US20220018046A1

US20220018046A1 - Uv-a and uv-b permeable fabric

Info

Publication number: US20220018046A1
Application number: US17/380,554
Authority: US
Inventors: Ellen Bendt; Maike Rabe; Karin Ratovo; Jan Rosenbrock
Original assignee: Tanmeon GmbH
Current assignee: Tan Me On GmbH; Tanmeon GmbH
Priority date: 2020-07-20
Filing date: 2021-07-20
Publication date: 2022-01-20
Also published as: DE102021118670A1

Abstract

A fabric having particularly good translucent properties with regard to UVA and UVB radiation, in particular for use in garments for the sport and leisure sector, with the transparency being reduced at the same time. The fabric comprises a first yarn made of cellulose-based fiber or regenerated fiber, and a second yarn made of polymer fiber. The proportion by weight of the first and second yarns is at least 80% by weight. The wale density is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm and the course density is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm. The second yarn has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex and the first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex. The grammage of the fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.

Description

The invention relates to a fabric which has particularly good translucent properties with regard to UVA and UVB radiation, in particular for use in garments for the sport and leisure sector, with the transparency being reduced at the same time.
The articles known on the market for their translucent properties are predominantly in the swimwear sector and are therefore mostly made entirely of synthetic fibers and are also mostly based on the warp knitting technique. The existing, heavily printed, net-like structures—wherein the all-over print is supposed to hide the transparency—cannot be used for the desired sports and leisure sector. In addition, the well-known articles only achieve a UPF of at most 23%. Other articles that do not come from the swimwear sector mainly allow UVA rays to pass through, but not UVB rays.
The technical object of the invention is faced with the difficulty of achieving a defined, relatively high UV transmittance while at the same time having a rather dense fabric construction for knitted goods. The aim is to achieve a tan of the skin as uniform as possible through a defined, rather high transmission of solar radiation through the garment during outdoor activities. This must be the case both in the UVB and in the UVA wave range. Since the goods are to be used in the sports and leisure sector (e.g. tennis), they must also be comfortable to wear, have a plain-colored appearance and a certain density. The object of the invention is therefore the preparation or the provision of a fabric having a defined, rather high UV transmittance and at the same time very good physiological characteristics in terms of wear.
The object is achieved by a fabric, in particular a knitted fabric, and garments made from it.
The fabric according to the invention has at least one first and at least one second yarn, said at least one first yarn comprising at least one cellulose-based fiber and/or regenerated fiber, in particular at least one lyocell fiber, and said at least one second yarn comprising at least one polymer fiber, in particular made of synthetic polymer, in particular at least one polyamide or polyester fiber. The use of the at least one yarn and the at least second yarn, which, in particular, alternate over the width or length of the fabric, in particular wales or courses, ensures a good match between good optical concealment of the person wearing it and the desired UV transmission.
The use of polyamide results to some extent in a UV transmission that is more similar in the UVA and UVB range than when using polyester.
A cellulose-based fiber can be a cotton or regenerated fiber, for example. In a particularly high-quality version, the fabric has no cotton and/or no natural fibers, but only regenerated and polymer fibers.
Knitted fabrics usually consist of a large number of yarns, the sequence of which is repeated several times over the width of the fabric. When considering the (number of) yarns, the smallest repeating sequence of yarns or a system is considered in particular. In particular, a system or the smallest yarn sequence that is repeated many times over the width of the fabric comprises a first and a second yarn, in particular exclusively the first and the second yarn, in particular the fabric has a, in particular always, recurring change of first and second yarn over its width.
The proportion by weight of the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn together based on the total weight of the fabric is at least 80% by weight, in particular at least 95% by weight.
The wale density of the fabric is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm and the course density of the fabric is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm. The second yarn also has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex, in particular at least 80 dtex and/or in particular at most 150 dtex, and the first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex.
According to the invention, the grammage of the fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.
The task can be achieved by the combination of these features.
Advantageously, the fabric does not comprise any cotton and/or any natural fiber, and/or the fabric is formed exclusively from cellulose-based fiber, regenerated and/or polymer fiber. The second yarn is preferably a multifilament, in particular with 90 to 150 filaments, and/or the first yarn is a monofilament.
The gram mage of the fabric is preferably between 90 and 130 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.
Advantageously, the wale density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 10 to 30 per cm, and/or the course density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 15 to 33 per cm, and/or the wale density of the fabric shrunk, in particular at 40° and/or when moist is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm, and/or the course density of the fabric shrunk, in particular at 40° and/or when moist, is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm.
Advantageously, the first, in particular only the first, yarn is dyed. This takes place in particular before the fabric is knitted and enables the fabric to be structured in color even without printing or dyeing the finished knitted fabric. The desired UV transmittance can be achieved in spite of the dyeing.
Advantageously, the second yarn does not contain any pigmentation and/or optical brighteners.
It is particularly advantageous if the fabric consists exclusively of the first yarn, in particular of one type, and the second yarn, in particular of one type.
A large number of yarns, the sequence of which is repeated, is used to produce a knitted fabric. In particular, only two kinds or types of yarn are used, one kind or type of yarn for the first yarn and a second kind or type of yarn for the second yarn. These yarns are then repeated several times across the width of the fabric.
Preferably, the fiber content of the cellulose-based fiber and/or regenerated, in particular lyocell fiber, in the at least one first yarn is at least 90%, in particular at least 95%, in particular 100%, based on the total fiber content of all the fibers of the at least one first yarn, and/or the fiber content of the polymer fiber, in particular polyamide and/or polyester fiber, in the at least one second yarn is at least 90% by weight, in particular at least 95% by weight, in particular 100% by weight, based on the total fiber content of all the fibers of the at least one second yarn, and/or the polymer fiber comprises at least 80% by weight polymer, in particular, the polymer fiber comprises at least 80% by weight polyamide or polyester.
Preferably, the first and/or the second yarn, in particular all the yarns of the fabric, include less than 10% by weight, in particular less than 2% by weight, in particular no, additives and/or optical brighteners, as these can impair UV transmission.
The first and/or second yarn, in particular all the yarns of the fabric, preferably include less than 10% by weight, in particular less than 2% by weight, in particular no, pigments and/or TiO2.
In particular, the proportion by weight of the at least one first yarn is at least 30% by weight, in particular at least 40% by weight, and/or at most 70% by weight, in particular at most 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the fabric, and/or the proportion by weight of the at least one second yarn is at least 30% by weight, in particular at least 40% by weight, and/or at most 70% by weight, in particular at most 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the fabric.
In particular, the fabric is produced on a circular knitting machine, in particular with a fineness of the circular knitting machine of at least E24, that is to say at least 24 needles per inch, and/or at least 1 needle per 1.1 mm. Finenesses of E38 or finer are preferred.
The ratio, in particular the weight ratio, of the proportion of the at least one second yarn in the fabric relative to the proportion of the at least one first yarn is preferably at least 1, in particular at least 1.3, and/or at most 3, in particular at most 2.4.
Advantageously, the fabric has, in particular in the unprinted and/or undyed state, wherein this does not exclude dyeing of at least one, in particular the first yarn, a transmittance of UVB rays, in particular over the entire UVB range (from 280 to 320 nm) and/or, in particular and, UVA rays, in particular over the entire UVA range (from 320 to 400 nm) of at least 20%, in particular at least 30%, and/or at most 80%, in particular at most 60%, in particular at most 50%. This enables a balanced setting between sun protection and tanning.
The fabric can preferably have a UV protection factor (USF) and/or Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), determined according to the Australian/New Zealand Standard 4399:1996 for sun protecting clothing evaluation and classification (AS/NZS4399: 1996) in the range of 1 5 to 5, in particular in the range from 3 to 5. This enables a balanced setting between sun protection and tanning.
Preferably, the fabric is piqué or jacquard, wherein, in particular, the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn form the jacquard pattern.
Advantageously, the fabric is a knitwear, in particular a knitted fabric, in particular a piqué or jacquard knitted fabric, in particular a jacquard Jersey knitted fabric. This has proven to be particularly advantageous for setting and evenly distributing the UV protection.
Advantageously, the knitted fabric forming the fabric has a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of floats and/or handles, wherein, in particular, the second plurality is 10% to 35%, in particular 10% to 30%, of the sum of the first and second pluralities, and/or wherein the fabric has handles and/or floats and in particular the handles and/or floats are present in 40 to 60% of the wales and/or the handles and/or floats are present in 20 to 60% of the courses. This has proven to be particularly advantageous for achieving the desired UV transmittance with reduced transparency and an attractive appearance.
The fabric advantageously has a degree of optical covering of at least 40% and/or a maximum of 90%, in particular between 50% and 80%, in particular between 60% and 70%. Such a degree of optical covering ensures that the fabric is sufficiently opaque so that the fabric, for example when it is used as clothing, covers the body with sufficient opacity, but at the same time still allows sufficient tanning, in particular the maximum possible tanning.
According to the invention, a degree of the optical covering is understood to mean the opacity, in particular caused by the fabric, exerted by the fabric on an area underneath the fabric, i.e. a degree by which the area underneath is partially covered and/or by which the light passing through the fabric is prevented from exiting through the fabric. In other words, the degree of the optical opacity indicates what percentage of the light passing through the fabric onto a surface underneath the fabric emanates from this surface and passes back through the fabric.
One possibility of determining this degree of optical covering will be explained using the following example, with other possibilities also being conceivable and possible.
In one possible test, a test background is provided by means of DIN A4 paper, a grid being arranged on the paper. At least two grid areas are arranged on the grid, a first grid area having a first color and a second grid area having a second color. The first color can be a skin color, for example, in the RGB color space HEX #dab79b with an opacity of 100%. The second color can, for example, be the A4 paper's inherent color, e.g. white. The fabric is then placed on this A4 paper. The fabric can lie directly on the paper or be spread out at a distance of, for example, 0.5 cm above the paper. The grid can, for example, consist of 54 tiles of 250×250 pixels width and height, which were applied to A4 paper with 300 DPI. For the test, a light source can be placed over the fabric so that the fabric is located between the paper and the light source. In addition to the light source, a camera can also be arranged in such a way that the fabric is also located between the paper and the camera, with neither the camera nor the light source being arranged between the fabric and the camera or light source, i.e. not standing in each other's way. As the light source, for example, a light source with 1400 lumens can be used. The light source can be arranged at a distance of 50 cm from the fabric. The camera can also be arranged at this distance from the fabric. The aperture of the camera can be set to F2.8, for example, and the exposure time to 1/160, whereby an ISO value of 800 can be defined. The paper, the fabric on the paper, the camera and the light source can advantageously be arranged in a container that is in particular opaque so that no further light that does not come from the light source can strike the fabric and/or the paper. The light source is activated for the measurement so that it irradiates the fabric or the paper, and by means of the camera an image of the arrangement of the paper with the fabric arranged thereon and optionally, namely if the properties of the grid are not sufficiently known, an image of an arrangement without fabric are taken. These images can be evaluated with commercially available computer programs, as long as they can be used to analyze the property of the recorded color. In the case of a fabric according to the invention, it will be possible to determine by means of the analysis that the original color tone, for example HEX dab79b according to the RGB space, is covered by the fabric in such a way that only between 40% and a maximum of 90%, in particular between 50% and 80%, in particular between 60% and 70%, of the light can be absorbed again, so that the opacity of the color tone is reduced by these values or a corresponding darker color tone can be analyzed. For example, it was possible to determine in corresponding comparative tests that the original color HEX #dab79b of the first grid area that was covered by a fabric according to the invention and of which an image was taken through the fabric in an arrangement as described above by way of example, was detected as a color with a value of HEX #b98c77 in the RGB space in the image taken, which corresponds to a reduction of 65%, which is why this fabric according to the invention can be assigned a degree of optical covering of 65%.
The object is also achieved by a garment comprising a fabric according to the invention, in particular predominantly, in particular exclusively, fabric according to the invention, the garment in particular having no seams, in particular at least not between fabric parts or sections according to the invention. Advantageously, the garment has at least one butt seam for connecting fabric, in particular fabric according to the invention, and/or sewing threads included for connecting fabric, in particular fabric according to the invention, are dyed without pigmentation and/or only in a light shade.
Advantageously, the garment has at least one connection between two fabric parts or sections according to the invention, on which the fabric is no more than a single layer.
By taking the above measures, a UV transmission as uniform as possible and thus tanning can be achieved.

Some aspects contributing to an understanding of the invention will be illustrated below with the aid of purely exemplary explanations that do not limit the invention. This is done using purely schematic figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows UV transmission values of different fabrics

FIG. 2 shows a piqué weave pattern

FIG. 3 shows views of a fabric according to the invention

FIG. 4 shows a jacquard weave pattern

FIG. 5 shows views of a material according to the invention

FIG. 6 shows an outline of a test arrangement for determining the degree of the optical covering.

FIG. 1 shows the transmission in percent of four different knitted fabrics over the UV-A and UV range. The wavelength of the light in nm is indicated on the horizontal axis. The four measured knitted fabrics, denoted by numbers 1 to 4 from top to bottom in FIG. 1, are those shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

	First			Course
No.	yarn	Second yarn	Wale density	density	Grammage	Dyeing	Weave

1	Lyocell	PA 6.6 110f34	10/cm	17/cm	97 g/m2	undyed	piqu
	ring yarn	dtex no matting
	Ne
30/1
2	Cotton	PA 6.6 110f34	10/cm	16/cm	92.9 g/m2	undyed	piqu
	Nm 55/1	dtex no matting
3	Lyocell	PA 6.6 110f34	13/cm	19/cm	117.5 g/m2	First	jacquard
	ring yarn	dtex no matting				yarn
	Ne
30/1					dyed
4	Lyocell	PA 6.6 110f34	13/cm	22/cm	128 g/m2	First	jacquard
	ring yarn	dtex no matting				yarn
	Ne
30/1					dyed

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the weaves of the fabrics of Nos. 1 and 2 of Table 1. The weaves in the width of the fabric are shown from left to right, only one repeat being shown and this sequence often being repeated over the width of the fabric. The longitudinal direction of the fabric extends from bottom to top. The weave sequence shown is repeated in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. In the depiction:


		X	means stitch of the first yarn
		{circumflex over ( )}	means loop of the first yarn
		Y	means stitch of the second yarn

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the front (left figure) and back (right figure) of the fabric according to the invention of No. 2 of Table 1 on a black background.

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the weaves of the fabrics of Nos. 3 and 4 of Table 1. The weaves in the width of the fabric are shown from left to right, with only one pattern repeat being shown and this sequence often being repeated over the width of the fabric. The longitudinal direction of the fabric extends from bottom to top. The weave sequence shown is repeated in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. In the depiction:


		X	means stitch of the first yarn
		Y	means stitch of the second yarn
		—	Float

FIG. 5 shows a black and white plan view of the front (left figure) and back (right figure) of the fabric according to the invention of No. 3 of Table 1 on a black background.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic structure of a test arrangement by means of which the degree of the optical covering can be determined.

A container 1 is shown in which a paper 2 with a grid applied to a surface (not visible) is arranged on the bottom and a fabric 3 is arranged over the paper. On the top in the interior of the container, a light source 4 on the one hand and a camera 5 on the other hand are arranged next to one another at a distance 6 from the fabric of 50 cm. However, a different distance is also conceivable.
The light source 4 has a luminous flux of 1400 lumens. In a successful experiment of this test arrangement, a daylight lamp from Elgato of the “Key Light Air” type (model: 20LAB9901) was used. Furthermore, a Canon® M50 camera was used as the camera 5 and a Canon® EF-M 22 1:2 STM lens was used as the lens mounted on the camera. The person skilled in the art is free to use other equipment. The arrangement provides a standardizable test arrangement by means of which an image of the fabric 3 covering paper 2 can be taken and the degree of the optical covering can thus be determined using software, for example with the Adobe Photoshop® program.

Claims

1. A fabric comprising at least one first yarn and at least one second yarn, said at least one first yarn comprising at least one regenerated fiber or cellulose-based fiber, and said at least one second yarn comprising at least one polymer fiber and wherein the proportion by weight of the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn together is at least 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the fabric, and wherein the wale density of the fabric is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm and the course density of the fabric is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm, and wherein the at least one second yarn has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex and wherein the grammage of the fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2 and wherein the at least one first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex.

2. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric exclusively comprises cellulose-based fibers, regenerated fibers or polymer fibers, or any combination thereof.

3. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the wale density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 10 to 30 per cm or the course density of the unshrunk fabric is in the range of 15 to 33 cm, or any combination thereof.

4. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first yarn is dyed, or the at least one second yarn does not contain any pigmentation or optical brighteners.

5. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric consists exclusively of the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn or wherein the fiber content of the cellulose-based fiber or regenerated fiber in the at least one first yarn is at least 90% based on the total fiber content of all the fibers of the at least one first yarn, or wherein the fiber content of the polymer fiber in the at least one second yarn is at least 90% by weight based on the total fiber content of all the fibers of the at least one second yarn, or wherein the at least one second yarn comprises at least 80% by weight polymer.

6. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the proportion by weight of the at least one first yarn is at least 30% by weight and at most 70% by weight based on the total weight of the fabric, and the proportion by weight of the at least one second yarn is at least 30% by weight and at most 70% by weight based on the total weight of the fabric, and wherein the ratio of the at least one second yarn relative to the at least one first yarn is at least 1 and at most 3.

7. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric has a transmittance of UVB rays or UVA rays, or both UVB and UVA rays of at least 20% or wherein the fabric has a UV protection factor (USF) and Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), determined according to the Australian/New Zealand Standard 4399:1996 for sun protecting clothing evaluation and classification (AS/NZS4399: 1996) in the range from 1.5 to 5.

8. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric has a piqué or jacquard weave

9. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a knitwear.

10. A garment comprising a fabric according to claim 1.

11. The fabric according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second yarn is a multifilament and wherein the grammage of the fabric is between 90 and 130 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2, or wherein the at least one first yarn is a monofilament, or any combination thereof.

12. The fabric according to claim 3, wherein the wale density of the fabric, shrunk or when moist, or both, is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm, and the course density of the fabric, shrunk or when moist, or both, is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm, or a combination of said wale density and course density.

13. The fabric according to claim 4, wherein the fabric has a degree of optical covering of at least 40% or a maximum of 90%, or both.

14. The fabric according to claim 5, wherein the at least one second yarn comprises at least 80% by weight polyamide or polyester and comprises less than 10% by weight additives, and the at least one second yarn contains less than 10% by weight pigmentation or optical brighteners.

15. The fabric according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first yarn and the at least one second yarn form the jacquard pattern.

16. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a knitted fabric.

17. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a piqué or jacquard knitted fabric.

18. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a jacquard jersey knitted fabric.

19. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a knitted fabric having a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of floats or handles, wherein the second plurality of floats or handles is 10 to 35%, of the sum of the first and second pluralities, or wherein the fabric has handles or floats and the handles or floats are present in 40 to 60% of the wales, or the handles or floats are present in 20 to 60% of the courses.