Process for the manufacture of protective hand coverings

Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of a protective hand covering comprising the steps of: placing a pliant, porous, fabric shell having the general configuration of a human hand over a perforated form; immersing the form in a liquid slurry so that the outer surface of the shell is in contact with the slurry, said slurry comprising: from about 25 to about 75 parts by weight of inorganic, reinforcing microfibers, and from about 75 to about 25 parts by weight of a polymeric binding agent in the form of a continuous matrix and which is derived from an emulsion or latex of the binding agent in which the particles of the binding agent are less than about 1 micrometer in size, the binding agent and the microfibers being present in the liquid slurry in a total amount of 100 parts by weight, based on the weight of said binding agent in said microfibers; drawing a vacuum in the interior of the form to cause the binding agent and fibers from the slurry to be deposited on the outside of the fabric shell; withdrawing the form and the shell with the deposited microfibers and binding agent adhering thereto from the fibrous slurry; curing the composite structure to set the matrix in the desired shape; and treating the composite structure with an agent to render it hydrophobic and oleophobic whereby a protective hand covering is provided which will resist the passage of oil and water-based compositions while allowing the passage of air and water vapor.