GB2389073A - Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production - Google Patents

Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2389073A
GB2389073A GB0212427A GB0212427A GB2389073A GB 2389073 A GB2389073 A GB 2389073A GB 0212427 A GB0212427 A GB 0212427A GB 0212427 A GB0212427 A GB 0212427A GB 2389073 A GB2389073 A GB 2389073A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
camouflage fabric
thermal camouflage
thermal
fabric
composite material
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0212427A
Other versions
GB0212427D0 (en
Inventor
Robert Michael Rowan
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.)
J&D Wilkie Ltd
Original Assignee
J&D Wilkie 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 J&D Wilkie Ltd filed Critical J&D Wilkie Ltd
Priority to GB0212427A priority Critical patent/GB2389073A/en
Publication of GB0212427D0 publication Critical patent/GB0212427D0/en
Publication of GB2389073A publication Critical patent/GB2389073A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D1/00Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles
    • D03D1/0035Protective fabrics
    • D03D1/0047Camouflage fabrics
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B15/00Layered products comprising a layer of metal
    • B32B15/04Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B15/08Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/20Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/242Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the material of the fibres or filaments constituting the yarns or threads inorganic, e.g. basalt
    • D03D15/25Metal
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/40Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/44Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the structure of the yarns or threads with specific cross-section or surface shape
    • D03D15/46Flat yarns, e.g. tapes or films
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41HARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H3/00Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise
    • F41H3/02Flexible, e.g. fabric covers, e.g. screens, nets characterised by their material or structure
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2101/00Inorganic fibres
    • D10B2101/20Metallic fibres
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2505/00Industrial
    • D10B2505/18Outdoor fabrics, e.g. tents, tarpaulins

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

A thermal camouflage fabric (8) comprising a heat reflective composite material which is coated on both of its sides with a protective material, the heat reflective composite material comprising at least one layer of a metal and at least one layer of a flexible support material, the protective material being such that it protects the heat reflective composite material from damage and such that it has predetermined thermal emission characteristics, the protective material is securely bonded to the heat reflective composite material, the heat reflective composite material being such that it is first formed from the said at least one layer of the metal and the said at least one layer of the flexible support material and it is then woven, and characterised in that the thermal camouflage fabric (8) is woven thermal camouflage fabric (8) produced from a sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric that had a continuous un-interrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides and that has been cut into strips (10) and the strips (10) woven together.

Description

THERMAL CAMOUFLAGE FABRIC AND
METHOD OF PRODUCTION
This invention relates to a thermal camouflage fabric and to a method of producing the thermal camouflage fabric.
Thermal camouflage fabric is well known. The known thermal camouflage fabric is mainly used by land forces to cover items of essential equipment that produce heat and that may thus be detected by an enemy using infra-red or other heat detection equipment. Thus, for example, an army may use the thermal camouflage fabric to cover tanks and gun emplacements. If desired, the thermal camouflage fabric can also be used by other armed forces so that, for example, aircraft on an airfield may be
camouflaged using the thermal camouflage fabric.
Originally, the thermal camouflage fabric that was in use was a composite fabric that was produced by a multi-stage process comprising the initial weaving of polyolefin flat tape to form a woven fabric, the surface preparation of the woven fabric by a primer material, then the aluminium coating of the primed woven fabric by vacuum deposition, and finally the extrusion coating of the aluminized woven fabric with a protective material in the form of a polyolefin film. The thermal camouflage fabric was produced in two basic types, one type being for use in a temperate zone and designated Thermal Camouflage Woodlandn and the other type being for use in Northern European zones and designated "Thermal Camouflage Arcticn.
These two types of fabric differed only in their reflectance (i.e. emssive) properties. The thermal camouflage fabric was difficult to manufacture such that the thermal camouflage fabric was of a consistent and acceptable quality. An unacceptable level of reject fabric was produced due to difficulties in obtaining adequate levels of bonding between the various layers in the thermal camouflage fabric. The high reject rate appeared to be due to delamination problems, together with problems of providing the coating layers of the primer material and the protective material. In addition to de-lamination during manufacture, the thermal camouflage fabric was subject to further de-lamination during use as a result of flexing and abrasion on the thermal camouflage fabric.
An improved thermal camouflage fabric is disclosed in our European Patent No. 0329320. This improved thermal camouflage fabric was able to be produced in a manner and a quality which obviated or reduced the problems associated with the original thermal camouflage fabric.
The improved thermal camouflage fabric disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320 comprises a heat reflective composite material which is coated on both of its sides with a protective material. Thus the thermal camouflage fabric is in the form of a sheet that has a continuous uninterrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides. Whilst this improved thermal camouflage fabric is considerably better than the original thermal camouflage fabric, the improved thermal camouflage fabric disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320 in itself has certain shortcomings. These shortcomings may be listed as handling properties
and noise generated during handling, pooling of water which can cause reflections, slippery to walk on, difficulty with draping, more joins than optimal in a width of the thermal camouflage fabric, possible cold crack failure, and less than optimum resistance to tear.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a thermal camouflage fabric and a method for its production, which thermal camouflage fabric obviates or reduces the above mentioned disadvantages associated with the thermal camouflage fabric disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320 Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a thermal camouflage fabric comprising a heat reflective composite material which is coated on both of its sides with a protective material, the heat reflective composite material comprising at least one layer of a metal and at least one layer of a flexible support material, the protective material being such that it protects the heat reflective composite material from damage and such that it has predetermined thermal emission characteristics, the protective material is securely bonded to the heat reflective composite material, the heat reflective composite material being such that it is first formed from the said at least one layer of the metal and the said at least one layer of the flexible support material and it is then woven, and characterized in that the thermal camouflage fabric is woven thermal camouflage fabric produced from a sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric that had a continuous un-interrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides and that has been cut into strips and the strips woven together.
Thus the thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention is such that the sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No. 0329320 with its continuous interrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides is cut into strips and the strips are woven together Thus the thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention is woven, as compared with the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No. 0329320 which is in sheet form having a continuous un-interrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides. As compared with the thermal camouflage fabric disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320, the thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention is able to give the present I advantages. 1. Better handling properties and less noisy.
2. The elimination of pooling of water which can cause reflections.
3 Less slippery to walk on.
4. Improved drape.
5. Less join in a width due to wider production possibilities.
6. Less chance of cold crack failure.! 7. Improved tear resistance.
Thus the thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention is able to retain the advantages of the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No. 0329320, whilst at the same time overcoming the shortcomings of the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No 0329320. Thus the
present invention satisfies problems which have been perceived with the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No. 0329320, but which had previously been thought to be unsolvable if the required beneficial properties of the thermal camouflage fabric of European Patent No. 0329320 were to be retained.
As disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320, the predetermined thermal emission characteristics will usually be those required of the original thermal camouflage fabric. For example, the required predetermined thermal emission characteristics may be those obtained in the range of 750-
900nm. The determination of the reflectance may be made by means of a spectrophotometer fitted with a reflection attachment and working over the required wavelength range. The reference standard would usually be barium sulphate having a minimum thickness of 2mm. The reflectance may also be determined in the wavelength range of 8 - 13 micro-meters.
The metal is preferably aluminium but other metals including metalised plastics materials may be employed if desired. Generally the metal may be formed as a coating or as a separate foil. The metal employed to be such that it is able to mask the heat that would normally come from the equipment to be covered by the thermal camouflage fabric.
The construction of the thermal camouflage fabric up to the stage where the thermal camouflage fabric is formed as a sheet that has a continuous uninterrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides is preferably as disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320.
Thereafter, the thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention is given
r its new physical structure by being cut into strips and the strips woven together. Thus, for example, the sheet may be drawn over one or more of razor blades, crush cutters, ultrasonic devices, or similar equipment to form layers. The tapes may then be transferred to suitable packages for the subsequent weaving.
In accordance with a further non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of producing the thermal camouflage fabric, which method comprises forming a composite of metal and the flexible support material, weaving the composite to produce a heat reflective composite material, securely bonding a protective material to the heat reflective composite material to form the thermal camouflage fabric as a sheet that has a continuous uninterrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides, characterized in that the sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric is then cut into strips and the strips are woven together.
Various aspects of the method of producing the thermal camouflage fabric up to the stage of forming the thermal camouflage fabric as a sheet that has a continuous uninterrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides are preferably as disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320. Thereafter' in accordance with the method of the invention, the sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric is then cut into strips and the strips are woven together.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a piece of thermal camouflage fabric material produced in accordance with European Patent No. 0329320, Figure 2 is a simplified sectional view of the thermal camouflage fabric shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view of a piece of thermal camouflage fabric of the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown thermal camouflage fabric 2 that may be produced as disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320. The thermal camouflage fabric 2 is such that it is in the form of a sheet having a continuous uninterrupted coating 4 of protective material on both of its sides. The core of the thermal camouflage fabric 2 is formed by a heat reflective composite material 6 which is of a construction as disclosed in European Patent No. 0329320.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown thermal camouflage fabric 8 of the present invention. The thermal camouflage fabric.8 is such that it has been produced from a sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric 2 that has been then cut into strips 10, and the strips 10 woven together.
As compared with the thermal camouflage fabric 2, the thermal camouflage fabric 8 has the following advantages.
1. Better handling properties and less noisy.
2. The elimination of pooling of water which can cause reflections.
3. Less slippery to walk on.
4. Improved drape.
( - 5. Less join in a width due to wider production possibilities.
6. Less chance of cold crack failure.
7. Improved tear resistance.
Thus the thermal camouflage fabric 8 is able to have the same emmisivity properties as the thermal camouflage fabric 2 for use in protection against thermal imaging, but the thermal camouflage fabric 8 has the additional advantages mentioned above which enables the thermal camouflage fabric 8 to be used to better effect in situations that the thermal camouflage fabric 2 would be used in, and it also enables the thermal camouflage fabric 8 to be used in other areas where the thermal camouflage fabric 2 is not suitable.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the length and width of the strips 10 can be varied as desired. Also, the types of weaving employed may be varied as desired.

Claims (4)

1. A thermal camouflage fabric comprising a heat reflective composite material which is coated on both of its sides with a protective material, the heat reflective composite material comprising at least one layer of a metal and at least one layer of a flexible support material, the protective material being such that it protects the heat reflective composite material from damage and such that it has predetermined thermal emission characteristics, the protective material is securely bonded to the heat reflective composite material, the heat reflective composite material being such that it is first formed from the said at least one layer of the metal and the said at least one layer of the flexible support material and it is then woven, and characterized in that the thermal camouflage fabric is woven thermal camouflage fabric produced from a sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric that had a continuous un- interrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides and that has been cut into strips and the strips woven together.
2. A thermal camouflage fabric substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. A method of producing the thermal camouflage fabric as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which method comprises forming a composite of metal and the flexible support material, weaving the composite to produce a heat
( 10 reflective composite material, securely bonding a protective material to the heat reflective composite material to form the thermal camouflage fabric as a sheet that has a continuous uninterrupted coating of the protective material on both of its sides, characterized in that the sheet of the thermal camouflage fabric is then cut into strips and the strips are woven together.
4. A method according to claim 3, substantially as herein described.
GB0212427A 2002-05-29 2002-05-29 Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production Withdrawn GB2389073A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0212427A GB2389073A (en) 2002-05-29 2002-05-29 Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0212427A GB2389073A (en) 2002-05-29 2002-05-29 Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0212427D0 GB0212427D0 (en) 2002-07-10
GB2389073A true GB2389073A (en) 2003-12-03

Family

ID=9937676

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0212427A Withdrawn GB2389073A (en) 2002-05-29 2002-05-29 Thermal camouflage fabric and method of production

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2389073A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD758744S1 (en) 2012-09-14 2016-06-14 Under Armour, Inc. Upper body garment with outer surface ornamentation
USD758745S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-06-14 Under Armour, Inc. Lower body garment with outer surface ornamentation
USD765427S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-09-06 Under Armour, Inc. Upper body garment with areas of interior surface ornamentation
USD766599S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-09-20 Under Armour, Inc. Lower body garment with inner surface ornamentation
US10492550B2 (en) 2014-01-28 2019-12-03 Under Armour, Inc. Article of apparel including thermoregulatory textile

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2075913A (en) * 1980-05-14 1981-11-25 Perifleur Products Ltd Thermal insulating materials
EP0329320A2 (en) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-23 J & D WILKIE LIMITED Thermal camouflage fabric
WO1991016592A1 (en) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-31 Courtaulds Advanced Materials (Holdings) Limited Visual and thermal camouflage materials and manufacturing method
JPH06192916A (en) * 1992-12-24 1994-07-12 Toyobo Co Ltd Heat-resistant elastomeric hot-melt fiber

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2075913A (en) * 1980-05-14 1981-11-25 Perifleur Products Ltd Thermal insulating materials
EP0329320A2 (en) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-23 J & D WILKIE LIMITED Thermal camouflage fabric
WO1991016592A1 (en) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-31 Courtaulds Advanced Materials (Holdings) Limited Visual and thermal camouflage materials and manufacturing method
JPH06192916A (en) * 1992-12-24 1994-07-12 Toyobo Co Ltd Heat-resistant elastomeric hot-melt fiber

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WPI Abstract: Acc. No. 1994-261002 & JP 06192916 A *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD758744S1 (en) 2012-09-14 2016-06-14 Under Armour, Inc. Upper body garment with outer surface ornamentation
US9719206B2 (en) 2012-09-14 2017-08-01 Under Armour, Inc. Apparel with heat retention layer and method of making the same
US10563349B2 (en) 2012-09-14 2020-02-18 Under Armour, Inc. Apparel with heat retention layer and method of making the same
USD758745S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-06-14 Under Armour, Inc. Lower body garment with outer surface ornamentation
USD765427S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-09-06 Under Armour, Inc. Upper body garment with areas of interior surface ornamentation
USD766599S1 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-09-20 Under Armour, Inc. Lower body garment with inner surface ornamentation
US10492550B2 (en) 2014-01-28 2019-12-03 Under Armour, Inc. Article of apparel including thermoregulatory textile

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Publication number Publication date
GB0212427D0 (en) 2002-07-10

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