Patent Abstract:
A fireproof, translucent, flexible coated fabric composite material for use in fire curtains. The composite material meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in terms of fire endurance and allows transmissivity of necessary amounts of light. The process of the present disclosure combines a silica fabric with a special refractory index controlled resin. This unique combination of materials can transform an opaque high temperature fabric into a translucent, and even transparent, composite which as the ability to resist high temperature, flame and smoke penetration that fills a needed gap in technology between visibility and fire resistance in the field of fire and smoke curtains used in civil construction.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of non provisional application Ser. No. 15/423,287, filed Feb. 2, 2017 and entitled FLEXIBLE TRANSLUCENT TO TRANSPARENT FIREPROOF COMPOSITE MATERIAL, whose application is incorporated herein by reference. No new matter has been included in this divisional application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure generally relates to composite materials and method of manufacture thereof, and more specifically to translucent or transparent composite materials that may be used in civil construction, non-fire penetration, and non-permeability to smoke. 
     Fireproof curtains or partitions are often used in civil construction settings between rooms and adjacent elevators. Fire curtains do not contain windows, which makes determining whether hazardous conditions exist behind the fire curtain difficult for firefighters. Currently, materials developed for fire and smoke curtains which provide both smoke and flame penetration resistance are not translucent or transparent. 
     Conventional materials used in fire curtains do not achieve the combination of a desired transmissivity of light, while meeting regulatory requirements in terms of flammability resistance. As such, conventional fire curtains are opaque. In fire and smoke curtain applications, materials such as polyamide and silicone films have been used to eliminate smoke penetration but do not provide adequate protection from flame penetration. Therefore, it is highly desirable that fire curtains have translucent or transparent composite panels comprised of translucent or transparent composite materials that offer protection from high temperature fires. 
     Existing translucent or transparent composite materials can offer protection from high temperature fires (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,466 and U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 20100093242). However, due to their rigidity and other undesirable properties, these composite materials have not been utilized in fire curtains. Methods for manufacturing rigid translucent or transparent composite materials, which are used in application such as surfboard manufacturing, include combining an opaque, fine fiberglass fabric with a refractory index controlled acrylic resin that matches the refractory index (RI), or refractory index value, of the fiberglass substrate. 
     For a translucent or transparent composite material to be viable for use in fire curtains, it is necessary that it be flexible. It is also desirable that a flexible, translucent or transparent material be low-cost in terms of manufacture and raw material costs. A translucent or transparent composite panel in a fire curtain must allow transmission of enough visible light to ascertain conditions behind the curtain. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a translucent or transparent, flexible fire curtain composite panel which can prevent flame and smoke penetration. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to translucent or transparent, flexible and fireproof coated fabric composite materials for use in fire curtains. The composite material meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in terms of fire endurance and allows transmissivity of necessary amounts of light. The process of the present disclosure combines a silica fabric with a special refractory index controlled resin. This unique combination of materials can transform an opaque high temperature fabric into a translucent, and even transparent, composite which as the ability to resist high temperature, flame and smoke penetration that fills a needed gap in technology between visibility and fire resistance in the field of fire and smoke curtains used in civil construction. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the composite may comprise one or more layers of optically controlled silicone resin and high purity silica fabric. The composite material is a three-layer system. In a three-layer system, the impregnated silicone fabric is centered between two layers of optically controlled silicone resin. The preferred manufacturing processes identified for forming the three-layer composite panel is a fabric impregnation process. The composite material may be pre-cut or may then be cut to the shape of the final composite panel. 
     In the present disclosure, silicone resins are used to treat the fabric sheet. Preferred resins are fabricated from silicone polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polysiloxanes. Exemplary polymer compositions include NuSil™ LS6946. The treatment renders the normally opaque fabric translucent to transparent, while enhancing the fire resistance of the coated fabric composite. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the layers of the composite panel of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the process of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front view of an opaque silica fabric sheet of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of a composite panel treated with an improper resin of outside of the viscosity range of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3C  is a front view of a composite panel created using the process of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows the ASTM E-119 temperature profile for measuring fire endurance; 
         FIG. 5  shows the chemical composition change from polysiloxane to silica resulting from ceramification; 
         FIG. 6  shows composite panel  10  incorporated into a fire curtain  70 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a composite panel and method for providing a translucent or transparent, flexible, and fireproof composite material with exceptional fire and smoke resistant properties. Flexibility may be defined herein as the ability to be formed into a roll and extended into a sheet. According to an embodiment the composite panel of the present disclosure is a treated and encapsulated silica fabric. The fabric silica sheet, prior to the treatment of the present disclosure, is opaque, however, after treatment according to the present disclosure, the sheet becomes translucent or transparent. 
     The present disclosure describes the formation of composite materials that are ideally suited for use as translucent or transparent components for fire curtain composite panels due to their light transmissivity properties and flame retardancy. As one of ordinary skill would recognize, however, the composite materials may be used in other applications not directly related to fire curtains. For example, the composite materials could find usage in other high temperature environments such as industrial ovens and dryers. 
     The translucent or transparent composite panel of the present disclosure meets regulatory authority certification requirements for fire curtains. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment the composite panel  10  of the present disclosure. Outer layers of silicone resin  14  surround a layer of composite panel impregnated silica fabric sheet  12 . The composite panel impregnated silica fabric sheet  12  is impregnated with the silicone resin that ultimately forms the outer layers of silicone resin  14 . Each outer layer is essentially extruded from composite panel impregnated silica fabric sheet  12  during the process of the present disclosure. A basis weight of fabric sheet  32  is preferably between 180 and 600 gsm. Outer layers of silicone resin  14  are generally between 5 and 10 mm wide. 
     Non-limiting examples of components formed from the composite material of the present disclosure include many fire-related applications such as fire curtains and doors visible light transmitting composite panels. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the process  200  of the present disclosure. Optical silicone resin is prepared by pre-blending a two-part resin system. The properties of a preferred embodiment of a silicone resin are shown in Table 1. In the process of the present disclosure a first silicone resin  22  is combined with a solvent  20 , to form a first dispersant  26 . A second silicone resin  24  is combined with the solvent  20  to form a second dispersant  28 . In a preferred embodiment, the first silicone resin  22  contains a catalytic ion which is a platinum-based anionic catalyst and the second silicone resin  24  contains a catalytic ion which is a platinum-based cationic catalyst. The silicone resin may be, in a preferred embodiment, NuSil™ LS6946 Optically Clear silicone resin (approximately 30 to 40 gm/sf). The silicone resin is, in the present disclosure, refractory index controlled. Shifts in the resin, depending on the refractive index (RI) value of the fabric, may range from RI of 1.45 to 1.47. Introducing fumed or nano-silica to the resin may optimize translucency. Mixing silica at different levels may increase the refractory index value such that the refractive index value may be 1.41 improved to 1.47 with optimal silica mixture. 
     The silicone resin should have an optical refractive index value match to the silica fabric sheet, which may be in a range of 1.41 to 1.46. This will vary based on the purity of the silica fabric sheet, with 1.43 being optimized for the preferred 92% silica fabric. For reference, 100% silica would be at 1.40 and a fabric sheet with a silica content of 50% would be optically transparent with a refractory index value of 1.51. 
     Use of optical silicone with an RI of 1.51 which is typical for fiberglass materials is not effective for the purposes of the present disclosure. The first silicone resin  22  and second silicone resin  24  are preferably NUSIL™ LS6946 resins, which come with a first silicone resin  22  and a second silicone resin  24  pre-blended with platinum-based ionic catalysts. Catalysts comprising a platinum group metal (i.e., platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, osmium and iridium) or a compound containing a platinum group metal may constitute alternatives to platinum for the purposes of the present disclosure. Inorganic catalysts, as opposed to organic catalysts, are important for the present disclosure due to the need for avoiding smoking or burning of organic compounds during exposure to fire. 
     The resins used in the present disclosure are of high viscosity, at approximately 50,000 centipoise. NUSIL™ LS6946 resin, and other resins of high viscosity, were initially thought to be unacceptable as they are too viscous to be properly absorbed by a fabric in order to achieve translucency. 
     The definitions of translucent, opaque and transparent, for the purposes of the present disclosure, are: material which has a total visible light transmission (VLT) of 85% or more is transparent; a VLT above 50% is translucent; and a VLT below 50% is opaque. The translucent sheet produced by the process of the present disclosure has a VLT generally between 65% and 80%, as measured by a set of light meters. The set of light meters referred to herein is the standard means by which VLT is measured, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The use of high viscosity resins at initially approximately 50,000 centipoise (cps), or a range between 40,000-60,000 centipoise, is important for the process of the present disclosure. The initial high viscosity is necessary because high percentage of solids present in high viscosity resins are required to impart the desirable final properties to the composite panel. However, for the present disclosure, resins needed to be treated to lower the viscosity for proper wet-out. To achieve proper wet-out, a solvent  20  is added to the initially high viscosity resin. Optimal viscosity for wet-out is between 8,000-10,000 cps, which is critical to the disclosure. Initially lower viscosity silicone resins with the same Refractive Index (RI) as NUSIL™ LS6946 were tested but did not produce acceptable results. 
     Low viscosity of the resin, when applied to a fabric sheet is critical to composite wet-out; however, starting with lower viscosity material reduces desirable properties necessary for the final product due to the lower percentage solids, thereby necessitating the modifications of the present disclosure. The present disclosure resolves the issue of the initial viscosity being too high by addition of a solvent  20 . In a preferred embodiment the solvent  20  is low sulfur xylene, which is important for the process of the present disclosure. Modifying the resin viscosity with low sulfur xylene at the appropriate levels resolved problems with viscosity, however these other solvents had negative impacts on the final product. 
     Low sulfur xylene is preferably added at a ratio of 4:1 resin to low sulfur xylene, however, the range of 1:1 resin to low sulfur xylene at the low end and 8:1 resin to low sulfur xylene at the high end may produce a functional product. The resin must be modified into the target wet-out range by use of the special clear solvent  20 , low sulfur xylene, at the proper dilution ratios and dispersant procedure. Numerous resins at different viscosity were tested to discover the optimal range for the present disclosure. The process of the present disclosure requires the use of silicone resin to produce appropriate fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) whereas a silicone does not achieve the desired result. The process of the present disclosure includes use of nano-silica functional filler. Nano-silica comes pre-blended with NUSIL LS6946 resin, while other resins could be used and the nano-silica could be added separately. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first dispersant  26  and the second dispersant  28  are combined to form combined silicone resin  30 . Use of high viscosity resin and reducing its viscosity to an optimal range by pre-dispersing the two components of the resin in a specifically defined solvent, at a specific blend ratio, under a specifically defined method is critical in the present disclosure. 
     Combined silicone resin  30  is measured to an appropriate amount for application to a fabric sheet  32 , which is comprised of silica. A basis weight of the fabric sheet  32  is preferably between 180 and 600 gsm. The fabric sheet may be leached, which is a known process in the art, however, the present disclosure requires identification of the appropriate starting material for the fabric sheet  32  which will allow it to be leached while maintaining the necessary strength for designated use. The appropriate fabric sheet  32  is an opaque silica fabric of sufficient thickness, weight and strength such that it can be leached to increase silica concentration and still remain strong enough for sufficient fire and pressure resistance, and become translucent or transparent after application of a silicone resin that is refractory index (RI) matched to the fabric. The proper amount of combined silicone resin  30  is dependent on the thickness, density and size of the fabric sheet  32 . The combined silicone resin  30  is applied to fabric sheet  32  resulting in impregnation  34  of fabric sheet  32  with combined silicone resin  30 . Impregnation  34  with combined silicone resin  30  produces an uncured composite panel  38 . Use of a single coat of resin is needed to eliminate the use of blocking film or gel-coat for non-air permeability requirement (UL1784). Gel coats and films are undesirable because they generally will lead to surface burning. 
     To achieve adequate translucency, the wet-out process is critical, as is matching the refractory index of the combined silicone resin  30  to the refractory index of fabric sheet  32 , which is a property resulting from the chemical purity and make-up of fabric sheet  32 . Further, the combined silicone resin  30  viscosity is also important, with levels at 5,000 to 15,000 cps, with optimal levels at 8,000 to 10,000 cps. 
     Shore hardness of the combined silicone resin  30  is also important in order to maintain flexibility of the finished composite panel. Shore hardness of combined silicone resin  30  is optimal between the durometer values of 30 and 60. Viscosity and shore hardness of the combined silicone resin  30  is also critical in the creating the correct physical properties of the present disclosure including puncture resistance and tensile strength, which is also a key factor in the embodiment. Shore hardness can be determined with a durometer, which measures hardness. Hard plastics have high durometer readings and are made from resins with high shore hardness. 
     Cure condition requirements are important in selecting the first silicone resin  22  and second silicone resin  24 . The resins have no flame and smoke producing properties when the composite panel  10  is exposed to high heat conditions. Resins with a UL 94 V-0 rating are desirable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , following application of combined silicone resin  30  to fabric sheet  32  is a two stage curing process that involves a soft cure  40  and a hard cure  46 . Uncured composite panel  38  is first subjected to a soft cure  40 . The soft cure includes deaeration of the uncured composite panel  38  and allows solvent  20  to evaporate. Hard cure  46  involves placing the soft cured composite panel  42  in an oven  44  using baking racks at temperatures of 150 to 300° F. Hard cure  46  eliminates the need for a gel-coat. Lower temperatures for hard curing do not result in the necessary surface, and higher temperatures result in yellowing of the composite panel. The hard cure is a surface cure which gives a monolithic non-tack surface finish. The two-stage cure process provides three critical advantages: solvent evaporation, deaeration prior to hard cure, and elimination of the film or gel-coat resin. After the two-stage cure process composite panel  10  is complete. Composite panel  10  is flexible enough for roll-up, such that composite panel  10  can be rolled into a tube and extended into a sheet. 
     The process of the present disclosure results in a composite panel  10  of high purity silica. Steps in the process may include leaching a silica fabric sheet  32  in a bath of caustic acid (or otherwise obtaining a leached silica fabric sheet  32 ), thereby creating a silica fabric sheet  32  of high purity. Leaching increases the silica content of fabric sheet  32 , providing higher thermal stability for fabric sheet  32  and changing the refractory index of fabric sheet  32  while also creating void sights in fabric sheet  32  that enhance impregnation with by combined silicone resin  30 . 
     The refractory index of the fabric sheet  32  is matched to silicone resin. The refractory index of fabric sheet  32  is dependent upon the initial grade of silica fabric sheet  32 . Properties of selected high silica fabrics that may be used in the present disclosure are listed in Table 2. Amorphous silica fabric sheet  32  may be purchased, but is frequently between 50-80 percent silicone content. Preferably, fabric sheet  32  is leached to in one embodiment to between 90-92% silica for optimal functionality in the present disclosure, and in another embodiment leached to between 90-95% silica. 
     High temperature heat shrinking to pre-shrink fabric sheet  32  is an important step in the present disclosure. Pre-shrinking prevents composite panel  10  from cracking during exposure to a high temperature fire. 
     The use of the specified type of silicone resin, as described herein, is critical to the disclosure, as it will provide not only the proper wet-out, but also provides a source of silica particles to assist in stabilization of composite panel  10  at high temperature. Viscosity of the silicone resin and the curing process, as described herein, are critical elements of the present disclosure. The resin may have a UL 94 Vtm=0 rating, but may also have a shore hardness of 30-60, as measured by a durometer, to ensure the composite system remains flexible, while lower shore hardness is suboptimal. Lower shore hardness causes gumminess in composite panel  10 . Silicone resin, as disclosed hereinabove, additionally provides puncture resistance in combination with fabric sheet  32  to produce composite panel  10 . The present disclosure optimally utilizes a sheet lay-up process to assist not only with the wet-out process, but the cure process as well. 
     During application of combined silicone resin  30  to fabric sheet  32 , combined silicone resin  30  is drawn down in accordance with standard fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) procedures. Fabric sheet  32  should have a consistent refractory index, thickness, and weave type such that it will become translucent to transparent when properly matched with a like refractory index resin in a draw down wet-out procedure. Fabric sheet  32  must also be strong enough to avoid breakdown at high temperatures. 
     Multiple layers of combined silicone resin  30  may be stacked to build composite panel  10  thickness and added strength. Combined silicone resin  30  may be aggressively applied and forced into fabric sheet  32  until wet-out is achieved. 
     After application of the resin to produce uncured composite panel  38 , uncured composite panel  38  is soft cured  40  for deaeration and solvent evaporation. Soft curing can take place at room temperature in an area of low humidity. Following soft cure, hard cure  46  may take place, wherein hard cure  46  involves soft cured composite panel  42  being placed in an oven using baker racks at temperatures between 150 F to 300 F°. Resins such as NuSil™ LS6946 form a gas tight surface in the process of the present disclosure which obviates a need for a high temperature film, while still achieving the desired smoke screen as required by UL1784 testing. Optically clear elastomers, such as NuSil™ LS6946 silicone resin, will form a tough, monolithic surface when cured. 
     The resulting composite panel  10  must be strong, and thermally stable, enough to withstand the fire endurance conditions of approximate 2,000 F° for at least 30 minutes, without flame penetration, as required by tests including the UL10D furnace test using the ASTM E-119 temperature profile for fire endurance (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Composite panel  10  of the present disclosure has been demonstrated to withstand fire conditions under the ASTM E-119 temperature profile for fire endurance for over 2 hours, as measured in a full scale test at an internationally recognized fire test lab. 
     A critical property of composite panel  10  is its ability to form a ceramic. Ceramification is a chemical composition change increasing the silica purity from approximately 92 percent to 97 percent in the present disclosure, a reaction where polysiloxane (silicone) is converted to silica, as generally represented in  FIG. 5 . Upon exposure to a high temperature fire, ceramification begins at approximately 1100-1200° F. and reaches completion at approximately 1700° F. A high temperature fire is simulated in a controlled setting, for regulatory purposes, by ASTM E-119 temperature profile for measuring fire endurance (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Ceramification of composite panel  10  occurs as a result of the combination of the in situ fire temperature and the high purity silica released from the silicone fabric  414 . High purity silica is critical for ceramification. 
     Recognition that the process of the present disclosure leads to ceramification was a critical step in the present disclosure. Ceramification of the composite panel  10  is an unexpected result, in that it such a result is previously unrecognized and would not be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. The process of the present disclosure is the first to combine a high purity silica fabric sheet  32  and high purity silicone resin and create a fireproof composite panel through ceramification. 
     During processing, fabric sheet  32  is initially in an amorphous glass phase, and when exposed to extreme heat conditions, fabric sheet  32  will become crystalline, a process referred to as devitrification. However, in the composite panel  10  of the present disclosure, ceramification occurs, which is a change in chemistry, as may be illustrated in a phase diagram known to one of ordinary skill in the art, where the chemical composition of composite panel  10  shifts to a more temperature stable ceramic. Plain weave fabrics, using single end filament yarns are the most adaptable for the process of the present disclosure. Fabric sheet  32  produced by the acid leaching process is ideal, as the leaching removes the sodium (Na) content, which results in a high purity silica chemical (SI02). An additional benefit of the leaching process is that active sights or micro-voids left from the removal of the salt compounds enhance wet-out and provide an ideal receptacle for the silica remains of the silicone resin. 
     Ceramification, like crystallization, is a product of high temperature; however, the presence of the extremely fine, high surface (highly reactive) silica particles left behind by the silicone once organic material is oxidized results in ceramification. Crystallization of composite panel  10  does occur during exposure to high temperature, which is a change in form from amorphous (liquid glass) to a bonded crystal structure. However, ceramification also occurs in composite panel  10 , where ceramification is defined as a chemical composition change, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, which may increase the silica content from 92% to 97%. 
     Higher silica content in composite panel  10  results in a more thermally stable composition. Under high temperatures, highly reactive silica is released from the silicone and therefore available to the silica fabric before the crystallization occurs. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate the translucency achieved by the process of the present disclosure. Each figure shows an illustration of an object  52  behind an opaque, semi-opaque or translucent or transparent sheet, to provide a general example of the results of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3A  includes an opaque fabric sheet  32 , prior to treatment by the process of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3A , object  52  is not visible through the fabric sheet  32 .  FIG. 3B  includes a semi-opaque composite panel  50  resulting from a treatment of fabric sheet  32  with an improper viscosity resin. Object  52  is visible only as a vague outline through the improperly treated composite panel.  FIG. 3C , however, shows the composite panel  10  of the present disclosure, where object  52  is clearly visible through composite panel  10  of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 6  shows composite panel  10  incorporated into a fire curtain  70 . 
     Use of excess resin, which will provide too much organic material, may reduce fireproof properties of composite panel  10 . Further, improper deaeration may leave air bubbles entrapped in composite panel  10 , thereby reducing bond strength as well as translucency. Additionally, insufficiency of resin will produce poor composite integrity. A curing temperature that is too high may cause frosting and reduce translucency. 
     An alternative method of producing the composite panel of the present disclosure includes use of vacuums and pressures, applied a thermal press, to eliminate the need for a dispersant. 
     Composite sheet  10  may have superior performance when translucent rather than when fully transparent, due to the translucent composite sheet  10  having a lower temperature on an exposed side during a high temperature fire. In testing related to the present disclosure, the exposed side temperature was measured for a translucent composite sheet  10  in comparison to a transparent composite sheet  10  under the same conditions, and the translucent composite sheet  10  had a lower temperature than the transparent composite sheet  10  by approximately 20%. Under certain fire conditions and for certain applications, however, a transparent composite sheet  10  may be desirable. For example, translucency has been shown to have some advantages in radiant energy heat transfer. 
     While preferred embodiments of this disclosure has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “configured” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Silicone Resin Properties 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Optical Control 
                 RI Match 
                 1.46 
                   
               
               
                 Cure Property 
                 Thermoset 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Appearance 
                 Translucent 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Work Time 
                 2 hours 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Viscosity 
                 Undispersed 
                 40,000 
                 cP typ 
               
               
                   
                 After Dispersed 
                 8-10,000 
                 cP typ 
               
               
                 Mix Proerties 
                 Self-deaeration 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Durometer 
                 Type A 
                 30 
                   
               
               
                 Cure Cycle 
                 Soft Cure/RTV 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Hard Cure 
                 150 C 
                 30 min 
               
               
                 Tensile Strength 
                 After Cure 
                 675 
                 psi 
               
               
                 Tear strength 
                 After Cure 
                 40 
                 ppi 
               
               
                 Young Modulus 
                 After Cure 
                 425 
                 psi 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 High Silica Fabrics Properties 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Grade 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Property 
                   
                 VS180 
                 VS300 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Weave 
                   
                 Plain 
                 Plain 
               
               
                 Finish 
                 Pre-shrink 
                 Heat Treated 
                 Heat Treated 
               
               
                 Yarn (tex) 
                 Warp 
                 34 × 3 
                 68 × 3 
               
               
                   
                 Weft 
                 34 × 3 
                 68 × 3 
               
               
                 Filment Diameter 
                 μ 
                 6.0 
                 6.0 
               
               
                 Thickness 
                 mm 
                 0.25 
                 0.45 
               
               
                 Weight 
                 g/m2 
                 180 
                 300 
               
               
                 Thread Count 
                 per cm 
                 10.5 × 10.5 
                 9 × 9 
               
               
                 Tensile Strength 
                 N/2.5 
                 190 × 190 
                 300 × 300 
               
               
                 Chemical Content 
                 % SiO2 
                 95 
                 95 
               
               
                   
                 % Al2O3 
                 4 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 Other 
                 Less Than 1% 
                 Less Than 1%

Technology Classification (CPC): 3