Patent ID: 8753461

Claim:
A method of substantially increasing the break-open time of a textile composite comprising the steps of: a) providing a textile composite comprising: a meltable outer textile having an inner surface and an outer surface, said meltable outer textile having a melting temperature less than 265° C.±3° C. when tested according to the Melting and Thermal Stability Test; a heat reactive material comprising a polymer resin-expandable graphite mixture positioned directly on said inner surface of said meltable outer textile, said polymer resin expandable graphite mixture being applied to the inner surface of the meltable outer textile, wherein the expandable graphite has an expansion of at least 900 gm upon heating to about 280° C.; and a thermally stable convective barrier positioned on said heat reactive material on a side opposite said outer textile such that said heat reactive material is positioned between said convective barrier and said outer textile, wherein said thermally stable convective barrier comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or polytetrafluoroethylene; and b) subjecting said outer surface of said meltable outer textile to a flame for a time period sufficient for said thermally stable convective barrier to crack or to form a hole therein, said time period being a break-open time of said textile composite, wherein the break-open time of said textile composite is at least 20 seconds greater than the break-open time of a textile composite constructed of substantially the same materials but without the heat reactive material, and wherein said meltable outer textile is selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester, and combinations thereof.