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GB1589858A - Upholstery components - Google Patents

Upholstery components Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1589858A
GB1589858A GB375878A GB375878A GB1589858A GB 1589858 A GB1589858 A GB 1589858A GB 375878 A GB375878 A GB 375878A GB 375878 A GB375878 A GB 375878A GB 1589858 A GB1589858 A GB 1589858A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
foam
crib
core
flame
mattress
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB375878A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dunlop Ltd
Original Assignee
Dunlop Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dunlop Ltd filed Critical Dunlop Ltd
Priority to GB375878A priority Critical patent/GB1589858A/en
Publication of GB1589858A publication Critical patent/GB1589858A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08JWORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J9/00Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
    • C08J9/36After-treatment
    • C08J9/40Impregnation
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/14Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08JWORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J2375/00Characterised by the use of polyureas or polyurethanes; Derivatives of such polymers
    • C08J2375/04Polyurethanes

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Bedding Items (AREA)

Description

(54) UPHOLSTERY COMPONENTS (71) We, DUNLOP LIMITED, a British Company of Dunlop House, Ryder Street, St. James's, London S.W.1., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to upholstery components and in particular to upholstery components which exhibit flame-retardant properties in a fire situation.
Such flame-retardant upholstery components should ideally conform to the conditions laid down by the Department of the Environment (U.K.) in its Specification No. 4. The said D.O.E. Specification prescribes that, after two minutes from the cessation of burning of an ignition source, all flaming, smoke emission and smouldering shall have ceased and that the overall structure of the component shall remain sufficiently whole to prevent combustion of its filling.
Cellular materials (e.g. foams) are well known as fillers for upholstery components and their relative ease of manufacture, together with their hygenic and non-allergenic properties, makes them ideal for this purpose.
However, increasing public awareness of the dangers associated with foam combustion (especially the rapid spread of flame and the emission of toxic products of combustion) has made it necessary to search for a foam which is both suitable for use as an upholstery filling and which exhibits a satisfactory degree of flame-retardance in a fire situation.
We have found that satisfactory flameretardance in foam-filled upholstery components may be achieved by covering a core of a flame-collapsible (as herein- defined) polyurethane foam with a further layer of foam which has been impregnated with a flame-retardant substance. The covered core may be enclosed in an outer fabric casing (which itself may have been treated with a flame-retardant substance).
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of making a flame-retardant upholstery component having a core of a flame-collapsible (as herein defined) polyurethane foam, in which the core is covered with a layer of foam material which has been impregnated with a flame-retardant substance.
The present invention also provides a flame-retardant upholstery - component comprising a core of a flame-collapsible (as herein defined) polyurethane foam, the core being covered with a layer of foam material which has been impregnated with a flame retardant substance.
The covered core may be enclosed in a fabric casing, and the casing may itself have been treated with a flame-retardant substance.
By "flame-collapsible foam" is meant a foam which collapses on application - of a flame and thereby presents a reduced surface area to the flame without sustained burning, for example a foam as described in our U.K. Patent No. 1,339,441, comprising the reaction product of a polymeric polyol, a tolylene diisocyanate, a foam modifier, an anti-ageing additive and an anti-shrinkage agent for the foam.
Other suitable foams are the so-called "high-resilience" foams. These may be produced 'by various known methods.- Some methods make use of a reaction between an ethylene oxide-tipped poly(oxyalkylene) triol and one of the following isocyanates: (a) Modified tólylene di-isocyanate, (b) Tolylene di-isocyanate plus a crosslinking agent, (c) Crude (diphenyl) methane diisocyanate (d) A mixture of crude (diphenyl) methane diisocyanate and tolylene diisocyanate.
Alternatively, a specially-modified poly (oxyalkylene) triol (polymeric polyol) may be reacted with tolylene diisocyanate.
Suitable flame-retardant substances for imparting the layer of foam material covering the core include suspensions of a hydrated alumina in a natural or synthetic rubber latex (as described in our co-pending- Appli- cation No. 46132/75, now U.K. Specification No. 1.519.795).
Foams which are suitable for use as the core and the covering of upholstery components according to the present invention include, for example, those available from Dunlop Limited, (Dunlopillo Division) as DP 107 and DllR 264 (core) and as D7 (covering). DP 107 is a flame-collapsible polyurethane foam, DHR 264 is a highresilience polyurethene foam and D7 is a conventional polyurethane foam.
Tests to ensure that the upholstery components according to the present invention satisfy the conditions laid down in the aforesaid D.O.E. Specification are carried out as follows.
(i) "Large crib" test Ten sticks of softwood, each of dimensions 80 mm x 12-5 mm x 12 5 mm and conditioned to a moisture content of 12%, are stacked 5 laycrs high, two sticks to each layer in alternate directions, and glued at the ends of the sticks by means of a p.v.a.based adhesive. Sufficient wood wool is placed in the cavity defined by the sticks to give a total "crib" weight of 75 g. The wood wool is ignited by means of a match.
(ii) "Double crib" test Two cribs, each constructed as described in the immediately preceding paragraph and containing, in toto, sufficient wood wool to give an overall "double crib" weight of 150 g, are placed side-by-side. The wood wool is ignited by means of a match.
The present invention will be illustrated by means of the following examples. In the examples, an upholstery component in the form of a miniature mattress was supported on a metal frame. In the "large crib" and "double crib" tests, the crib was placed in the centre of the upper horizontal surface of the mattress.
EXAMPLE 1 A miniature mattress, having a core of DP 107 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of D7 foam (previously impregnated with a suspension of hydrated alumina in a neoprene latex) and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flame-retardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test. All charring and emission of smoke ceased within 3 minutes of the crib extinguishing.
EXAMPLE 2 A miniature mattress, constructed as described in Example 1, was subjected to the "double crib" test. The performance of the sample was similar to that under the condition of the "large crib" test, but the sample continued to emit smoke for about 5 minutes after removal of the crib embers.
EXAMPLE 3 A miniature mattress, having a core of DHR 264 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of impregnated D7 foam and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flameretardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test.
All charring and emission of smoke ceased within 3 minutes of the crib extinguishing.
In the two following "Control" examples, the "large crib" test was carried out on a miniature mattress comprising a core of a foam material which does not exhibit "flame-collapsibility".
CONTROL EXAMPLE A A miniature mattress, comprising a core of a conventional polyurethane foam (avialable from Dunlop Limited-Dunlopillo Divi- sion as D 15) was enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flame-retardant substance and subjected to the "large crib" test.
The cover split, allowing the burning crib to collapse into the already-ignited foam core. Complete ignition of the core occurred and the resulting fire had to be extinguished.
CONTROL EXAMPLE B A miniature mattress, comprising a core of D15 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of the impregnated foam and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flameretardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test.
The mattress developed a self-sustaining char which continued to burn for 40 minutes before being extinguished.
Throughout the foregoing description and and Examples, the term "flame-retardant" has the meaning assigned to it in British Standard Specification No. 4422 (Glossary of terms associated with fire).
Whilst the present invention has been described with particular reference to mattresses, it is to be understood that the concept is equally applicable to cushions, pillows, seat squabs and the like.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A flame-retardant upholstery component comprising a core of a flame-collapsible (as hereinbefore defined) polurethane foam, the core being covered with a layer of foam material which has been impregnated with a flame-retardant substance.
2. A component according to Claim 1, in which the core is made of a foam comprising the reaction product of a polymeric polyol, a tolylene diisocyanate, a foam modifier, an anti-ageing additive and an anti-shrinkage agent for the foam.
3. A component according to claim 1, in which the core is made of a "high-resilience" foam.
4. A component according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the flame-retardant substance comprises a suspension of a hydrated
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Foams which are suitable for use as the core and the covering of upholstery components according to the present invention include, for example, those available from Dunlop Limited, (Dunlopillo Division) as DP 107 and DllR 264 (core) and as D7 (covering). DP 107 is a flame-collapsible polyurethane foam, DHR 264 is a highresilience polyurethene foam and D7 is a conventional polyurethane foam. Tests to ensure that the upholstery components according to the present invention satisfy the conditions laid down in the aforesaid D.O.E. Specification are carried out as follows. (i) "Large crib" test Ten sticks of softwood, each of dimensions 80 mm x 12-5 mm x 12 5 mm and conditioned to a moisture content of 12%, are stacked 5 laycrs high, two sticks to each layer in alternate directions, and glued at the ends of the sticks by means of a p.v.a.based adhesive. Sufficient wood wool is placed in the cavity defined by the sticks to give a total "crib" weight of 75 g. The wood wool is ignited by means of a match. (ii) "Double crib" test Two cribs, each constructed as described in the immediately preceding paragraph and containing, in toto, sufficient wood wool to give an overall "double crib" weight of 150 g, are placed side-by-side. The wood wool is ignited by means of a match. The present invention will be illustrated by means of the following examples. In the examples, an upholstery component in the form of a miniature mattress was supported on a metal frame. In the "large crib" and "double crib" tests, the crib was placed in the centre of the upper horizontal surface of the mattress. EXAMPLE 1 A miniature mattress, having a core of DP 107 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of D7 foam (previously impregnated with a suspension of hydrated alumina in a neoprene latex) and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flame-retardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test. All charring and emission of smoke ceased within 3 minutes of the crib extinguishing. EXAMPLE 2 A miniature mattress, constructed as described in Example 1, was subjected to the "double crib" test. The performance of the sample was similar to that under the condition of the "large crib" test, but the sample continued to emit smoke for about 5 minutes after removal of the crib embers. EXAMPLE 3 A miniature mattress, having a core of DHR 264 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of impregnated D7 foam and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flameretardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test. All charring and emission of smoke ceased within 3 minutes of the crib extinguishing. In the two following "Control" examples, the "large crib" test was carried out on a miniature mattress comprising a core of a foam material which does not exhibit "flame-collapsibility". CONTROL EXAMPLE A A miniature mattress, comprising a core of a conventional polyurethane foam (avialable from Dunlop Limited-Dunlopillo Divi- sion as D 15) was enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flame-retardant substance and subjected to the "large crib" test. The cover split, allowing the burning crib to collapse into the already-ignited foam core. Complete ignition of the core occurred and the resulting fire had to be extinguished. CONTROL EXAMPLE B A miniature mattress, comprising a core of D15 foam wrapped with a 1/2" thick layer of the impregnated foam and enclosed in a cotton cover treated with a flameretardant substance, was subjected to the "large crib" test. The mattress developed a self-sustaining char which continued to burn for 40 minutes before being extinguished. Throughout the foregoing description and and Examples, the term "flame-retardant" has the meaning assigned to it in British Standard Specification No. 4422 (Glossary of terms associated with fire). Whilst the present invention has been described with particular reference to mattresses, it is to be understood that the concept is equally applicable to cushions, pillows, seat squabs and the like. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-
1. A flame-retardant upholstery component comprising a core of a flame-collapsible (as hereinbefore defined) polurethane foam, the core being covered with a layer of foam material which has been impregnated with a flame-retardant substance.
2. A component according to Claim 1, in which the core is made of a foam comprising the reaction product of a polymeric polyol, a tolylene diisocyanate, a foam modifier, an anti-ageing additive and an anti-shrinkage agent for the foam.
3. A component according to claim 1, in which the core is made of a "high-resilience" foam.
4. A component according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the flame-retardant substance comprises a suspension of a hydrated
aluminina in a natural or synthetic rubber latex.
5. A component according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covered core is enclosed in a fabric casing.
6. A component according to Claim 5, in which the fabric casing has been treated with a flame-retardant substance.
7. An upholstery component, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to any one of Examples 1 to 3.
8. A method of making a flame-retardant upholstery component having a core of a flame-collapsible (as hereinbefore defined) polyurethane foam, in which the core is covered with a layer of foam material which has been impregnated with a flame-retardant substance.
GB375878A 1978-05-19 1978-05-19 Upholstery components Expired GB1589858A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB375878A GB1589858A (en) 1978-05-19 1978-05-19 Upholstery components

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB375878A GB1589858A (en) 1978-05-19 1978-05-19 Upholstery components

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1589858A true GB1589858A (en) 1981-05-20

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ID=9764407

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0055081A1 (en) * 1980-12-17 1982-06-30 Enichem Elastomers Limited Moulded foam cushioning
GB2116838A (en) * 1982-03-22 1983-10-05 British Vita Company Limited Upholstery component
GB2157163A (en) * 1984-04-06 1985-10-23 British Vita Upholstered articles
GB2162744A (en) * 1984-06-02 1986-02-12 Nottingham County Council Flame retardant cushion and seat
GB2165447A (en) * 1982-03-22 1986-04-16 British Vita Upholstery component
GB2181048A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-04-15 Bernard Bedborough Overlay
GB2237508A (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-05-08 Deborah Ann Powell Baby wedge
GB2244000B (en) * 1990-05-18 1993-09-22 Teasdale S Mattress

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0055081A1 (en) * 1980-12-17 1982-06-30 Enichem Elastomers Limited Moulded foam cushioning
GB2116838A (en) * 1982-03-22 1983-10-05 British Vita Company Limited Upholstery component
GB2165447A (en) * 1982-03-22 1986-04-16 British Vita Upholstery component
GB2157163A (en) * 1984-04-06 1985-10-23 British Vita Upholstered articles
GB2162744A (en) * 1984-06-02 1986-02-12 Nottingham County Council Flame retardant cushion and seat
GB2181048A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-04-15 Bernard Bedborough Overlay
GB2237508A (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-05-08 Deborah Ann Powell Baby wedge
GB2244000B (en) * 1990-05-18 1993-09-22 Teasdale S Mattress

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PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee