GB2571205A - Encapsulated colour-change composition, coloured fabric and garment - Google Patents

Encapsulated colour-change composition, coloured fabric and garment Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2571205A
GB2571205A GB1901452.1A GB201901452A GB2571205A GB 2571205 A GB2571205 A GB 2571205A GB 201901452 A GB201901452 A GB 201901452A GB 2571205 A GB2571205 A GB 2571205A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
colour
change
fabric
change composition
composition according
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GB1901452.1A
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GB201901452D0 (en
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Bowker Lauren
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TheUnseen Ltd
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TheUnseen Ltd
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Publication of GB201901452D0 publication Critical patent/GB201901452D0/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
    • C08G18/00—Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates
    • C08G18/06—Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen
    • C08G18/08—Processes
    • C08G18/10—Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
    • C08G18/00—Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates
    • C08G18/06—Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen
    • C08G18/70—Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen characterised by the isocyanates or isothiocyanates used
    • C08G18/72—Polyisocyanates or polyisothiocyanates
    • C08G18/80—Masked polyisocyanates
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/53—Polyethers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/004—Dyeing with phototropic dyes; Obtaining camouflage effects
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
    • D06P1/52—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders using compositions containing synthetic macromolecular substances
    • D06P1/5264—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
    • D06P1/5271—Polyesters; Polycarbonates; Alkyd resins
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
    • D06P1/52—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders using compositions containing synthetic macromolecular substances
    • D06P1/5264—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
    • D06P1/5285—Polyurethanes; Polyurea; Polyguanides
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
    • D06P1/52—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders using compositions containing synthetic macromolecular substances
    • D06P1/54—Substances with reactive groups together with crosslinking agents
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
    • D06P1/60—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders using compositions containing polyethers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
    • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders
    • D06P1/64—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders using compositions containing low-molecular-weight organic compounds without sulfate or sulfonate groups
    • D06P1/642—Compounds containing nitrogen
    • D06P1/6424—Compounds containing isocyanate or isothiocyanate groups
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P3/00—Special processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the material treated
    • D06P3/02—Material containing basic nitrogen
    • D06P3/04—Material containing basic nitrogen containing amide groups
    • D06P3/24—Polyamides; Polyurethanes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K9/00—Tenebrescent materials, i.e. materials for which the range of wavelengths for energy absorption is changed as a result of excitation by some form of energy
    • C09K9/02—Organic tenebrescent materials
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
    • D06M2101/16—Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
    • D06M2101/30—Synthetic polymers consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M2101/38—Polyurethanes
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M2200/00—Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material
    • D06M2200/40—Reduced friction resistance, lubricant properties; Sizing compositions

Abstract

The colour-change composition includes an encapsulated color‑change component a binder composition to bind the colour change component to the fabric. The binder composition contains a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, an isocyanate, preferably a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant. The preferred colour change component is preferably hydrochromic, photoelastic or thermochromic liquid crystal or leuco dye. The lubricant is preferably a glycol compound, glycerol, hydrophilic polyurea or siloxane, gum Arabic, gelatine, xanthan gum, guar gum, alginate, carrageen, locust bean gum, pectin or starch. The preferred binder is polyether urethane, polyester urethane or polyether ester. The composition is bound to an elastic fabric, that is used to produce responsive clothing.

Description

This invention relates to an encapsulated colour-change composition for applying a colourchange component to a fabric and to coloured attire or apparel, particularly garments. The invention relates particularly to a colour-change composition for application to an elastic fabric, for use in manufacturing a garment in which colour change occurs in response to an external stimulus due to movement of a subject wearing the garment or to a change in the environment.
Pigments, dyes and colour-change components may be applied to a fabric as a coating and provide a fixed colour or provide a dynamic change in colour as a response to changing prevailing conditions for example temperature, UV exposure, pressure experienced, or time. Known colour-change materials include leuco-dyes and liquid crystals, for example thermochromic cholesteric or chiral nematic liquid crystals. Such materials may be encapsulated through a variety of means and materials, for example via complex coacervation with gum arabic and gelatin.
Thermochromic colour-change components reversibly change colour or change between different coloured states or a coloured and colourless state when subjected to a change in temperature of a sufficient magnitude. As the temperature changes, a coated material will typically retain colour until a certain temperature for retention of the complete coloured state is reached. The composition will then progressively change colour or become colourless as the temperature increases or decreases until it has completely changed colour. This process may be reversible or irreversible. Thermochromic materials, having standard colour change schemes and bandwidths, that is a difference in temperature at which colour-change occurs from a first to a second colour and in reverse from the second colour to the first, are commercially available, for example from LCR Hallcrest.
With thermochromic colour-change components, encapsulation typically preserves the thermochromic mechanism of the encapsulated material. The colour-change component is stabilised in a binder system within the capsule. Thermochromic encapsulated colourchange components have been incorporated into or coated on textiles for many years. For example, in 1989, the Generra Sportswear Company in Seattle developed the Hypercolor brand using encapsulated leuco-dyes and a cross-linked binder system which. In the field of textiles, this system may be known as a “pigment wash” system. Numerous attempts have been made to develop suitable combinations of textiles and colour-change components with limited success.
A wide range of colourants including colour-change compositions and processes for their application to a fabric or yarn substrate are known. A need remains to provide coloured attire having an acceptable combination of desired properties such as intensity and vividness of colour, UV stability and lightfastness, reflectivity and adequate binding of the composition to the fabric to ensure resilience to physical processes to which the fabric will be subjected including repeated washing, rubbing, UV exposure and appropriate feel qualities such as a soft, pleasant feel and lack of tackiness, especially if the attire is to be worn by a subject next to the skin.
However, adhering an encapsulated material to a fabric presents a number of challenges, especially where the fabric is thin and the colour-change component is encapsulated. To accommodate the comparatively large size of the capsule, the coating is suitably relatively thick and may have physical properties which may differ from those of the fabric which may adversely impact the physical characteristics and “feel” of the fabric.
Furthermore, encapsulated colour-change components may provide relatively low colour intensity thus requiring a higher level of colour-change component to achieve a desired intensity. The flexibility and durability of the fabric may be impaired as a consequence. Thin fabrics, for example thin elastic fabrics used in sportswear and which are designed to conform snugly to a body shape of the wearer, may not readily lend themselves to printing with encapsulated colour-change components. Thin fabrics present less fabric for the binder to bind to than thicker materials which may limit the loading of the colour-change component on a thin fabric. This may result in a lesser intensity of colour and a heavy or otherwise compromised feel to the fabric.
Some known binder formulations for adhering pigments to fabrics are flexible and durable but these typically contain solvent concentrations which may damage an encapsulated colour-change component, diminish the colour intensity and degrade the colour and thermochromic activity over time.
Colour change compositions applied to fabrics may also need to meet appropriate safety standards for example Manufacturing Restricted Substances List regulations, for example a formaldehyde content of not more than 0.2%.
We have further found that a novel colour-change composition having an encapsulated colour-change component and a certain polyurethane binder system enables an encapsulated colour-change component to be bound to a fabric for production of a coloured fabric having a desirable combination of physical and other performance characteristics.
In a first aspect, the invention provides an encapsulated colour-change composition adapted to be bound to a fabric, wherein the colour-change composition comprises an encapsulated colour-change component and a binder composition comprising a binder which comprises an aliphatic polyurethane derived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, an isocyanate, preferably a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
The composition when applied to the fabric suitably provides intense colours, contrast between different colours and responsive colour-change and adherence to the fabric and a desired level of colourfastness during laundering, as regards resistance to rubbing and resistance to light exposure. The colour-change composition is suitably dermatologically acceptable in view of its likely contact with the skin of a subject.
The term 'blocked isocyanate” refers to a molecule containing one or more isocyanate moieties where one or more of those moieties have been covalently reacted with a group to provide a protecting group for the isocyanate moiety to render the group “blocked”. The protecting group may be removed under certain reaction conditions, for example subjecting the “blocked isocyanate” to a particular elevated temperature dependent on the blocking group such that the unblocked isocyanate moiety may then react as required.
Preferably, the fabric comprises a natural fibre, a synthetic fibre or a combination thereof. The fabric may be woven, knitted or in any suitable form. Examples of suitable natural fibres include cotton, wool, linen, silk and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable synthetic fibres include polyester, polyamide, nylon, olefin, acetate, acrylic, rayon, modal, aramid, for example Kevlar® a registered trademark of Du Pont, Inc. and polyamide polyurethane blends for example as used in elastane-containing synthetic textiles. Further examples of suitable fabrics include Carvico and Jersey Lomellin
The colour-change composition may be used to provide a colour-change coating on any suitable fabric. The coloured fabric may be formed into a garment which is loose-fitting has close contact with the skin, for example is skin-tight, and has elastic properties.
Thin fabrics, for example thin elastic fabrics used in sportswear and which are designed to conform snugly to a body shape of the wearer, may not readily lend themselves to printing with encapsulated colour-change components. Thin fabrics present less substrate for the binder to bind to than thicker materials which may limit the loading of the colour-change component on a thin fabric. This may result in a lesser intensity of colour and a heavy or otherwise compromised feel to the fabric.
We have found that the composition of the invention may be readily applied to a very thin fabric, thereby allowing its use with high performance, elastic fabrics. A thin fabric may typically be 5 to 50 microns.
Problems may arise with elastic fabrics printed with an encapsulated colour-change compound due to a difference in elasticity of the fabric and the composition which forms the printed body of colour. The fabric is designed and intended to be stretched and to recover to its original shape whilst being worn. However, the pigment or colour-change component printed on the fabric and bound thereto by a binder typically lacks the elasticity of the fabric itself. Upon stretching, the body of pigment and binder material may undergo fracture leading to fissures known as “white-crack”. Upon recovery of the fabric to its original shape, discontinuities may remain visible and give an undesirable aesthetic appearance.
We have found that the colour-change composition may be advantageously applied to an elastic fabric and be appropriately bound whilst retaining the desired colour-change and physical performance characteristics and elasticity of the fabric and reducing or avoiding “white-crack”.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a coloured garment comprising an elastic fabric adapted to be worn by a subject in a skin-tight manner, comprising an encapsulated colourchange composition bound to the elastic fabric wherein the colour-change composition comprises an encapsulated colour-change component and a binder composition comprising an aliphatic polyurethane derived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
The coloured elastic fabric may be stretched or deformed in a manner usual for the fabric and return to its original shape and size within a reasonable time and have a soft, non-tacky feeling associated with the fabric without the colour-change composition applied to it.
The invention is especially suitable for use with an elastic fabric adapted to be worn in a close-fitting manner to the body of a subject. Changes in body temperature or differences in body temperature in different areas of contact between the fabric and the body suitably provide a different colour-change effect.
Suitably, the elastic fabric is suitable for use as a functional sports fabric or textile, preferably having an elongation of at least 30%, especially an elongation of at least 50%, preferably at least 80% and especially at least 150% desirably at least 200%.
By “ % elongation we mean that the colour-change fabric is stretched to at least the specified % elongation and then returns return to its unstretched size and shape within 2 minutes.
Preferably, the elastic fabric comprises a synthetic elastomer as a textile fibre. Suitably, the synthetic elastomer comprises a pure polyether/urea copolymer or a polyurethane/polyether copolymer. Examples of synthetic elastomers include Elastane, Spandex, Lycra, Elaspan, Aceporta, Creora, INVIYA, and the like. An elastic fabric may comprise a synthetic elastomer and a conventional fibre, for example polyamide and polyester.
In a preferred embodiment, the elastic fabric or fibre comprises elastane for example Spandex®, a registered trademark of Dupont, Inc. RadiciSpandex S-17B polyether-based Spandex/elastane filament is a particularly suitable example.
The elastic fibre may be present in the fabric at a conventional or known level, for example 15% as a proportion of the fibres in the fabric.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of providing a fabric which comprises applying to a fabric a colour-change, composition comprising a colour-change compound and a binder composition which comprises a binder comprising an aliphatic polyurethane derived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
As employed herein, the term “static colour” refers to a colour produced using colour change component that will not change colour as a result of molecular or physical transformation and which may or may not have iridescent refractive colour shifts
As employed herein, the terms “changing colour” and “dynamic colour” refer to colourchange component which exhibits a reversible colour change in response to stimuli.
As employed herein, the term “single colour change” refers to a colour-change component which exhibits a one-time colour change that may be activated from one colour to the next by a trigger but which is not reversible.
As employed herein, the term “single colour set” refers to a colour-change component which shows a colour-change that is triggered but that then stays until a second trigger deactivates it back to the first colour.
As employed herein, the term “tuned colour” refers to a colour-change component or components which have been formulated to change colour in response to a particular set of parameters in a pre-determined manner consistent with a design concept.
As employed herein, the term “translucent” means a light transmittance of between 1% and 99% of a range or ranges of light with wavelengths between 390 to 700 nm.
The encapsulated colour-change composition comprises one or more colour-change components. The colour-change composition may additionally comprise a pigment or other material which does not change colour in addition to a colour-change component. The colour-change component(s) or pigment may provide static colour, dynamic colour, a single colour-change, a single colour set or tuned colour. The colour-change component may be disposed within the capsule, the shell of the capsule, or provided as a component of a coating on the capsule.
The colour-change may occur due to stimuli from a person, such as body temperature or from external factors for example a change in wind-chill, temperature or moisture, either ambient temperature or humidity or the occurrence and degree of precipitation, for example snowfall and rainfall or where wind resistance may arise. Preferably, colour-change is stimulated by contact with the body of a person wearing a fabric comprising the colourchange composition or pressure for example due to wind resistance.
Advantageously, the encapsulated colour-change composition binds to the elastic fabric and provides a desired combination of characteristics including vivid and intense colours, washfastness, rubfastness and lightfastness and resistance to degradation due to UV light. The encapsulated colour-change composition according to the invention advantageously provides a desirable “feel” for the subject or wearer of the fabric and does not feel tacky. The feel of the fabric containing the colour-change composition of the invention is suitably not altered as compared to the feel of the fabric without the printed colour composition to a degree perceptible by the subject.
Colour intensity may be measured through the use of the Cl ELab colour space, wherein different colours may be compared with respect to mathematical constants for determining lightness (L), hue (H), and chroma (C) which is concerned with the purity of the hue.
Different hues have different maximum available chroma values due to the range of colours discernible by the human eye. The present invention enables colour intensities of greater than above 50%, preferably above 80 % of the available chroma values for any particular hue to be obtained. Suitably, the colour change is noticeable to the human eye and, preferably there is a change in ΔΕ value of at least 1.
Preferably, washfastness is retained after 50 washes in a representative domestic, automatic washing machine as part of a representative or typical load. Rubfastness is suitably determined by measuring colour brightness and material properties when subjected to hard rubbing. Adequate lightfastness is suitably provided if colour brightness and colourchange/thermochromic sensitivity is retained upon exposure to UV light according to the test method set out below in the examples.
The invention is especially useful in providing sportswear, footwear, casual sports-style or leisure wear and particularly high performance sportswear, which exhibits a colour change in use and where the athlete moves rapidly with reduced mechanical resistance from their attire, and may wish to reduce the effects of wind resistance.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a sports product, preferably an article of sports clothing, comprising a coloured elastic fabric formed into a garment which fabric is coated with a colour-change composition bound to the fabric wherein the composition comprises an encapsulated colour-change component and a binder composition comprising an aliphatic polyurethane derived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
The encapsulated colour-change composition of the invention is particularly useful when applied to a garment or item of attire which fits closely to the body of the subject. In some embodiments the garment is in close contact with the skin, for example skin-tight, so that body heat warms different areas of the garment to provide colour change in use in some parts of the garment but not in others or to provide different colour change in different parts of the garment.
The sports product is preferably a garment, footwear or other item of attire, for example a sprint suit, T-shirt singlet garment.
Examples of sportswear and high performance sportswear in which the invention may be employed include track and field sprint-suits and singlets, winter sports racing attire, especially ski-suits and attire for bobsleigh, luge and other winter sports, cycling suits especially for use in track cycling and time-trialling, swimsuits and other attire for high performance water-based sports.
The invention may also be applied to other attire including lingerie, leisure-wear, sports attire for general wear, for example sports-style wear, yoga and the like.
Examples of sports footwear in which the invention may be employed include specialist shoes for sports including indoor use and outdoor use for example footwear for football, rugby, hockey, running, American football, cricket, baseball, tennis, basketball, golf, athletics spikes, winter sports footwear, sports style trainers and personalised athletic footwear.
Where the colourant comprises a colour-change compound, the colour-change of the composition may be tailored according to the desired colour-changes and intended use. A single colour-change, for example from black to another colour including black to white, black to yellow or gold may be provided. Alternatively, multiple colour-change, for example from black to red to green to blue to black may be provided as the temperature or water/moisture level changes.
In referring to a “colour-change” compound or composition, we include any material, for example a dye, pigment or encapsulated component or composition which, in response to an external parameter such as heat, light, moisture, pressure or the like, especially heat, is capable of a visual change from a first colour to a second or subsequent further colour, for example a third or fourth colour or between clear or transparent and coloured. In a preferred embodiment, the colour-change component comprises an encapsulated liquid crystal.
The fabric may be coloured in a base colour and the colour-change composition is then applied to the fabric. Suitably, the colour-change composition has a coloured state and a transparent state such that the base colour is visible when the colour-change component is in the transparent state and, when in the coloured state, presents a colour to an observer based on the coloured state or a combination of the coloured state and the base colour. Use of two or more colour-change component may allow multiple colour-changes or a succession of colours to be observed in response to changing stimulus, for example temperature, advantageously offering a wide range of product design opportunities.
The fabric may also comprise one or more a non-colour-change components as desired. One or more colour-change components may be employed which change colour at different temperatures to provide one or more colour changes. By selecting appropriate colourchange components, the temperature at which colour-change occurs may be tuned as desired. Where there are multiple colour-change components, the temperature range or bandwidth over which a particular colour appears or transitions from one colour to another may be tuned.
A colour-change composition according to the invention may be adapted to change from one state to another state at a desired temperature. In one embodiment, the colour-change compound switches state at a temperature in the range 20 to 25°C, or 25 to 33°C, especially 29 to 32°C for example 31°C. Suitably, the colour change composition is coloured at a lower temperature and colourless at a higher temperature thereby revealing the colour of a base colourant.
Colour-change may occur over a temperature range and over a period of time, thereby providing a gradual change of colour.
The colour change composition may comprise one or more colour-change components mixed together with a binder according to the invention which is applied to the fabric as a single composition. If desired, each colour change component may be applied to the fabric as a separate composition in separate, successive steps. Where colour-change compositions are applied successively, suitably, a static colour is applied to the fabric first and each colour change composition is then applied to the fabric in order of decreasing transition temperature of the colour-change compound.
In one embodiment, a fabric comprises a base colour, a first colour-change compound having a transition temperature from one state to another at a temperature U in the range 25 to 31°C, preferably 25 to 30°C for example 29°C and a second colour-change compound having a transition temperature from one state to another at a temperature T2 in the range greater than 30 to 35°C, for example 31 °C where Π is lower than T2.
To the observer, at a lower temperature, the colour of the first colour-change compound will be visible and as the colour-change component is heated and reaches the first transition temperature and the colour-change component commences transition to a transparent state, the observed colour changes from that of the first colour-change compound to a mix of that of the second colour-change compound and the first colour-change compound to the colour of the second colour-change compound. With further heating to the transition temperature of the second colour-change compound, the observed colour changes from that ofthe second colour-change compound to a mix of that and the base colour-change component to exclusively the colour of the base colour-change component as the second colour-change compound becomes transparent.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a fabric with a base colour-change component which is white, a blue leuco dye having a colour transition temperature T and a red leuco colour-change component having a colour transition temperature T2 allows a colour transition from blue, through purple, red and pink to white as temperature increases and in reverse as temperature decreases.
The invention provides a coloured fabric comprising a colour-change component and optionally a non-colour-change component adapted to provide multiple colour-changes at different temperatures.
Suitably, the binder composition may comprise a pigment which may enhance the vividness of the colour.
Known binder compositions may be opaque or translucent or white such that the underlying colour is perceived by an observer as less vivid or a pastel shade. The binder composition of the invention may be translucent but is preferably transparent such that the base colour of the fabric is visible when the colour -change compound is in its transparent state. Where the colour-change component comprises a liquid crystal, the binder is suitably transparent.
The present binder composition suitably allows the underlying colour to be visible in a vivid manner, thereby providing an intense and striking visual effect. The colour composition may comprise a static colourant, that is a fixed colour and not susceptible to colour-change and a colour-change component, preferably an encapsulated colour-change component, for example a leuco-dye and a liquid crystal as described herein. Encapsulated liquid crystal colour-change components are preferred as providing a transparent state. Leuco-dyes while suitable for use in the present invention, may undergo colour-change from colourless to a colour.
The combination of the coloured state of the colour-change component and the colour of a static component presents a first colour to the observer and as the colour-change component switches to a second colour or a transparent state, the combination of the colour change components presents a second colour to the observer. For example, a yellow pigment combined with a black leuco dye may present a green colour and as the leuco dye transitions to a colourless state, the observer sees a change of colour from green to yellow.
The vibrancy and vividness of the colour of a static colourant is suitably maximised by employing a colour-change component which has a transparent state. By contrast, an opaque or translucent state will tend to render the static colourant colour as less vivid, cloudy or otherwise of reduced vibrancy and may provide a less intense and more pastel hue.
The colour-change garment may provide a colour-change effect under wet or dry ambient conditions or wear the subject wearing the garment has a different level of perspiration and at different ambient temperatures.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a method of providing a colour-change effect in a colour-treated attire, especially elastic attire, adapted to be worn by a subject wherein the colour-treated attire comprises a colour-change composition according to the invention wherein the colour of the attire in one area of the attire differs to the colour of the attire in a different area of the attire and the colour in at least one area is changeable in response to an external stimulus.
Suitably, the external stimulus is selected from body temperature of the subject, pressure experienced by the subject due to movement and water.
Preferably, different parts of the attire are subject to different levels of stimulus during movement of the subject. The different levels of stimulus are suitably provided by the attire being in contact with different parts of the body at different temperatures. The surface temperature of the attire suitably differs from area to area of the attire.
In one embodiment, the attire conforms to contours of the body of the subject wherein the colour-change in different areas of the attire is dependent upon contact with different areas of the body of the subject during movement, for example during running and especially sprinting,
Accordingly, the invention is especially suitable for use with an elastic fabric adapted to be worn in a close-fitting manner to the body of a subject.
The attire or garment will suitably be in direct contact with the body of the subject and, depending on the area of contact, a colour-change effect will suitably be visually apparent as the local temperature in that area changes. Different areas of the body in contact with the garment will typically show a greater or lesser change in temperature as the body moves, and provide a different level of colour-change effect. For example, greater or lesser temperature changes may be observed in garment in contact with, the inner thigh, armpit, chest, abdomen and back of the subject. Changes in humidity of the garment whether due to changing external conditions or difference or changes in bodily conditions of the subject may also give rise to colour-change.
The tightness or looseness of the fit of the garment against the body of the wearer may give rise to a greater or lesser temperature change and hence greater or lesser colour-change effect. Where temperature changes occur at different times or rates at different areas of the body, the colour-change effect may arise at different times reflecting such differences in timing or rate of temperature change.
The temperature of a garment and different areas of the garment whilst being worn by a subject may be determined using photography, video or other thermally-sensitive image recording.
During a sporting event or other exercise involving movement, the temperature of a garment worn by a subject may typically drop by 1 or more degrees, for example 1 to 10 degrees, from when the garment is exposed to external conditions, for example by removal of overlying clothing, to when the subject is engaged in the event or exercise, for example whilst running at speed and may rise again after completion of the exercise. With appropriate selection of the colour-change composition and fabric for the garment, such changes in temperature suitably give rise to a tailored or random observable colour-change.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of providing a colour-change effect in an elastic garment according to the invention adapted to be worn by a subject and which garment conforms to contours of the body of the subject wherein a colour change in different areas of the garment is dependent upon contact with different areas of the body of the subject which are at different temperatures during movement, for example during running and especially sprinting, the garment comprising an elastic fabric and a colour-change composition according to the invention.
The colour-change composition may comprise any known encapsulated colour-change component selected from a leuco dye and a liquid crystal, for example a chiral liquid crystal mixture. A combination of leuco dyes and liquid crystals may be employed to provide multiple, for example 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, colour changes. Combinations of colour-change materials are suitably mixed together. Preferably, the colour-change compound comprises an encapsulated liquid crystal.
Encapsulated leuco dyes change colour as a result of the leuco material melting within the capsules above a certain temperature, at which point a reversible reaction occurs producing or eliminating a colour. Colour change in encapsulated liquid crystals occurs as a result of the temperature effecting a change in the chiral liquid crystal structure for example chiral nematic and chiral cholesteric crystals. Encapsulated liquid crystals are preferred, suitably an encapsulated thermochromic pigment slurry, comprising from 30 to 50% solids, for example 40%.
Any commercially available liquid crystal and/or leuco-dye may be employed.
The liquid crystal suitably comprises a cholesteric or a chiral nematic liquid crystal. Chiral nematic liquid crystals provide bright, strong colour effects with high reflectance. Cholesterictype liquid crystals typically provide colour effects which are less intense than chiral nematic liquid crystals but are of lower cost and may be suited to larger volume markets. A mixture of chiral nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals may be employed to optimise product performance and cost. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal suitably comprises only chiral nematic liquid crystals.
The liquid crystal is suitably encapsulated using known techniques and materials, for example cross-linked gum Arabic and gelatin, at known levels. Suitably, the encapsulate wall material comprises a polymer or a combination of polymers. The wall material preferably comprises from 1 to 30%, more preferably 5 to 25%, for example 8% or 20% by weight of wall material based on the weight of the encapsulated liquid crystal.
Any known encapsulated liquid crystals may be employed including cholesterol-like chiral organics including cholesteryl carbonate esters, and chiral nematic liquid crystals. Suitable encapsulated liquid crystals are available from a range of sources including LCR Hallcrest.
The encapsulated liquid crystal is suitably incorporated into the composition as an aqueous slurry comprising from 10 to 90%, preferably 15 to 80% and especially 20 to 70% of the encapsulated liquid crystal in water, for example a 40% or 50% slurry of the encapsulated liquid crystal in water.
The colour-change compound is preferably present at a level of 20 to 70%, more preferably 30 to 65% and especially 30 to 50%, for example 32% and 40% by weight of the colourchange composition.
The colour-change composition suitably provides a wide hysteresis and a tuneable hysteresis. By varying the colour-change composition formulation the width of the hysteresis may be tailored according to the intended use of the product, allowing excellent flexibility in the design of the colour-change encapsulated composition or pigment.
The colour-change composition may be non-iridescent or iridescent other appearances may be provided, for example pearlescent, gloss and iridescent according to the desired effect. Iridescence suitably provides structural refraction of incident light to provide a shimmering effect of multiple colours or a rainbow of colours and arises due to the colour-change composition forming a film or coating when applied to the fabric and having suitable refractive characteristics.
The colour-change component may be encapsulated using any known material for example cross-linked gum Arabic and gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol and melamine formaldehyde. Suitably, the encapsulate wall material comprises a polymer or a combination of polymers. In one embodiment, the wall material comprises a combination of gum arabic and polyvinyl alcohol. The wall material preferably comprises from 1 to 30%, more preferably 5 to 25%, for example 8% or 20% by weight of wall material based on the weight of the colour-change composition.
Certain safety regulations found in Europe for example REACH, CIRS and CPTA, aim to reduce the level of formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde to provide environmentally cleaner materials. During encapsulation, formaldehyde and/or paraformaldehyde may be employed and carried into the encapsulated product. Preferably, paraformaldehyde and formaldehyde are removed during production of the colour change composition. Suitably, the colourchange composition contains less than 0.2% by weight of formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde and desirably is substantially free of these materials.
The binder composition suitably provides a polymer film or coating on or in the fabric to bind the colour-change component to the fabric.
Suitably, the binder has a soft feel to the touch and is able to be elongated to at least 30%, preferably 50%, desirably at least 80%, for example at least 200%.
The binder comprises a polyurethane, preferably an aliphatic polyurethane with free hydroxyl end groups. In a preferred embodiment, the binder is selected from a polyurethane polyether and a polyester based polyurethane. In a more preferred embodiment, the binder comprises a polyurethane polyether. Examples of suitable binders include the IMPRAFIX range of products available from Covestro Chemicals, for example IMPRAFIX 2794.
The binder is suitably present at a level of 10 to 50%, preferably 20 to 40% by weight of the colour-change composition.
Preferably the cross-linker is water-based. The cross-linker must be able to cross-link the binder and suitably comprises an aliphatic diisocyanate, preferably a blocked aliphatic diisocyanate. Suitably, the blocked isocyanate has a deblocking temperature of at least 80°C, preferably at least 100°C, more preferably in the range 100 to 180°C. Examples of suitable blocked isocyanates include the EDOLAN range of cross-linker products available from Tanatex Chemicals, for example EDOLAN SN, EDOLAN GS and diethyl malonate which deblocks at 100-120C, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole which deblocks at 110-120C, methylethylketoxime which deblocks at 120-140C, and caprolactam which deblocks at 160180C.
The cross-linker is suitably present at a level of 5 to 30%, preferably 10 to 20% by weight of the colour-change composition.
The processing lubricant may provide several functions and suitably aids application of the composition to the fabric and may act as a co-solvent to maintain the colour-change composition as a homogeneous mix or suspension during application to the fabric. The lubricant suitably also aids deposition of the colour-change composition and penetration of the composition onto the surface of or into the fabric. The lubricant may also lubricate the applicator used in the application process, for example a printing process, thereby aiding uniformity of deposition.
Suitably, the process lubricant comprises a glycol-based stabiliser, preferably an alkylene glycol for example polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. Examples of other suitable processing lubricants include glycerol, hydrophilic aliphatic polyureas, preferably having a molecular weight from 1 to 1000, hydrophilic siloxanes, preferably having a molecular weight from 1 to 1000, gum Arabic, gelatin, xantham gum, guar gum, alginate, carrageen, locust bean gum, pectin and starch. Polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight from 1 to 1000 and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight from 1 to 1000 are preferred.
Suitably, the process lubricant is present in the colour-change composition at a level of 1 to 15%, preferably 5 to 10 % by weight of the composition.
The colour-change composition suitably further comprises a UV stabiliser. Any known UV stabilisers that are compatible with the colour-change encapsulate may be employed. Preferred UV stabilisers include hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS), for example LOWLITE 18 available from Chempoint Ltd and the Tinuvin range of HALS available from BASF.
The colour-change composition suitably further comprises an aqueous solvent. Preferably the aqueous solvent is selected from water and a mixture of water and a polar organic solvent. The solvent is suitably free of organic solvent. Where present, an organic cosolvent preferably constitutes a minor component of the solvent and is not present at such a level where it disrupts the encapsulation wall of the colour-change composition.
The components of the colour-change composition are suitably mixed together under ambient conditions to provide a colour-change composition, preferably an encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal slurry suitable for application to the fabric. The dye composition is then suitably applied to a fabric, using a known film-forming, printing or coating process, for example spray coating, spin coating painting, dyeing, screen-printing, relief printing such as letterpress printing, planographic printing such as lithography and offset lithography and intaglio printing processes such as gravure printing. In a preferred embodiment, the process comprises screen printing the composition onto the fabric. By way of example, preferably a mesh size of 30t and 50t or 70t with between 1 and 6 pulls is employed in a suitable screen printing process to apply the composition to the fabric.
All percentages and ratios used herein are by weight of the total colour-change composition and all measurements made are at 25° C, unless otherwise designated.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of producing a coloured colourchange elastic fabric applying comprising applying a colour change composition according to the invention to an elastic fabric in a coating process preferably a spin-coating process.
The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples. All percentages and parts are parts by weight unless otherwise stated
Examples
Test Method - UV Stability
Printed thermochromic fabric samples are exposed to UV light as per the conditions laid out in ISO105-X12, for 0.5 hours, 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours. The exposed samples are then compared to an unexposed reference sample of thermochromic fabric, placed on an identical surface at a temperature 5 degrees below or lower than the red start temperature of the thermochromic (the temperature transition between the smectic and cholesteric phase of the liquid crystal) or, where a leuco dye is being tested, the temperature at which the dye changes colour. The samples are then all increased in temperature to an identical temperature above their clearing point (the temperature transition between the cholesteric and isotropic phases of the liquid crystal) or, for leuco dyes, the colour-change point. The samples are then left to cool, moving from blue, to green, to red, and again to black.
The colour intensity of the blue is noted, and compared to the reference sample. The ink is given a score according to the highest length exposure time to which the blue colour of the reference sample adequately compares.
The time taken for the samples to move through their cholesteric phases is also recorded, and each sample given a % score, using the time taken for the reference sample as 100%. This percentage score is then added to score the ink achieves.
For example, the blue colour of the reference is comparable to the 6 hour sample, but not the 12 hour sample, and the time taken for each of these to move through their cholesteric phases was 105 % and 115 % of the time taken for the reference sample, respectively. Thus the ink is given a score of 6-105, corresponding to the exposure time to which it is still comparable to the reference sample with respect to colour, and the corresponding effect on thermochromic phase shift as a result of exposure.
Example 1 - Colour-change composition
A colour-change having the following composition is suitable for applying to a sports fabric such as elastane containing fabric known for use in the manufacture of sports fabrics,:
Encapsulated thermochromic crystal slurry 30-65 wt%
Aliphatic polyurethane with exposed diol ends (binder polymer, for example from the
EDOLAN SN range, a trade mark of Tanatex Chemicals) 20 - 40 wt. %
Blocked aliphatic diisocyanate, (cross linker for binder polymer for example from the IMPRAFIX range, a trademark of Covestro Chemicals) 10-20 wt. %
Stabilizer (for example a screen print lubricant, thickener, slurry stabilizer for example propylene glycol or ethylene glycol) 5-10 wt%
The components above are mixed together under ambient conditions to provide a encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal slurry suitable for application to a sports fabric.
Example 2 - Production of colour-change item of attire
A composition as described in Example 1 is applied to a fabric containing an elastic polyurethane component (Elastane), for example SPANDEX a trademark of Du Pont. The process involves screen printing using a mesh size of 30t to 70t with between 1 and 6 pulls
The composition coats the fabric, binds to the fabric and provides a desired combination of characteristics including:
washfastness - retention of colour brightness after 50 washes in a standard automatic washing machine as part of a standard load;
rubfastness - retention of colour brightness and material properties with hard rubbing as set out in ISO105-X12;
lightfastness - retention of colour brightness and colour-change/thermochromic sensitivity upon exposure to UV light according to the test method set out below.
The colour-change fabric should stretch to at least 80% elongation and return to its unstretched size and shape within 2 minutes and have a soft, non-tacky feeling as determined by survey evidence.
Example 3 - Testing of colour-change items of attire
The relationship between garment temperature with ambient temperature, skin temperature, and garment humidity, during an experiment to mimic a 100 m sprint were evaluated. An elastane-containing sprint suit comprising 85% polyamide and 15 % elastane (skin-tight) and a singlet (relatively loose fitting) were tested worn by the subject in order to allow garment and skin temperatures to be tested to determine changes in temperature with changing conditions. Temperature change at various locations on the garment provided an indication of the required temperature-change range for a colour-change composition to provide a colour-change effect in a garment in use.
Example 4
Comparison of sprint suit with singlet
In this experiment, the garment temperatures between the singlet and the sprint suit were compared. The singlet was at a lower initial temperature, as determined by thermal imaging, at the beginning of the experiment as compared to that of the sprint suit. This is probably due to the singlet being of looser fit than the sprint suit but demonstrates that the invention is 5 applicable to garments having a different closeness of fit to the subject.
The difference in thermal profile between the sprint suit and the singlet enables a colourchange effect to be tailored using the looseness of the garment to control where skin contact occurs and hence to modulate the colour-change effect.

Claims (26)

1. An encapsulated colour-change composition adapted to be bound to a fabric, preferably an elastic fabric, wherein the colour-change composition comprises an encapsulated colour-change component a binder composition comprising a binder derived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, an isocyanate, preferably a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
2. A colour-change composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer with free hydroxyl end groups comprises an aliphatic polymer.
3. A colour-change composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the said polymer comprises a copolymer comprising polyether moieties and polyester moieties
4. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the binder is selected from a polyurethane polyether and a polyester based polyurethane.
5. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross-linker comprises an aliphatic molecule with two or more ‘blocked’ isocyanate groups
6. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocked isocyanate has a deblocking temperature of at least 80°C.
7. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the binder is present at a level of 10 to 50%,
8. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross-linker is present at a level of 5 to 30% by weight of the colour-change composition.
9. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing lubricant is selected from a glycol-based compound, glycerol, hydrophilic aliphatic polyureas, hydrophilic siloxanes, gum Arabic, gelatin, xantham gum, guar gum, alginate, carrageen, locust bean gum, pectin and starch.
10. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the process lubricant is present at a level of 1 to 15% by weight of the composition.
11. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the binder is transparent.
12. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the binder is elastic and capable of elongation to at least 30%.
13. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the colour-change component is selected from a leuco dye and a liquid crystal and the composition.
14. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a static colourant.
15. A colour-change composition according to any one of the preceding claims which is iridescent.
16. A coloured garment comprising an elastic fabric adapted to be worn by a subject in close contact with the skin of the subject, comprising an encapsulated colour-change composition bound to the elastic fabric wherein the colour-change composition comprises an encapsulated colour-change component and a binder composition comprising an aliphatic polyurethane de4ived from a polymer with free hydroxyl end groups, a blocked isocyanate cross-linker and a processing lubricant.
17. A coloured garment comprising a fabric having a colour-change composition according to any one of claim 1 to 15 bound to the fabric wherein the fabric is elastic.
18. A coloured garment according to claim 17 wherein the fabric has an elongation of at least 30%.
19. A coloured garment according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the elastic fabric comprises a synthetic elastomer and a fibre selected from polyamide, polyester, polyurethane and mixtures thereof.
20. A coloured garment according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the fabric has a thickness of 5 to 50 microns.
21. A coloured garment according to any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the fabric is in the form of a skin-suit.
22. A method of providing an elastic fabric with a colour-change appearance which comprises applying to an elastic fabric a colour-change composition according to any one of claims 1 to 15.
23. A method of providing a colour-change effect in a colour-treated attire adapted to be worn by a subject wherein the colour-treated attire comprises a colour-change composition according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the colour of the attire in one area is adapted to be the same or different to the colour of the attire in a different area and the colour in at least one area is changeable in response to an external stimulus.
24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the external stimulus is selected from body temperature of the subject, pressure experienced by the subject due to movement and water.
25. A method according to claim 23 or claim 24 wherein different parts of the attire are subject to different levels of stimulus during movement of the subject.
26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the different levels of stimulus are provided by the attire being in contact with different parts of the body at different temperature.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1901452.1
Claims searched: 1-26
Examiner: Mr Robert Black
Date of search: 12 June 2019
Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17
GB1901452.1A 2018-02-02 2019-02-01 Encapsulated colour-change composition, coloured fabric and garment Withdrawn GB2571205A (en)

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EP0919604A2 (en) * 1997-10-31 1999-06-02 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Color-change materials
EP1091039A2 (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-04-11 The Pilot Ink CO., Ltd. Water-metachromatic cloth sheet, toy set using the same, and writing instrument for water-metachromatic members
EP1254985A2 (en) * 2001-04-13 2002-11-06 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Water-discoloring printed matter and water-discoloring toy employing the same
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