Claims
- 1. A viral barrier composite comprising a breathable thermoplastic film thermally bonded on at least one side thereof to a breathable thermoplastic web, the viral barrier composite having viral barrier properties that permit less than 100 viruses to pass according to ASTM Method ES 22-1992, a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 700 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours and a bond strength between the thermoplastic film and breathable thermoplastic web of at least 0.07 N/cm.
- 2. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic film comprises a thermoplastic polymer and a water- and oil-repellent fluorochemical compound that forms a microporous membrane with oleophobic and hydrophobic properties.
- 3. The viral barrier composite of claim 2 wherein the microporous membrane comprises polypropylene.
- 4. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein air permeability expressed as Gurley porosity comprises less than 1000 seconds/50 cc.
- 5. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein air permeability expressed as Gurley porosity comprises less than 500 seconds/50 cc.
- 6. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic web comprises a bonded spunbond nonwoven polypropylene web.
- 7. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein less than 50 viruses are permitted to pass according to ASTM Test Method ES 22-1992.
- 8. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein less than 10 virus are permitted to pass according to ASTM Test Method ES 22-1992.
- 9. The viral barrier composite of claim 1 wherein no virus are permitted to pass according to ASTM Test Method ES 22-1992.
- 10. An article of protective apparel constructed from the viral barrier composite of claim 1.
- 11. The article of protective apparel of claim 10 having at least one reinforced viral resistant seam, the viral resistant seam comprising:
- a first viral barrier composite having a first attachment edge;
- a second viral barrier composite having a second attachment edge arranged with the first composite viral barrier to form a common seam edge extending along the first and second attachment edges;
- at least one reinforcing strip extending along the common seam edge constructed from a thermoplastic material thermally bondable with the first and second viral barrier composite; and
- an ultrasonic weld bonding the first and second attachment edges and the reinforcing strip generally extending along a sealed edge to form the reinforced viral resistant seam.
- 12. The viral resistant seam of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic weld comprises a weld line offset less than 1.0 cm from the sealed edge.
- 13. A viral barrier composite comprising a breathable thermoplastic microporous membrane thermally bonded on at least one side thereof to a breathable thermoplastic nonwoven web, the viral barrier composite having viral barrier properties that permit less than 100 viruses to pass according to ASTM Method ES 22-1992 and a bond strength between the thermoplastic microporous membrane and the breathable thermoplastic nonwoven web of at least 0.07 N/cm.
- 14. The viral barrier composite of claim 13 wherein less than 50 viruses are permitted to pass according to ASTM Test Method ES 22-1992.
- 15. The viral barrier composite of claim 13 wherein the microporous membrane comprises a thermoplastic polymer and a water- and oil-repellent fluorochemical compound that forms a microporous membrane with oleophobic and hydrophobic properties.
- 16. The viral barrier composite of claim 13 wherein the thermoplastic microporous membrane and the breathable thermoplastic nonwoven web comprise polypropylene.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/415,530 filed Apr. 4, 1995, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (80)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
260 011 A2 |
Mar 1988 |
EPX |
0 505 027 A1 |
Sep 1992 |
EPX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
415530 |
Apr 1995 |
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