer comprises a knitted structure selected among Single

Jersey or Interlock type providing a multidirectional extensibility;

- the impervious layer is of biaxial elastic condition and comprises an halogen free plastic material selected among polyurethane or polyester incorporating a known flame inhibitor additive selected among organophosphorus compounds such as organophosphates, tris(2,3- dibromopropyl) phosphate, TPP, RDP, BPADP, tri-o-cresyl phosphate, phosphonates such as DMMP and phosphinates

As per its structure and formulation the fabric has a persistent flame- retardancy and the multilayer stretchable fabric has at least 85% of elastic recovery in both fabric directions, according to UNE EN 15977.

Further the flame-retardant properties of said composite fabric preferred embodiment including one textile layer and one impervious layer are resistant to at least 50 washes at 92 °C according to UNE EN ISO 6330.

In a further embodiment of the invention the flame-retardant waterproof stretchable composite fabric comprises an impervious layer sandwiched between two textile layers with a structure as above disclosed.

As a consequence of the above provisions the fire- resistant multi-layered waterproof stretchable fabric here proposed is:

• a flame-resistant product that fulfils completely the standards EN597, ISO12952 and BS7175;

• permanent flame-resistant product, keeping the flame-retardant characteristics after multiple washes;

· waterproof with at least 300-400 cm ² H ₂ O hydrohead, according to

UNE EN 20811 ,

• stretchable with at least 85% elastic recovery in both directions of the fabric, according to UNE EN 15977, and

• breathable with at least 200 g/m ² -day breathability according to BS7209;

• weight from 80 to 350 g/m ² , i.e. lightweight article.

In an embodiment the fire- resistant multi-layered waterproof stretchable fabric has a weight of 140 to 180 g/m ² or about 160 g/m ² .

The invention further refers to a pillow or mattress protector obtained using the previously disclosed fabric.

However this multilayer stretchable fabric can be used in the manufacturing of several further articles such as cushion protectors, featherbed protectors, duvet protectors and seat protectors. The invention also refers to the use of at least one textile layer of knitted structure and comprising at least 50% of cellulose flame-retardant fibres in a multilayer fabric according to the above preferred embodiment, said composite fabric providing in case of burning a carbonized layer that acts as a protective screen that safeguards mattresses and pillows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a picture showing the after burning performance of the flame- retardant waterproof stretchable composite fabric of this invention, evidencing that no melt, no drip occurs since after burning the textile layer creates a carbonized layer that safeguards the mattress or pillow.

TEST RESULTS OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the following the results of a test on ignability of a bedcover made using the flame-retardant fabric of this invention by smouldering and flaming ignition sources are detailed.

The flame-retardant fabric of the text comprises two layers: a knitted textile layer made of 100% cellulose fibres knitted in a Single Jersey structure (of about 120g/m ² ), 85% of them incorporating an organic phosphorous-based flame-inhibitor, laminated with a polyurethane impervious layer of 25 microns incorporating an organophosphorous flame-inhibitor.

The test follows Standard BS 7175:1989, Section 3. Individual bedcovers

(including mattress cases and covers, sheets, pillows, blankets, bedspreads and continental quilt covers) tested with smouldering and flaming ignition sources.

Scope: Methods of assessing the ignitability of individual items of bedcovers. The ignition sources used are the smouldering and/or flaming ignition sources. Equipment used: Chronometer, Test rig, Anemometer, Ruler.

Conditioning of specimens and cigarette: min 16h, 20°±5°C and 65%±5%hr Results obtained:

Ignition source Specified Behaviour at Behaviour on dismanting Ignited time specified time /Not

Ignited (l/NI)

Number Position Initial Repeat Initial Repeat

0 A 60 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive placement smouldering smouldering of the

cigarette

0 B 60 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive placement smouldering smouldering of the

cigarette

1 A 1 20 s 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

1 B 1 20 s 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

2 A 1 20 s 8 s 1 2 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

2 B 1 20 s 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

3 A 1 20 s 9 s 22 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

3 B 1 20 s 0 s 0 s No No Nl after Progressive Progressive

removal of smouldering smouldering the ignition

flame

4 A 1 0 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

4 B 10 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

5 A 1 0 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

5 B 10 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

6 A 1 3 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

6 B 1 3 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

7 A 1 3 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

7 B 1 3 minutes 0 s 0 s No No Nl after the Progressive Progressive ignition of smouldering smouldering the crib

Test conditions:

Test atmosphere: (15-30°C) and (55±20%hr)

Pre-treatment: Null

Ignition source: Source 0 (smouldering cigarette) tested at Position A (Top) and

Position B (Between top and 2 ^nd fold), Source 1 ,2,3 (Butane gas flame) tested at

Position A (Top) and Position B (Below the overhang) and Source 4,5,6,7 (Crib) at Position A (Top ) and Position B (Below the overhang)

Type of gas: Butane

Exposure time of the source: Source 1 : 20±1 s

Source 2: 40±1 s

Source 3: 70±1 s

Flame height of the source: Source 1 : 35 mm

Source 2: 145 mm

Source 3: 240 mm

Wind speed: <0,2 m/s

• Remark: The results relate only to the ignitability of the test specimen under the particular conditions of the test and are not intended as a means assessing the full potential fire hazard of the bed covers in use.