WO2007059590A1 - Tissu a effet meche et procede de fabrication correspondant - Google Patents

Tissu a effet meche et procede de fabrication correspondant Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007059590A1
WO2007059590A1 PCT/AU2006/001794 AU2006001794W WO2007059590A1 WO 2007059590 A1 WO2007059590 A1 WO 2007059590A1 AU 2006001794 W AU2006001794 W AU 2006001794W WO 2007059590 A1 WO2007059590 A1 WO 2007059590A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fabric
face
hydrophobic
agent
inner face
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2006/001794
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Anthony Pierlot
Ronald James Denning
Laurence Michael Staynes
Ian Blanchonette
Geoffrey Robert Stewart Naylor
Original Assignee
Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation
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
Priority claimed from AU2005906572A external-priority patent/AU2005906572A0/en
Application filed by Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation filed Critical Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation
Publication of WO2007059590A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007059590A1/fr

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/37Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/643Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • A41D31/04Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
    • A41D31/12Hygroscopic; Water retaining
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • A41D31/04Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
    • A41D31/12Hygroscopic; Water retaining
    • A41D31/125Moisture handling or wicking function through layered materials
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04BKNITTING
    • D04B1/00Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
    • D04B1/14Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/21Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/244Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of halogenated hydrocarbons
    • D06M15/256Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of halogenated hydrocarbons containing fluorine
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/21Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/263Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/21Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/263Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof
    • D06M15/277Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof containing fluorine
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/37Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/643Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain
    • D06M15/6436Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain containing amino groups
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M23/00Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
    • D06M23/04Processes in which the treating agent is applied in the form of a foam
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M23/00Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
    • D06M23/16Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00Physical properties
    • D10B2401/02Moisture-responsive characteristics
    • D10B2401/021Moisture-responsive characteristics hydrophobic
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2401/00Physical properties
    • D10B2401/02Moisture-responsive characteristics
    • D10B2401/022Moisture-responsive characteristics hydrophylic
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
    • Y02P70/62Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product related technologies for production or treatment of textile or flexible materials or products thereof, including footwear

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a single or multi- layered fabric having a capacity to wick liquid from an inner face of the fabric to an outer face and a method for making the fabric.
  • the fabric will be used to wick moisture away from the skin of a person wearing the fabric.
  • the fabric may also be reversed such that the fabric may be used to wick moisture toward the skin of a person.
  • Fabric according to the present invention is suitable for use in a wide range of applications.
  • base layer garments made from the fabric can draw sweat away from the skin to leave the wearer cool, dry and comfortable.
  • the fabric can be used as a bandage or dressing in medical applications for removing exudate or bodily fluids from a wound, or in the reverse configuration to apply moisture or medication to a wound while leaving the outer face dry.
  • Modern fabrics for sporting or activewear garments are designed to wick moisture or sweat away from the surface of the skin to the outer surface of the garment where the moisture can evaporate and thereby keep the wearer cool and dry.
  • Fabric that contains hydroscopic fibres such as wool, cotton or regenerated cellulose also provide additional comfort, or at least perceived additional comfort on the basis that these fibres also absorb and desorb water vapour, which are known as the buffering properties of the fabric. To some extent this minimises the wearer feeling wet in the event of sudden changes in the relative humidity of the microclimate inside the garment, particularly at the beginning of strenuous exercise when the body starts to perspire.
  • Wool for example, will absorb around 15% of its mass as water vapour at 65% relative humidity and up to 35% of its mass at 100% relative humidity. Therefore, as the relative humidity of the surroundings changes, hydroscopic fibres absorb and desorb water vapour to maintain an equilibrium and thereby provide a buffering effect for the wearer.
  • Moisture buffering is related to the hydroscopic properties of the fibre and the capacity of the internal structure to absorb moisture.
  • the absorption of water by a fibre is usually referred to as regain and is high for wool, cotton and regenerated cellulose (rayon, viscose etc) but low for synthetic fibres like polyester and polypropylene.
  • the ability of a fabric to wick moisture is related to the surface energy of the fibre surface, fibre diameter and shape, and the fabric structure.
  • Most synthetic fibres have low surface energy so that fabrics produced from these fibres repel liquid water or are hydrophobic unless a surface active agent (eg detergent) is included in the liquid.
  • An untreated wool fibre has a waxy lipid layer that coats the entire fibre surface making the surface hydrophobic.
  • This lipid layer is partially removed when the wool is ' shrink resist treated using the chlorine/Hercosett process and is replaced with a water swelling polymer (Hercosett) and a softener.
  • a common softener used in the chlorine/Hercosett process is based on alkylamines and the treated fibre is hydrophobic similar to an untreated fibre.
  • a wicking gradient In order for a fabric to wick moisture away from one face of the fabric to the other face, a wicking gradient must be established. For example, this can be achieved readily in a two layer fabric structure by knitting a fabric where one side is predominately constructed from a hydrophobic yarn while the other is constructed from a more hydrophilic yarn.
  • the hydrophilicity of the yarn is its affinity for liquid water and this is a balance between the properties of: the fibre surface, namely fibre type and surface treatment; the capillary spaces in the yarns, namely fibre diameter and yarn twist; and fabric structure, namely yarn count and cover factor. Numerous examples of these types of fabric are available in the market place, for example, SportwoolTM.
  • Fabric weight - 2 layered fabrics are often of a double knit construction comprising 2 single jersey fabrics knitted back-to-back. Such double knit constructions impose a lower limit on fabric weights which are problematic when lighter weight fabrics with good cover factor are preferred.
  • US application 2002/0064639 (serial number 7,008,887) describes a single layered fabric structure in which a hydrophobic material is applied to the inner face of a hydrophilic base fabric in a discontinuous manner to create both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions on the inner face.
  • the hydrophobic regions repel liquid and the hydrophilic regions form channels or wicking windows that extend from the inner face to the outer face through which liquid is wicked.
  • one of the disadvantages of the fabric described in the above US application is that when the fabric approaches saturation, liquid may leak in a reverse direction through the wicking windows toward the inner face, reducing comfort for the wearer.
  • the present invention is based on the surprising result that a fabric having a wicking gradient capable of transporting liquid from a first face, such as an inner face to a second face, such as an outer face.
  • the fabric is formed by applying either one or a combination of hydrophobic agent(s) to the first or inner face and/or hydrophilic agent(s) to the second or outer face of the fabric in a manner such that the hydrophobicity of the fabric does not extend to the second or outer face of the fabric and the hydrophilicity of the fabric does not extend to the first or inner face of the fabric.
  • a woven, knitted or non- woven fabric wherein an inner or first face of the fabric is partly or entirely hydrophobic relative to an outer or second face and liquid can be drawn through hydrophobic regions of the inner or first face to the outer or second face by wicking, and wherein the fabric is treated when partially or fully assembled with either one or a combination of hydrophobic or hydrophilic agents such that the fabric has a structure in which: i) the hydrophobic agent is confined to the inner or first face or has penetrated the inner face such that the hydrophobic agent and the hydrophobicity of the fabric extends from the inner or first face toward the outer face without forming part of the outer or second face; or ii) the hydrophilic agent is confined to the outer or second face or has penetrated the outer or second face such that the hydrophilic agent and the hydrophilicity of the fabric extends from the outer or second face toward the inner or first face without forming part of the inner or first face.
  • hydrophobic agent is confined to an outer face of the fabric or penetrated the outer face without forming part ' of the inner face and/or the hydrophilic agent is confined to the inner face or penetrated the inner face without forming part of the outer face.
  • hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic properties of the fabric may be imparted to the fabric while the fabric is partially assembled, it is preferred that the hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic properties of the fabric be imparted when weaving, knitting or other non- woven assembly techniques have been completed. In other words, when the fabric is assembled into a fully formed fabric.
  • the fabric be a multilayered fabric.
  • multilayered fabric throughout this specification embraces: i) a fabric having two or more layers that may be independently manufactured and thereafter placed face to face and optionally bonded together; and ii) a fabric having two or more distinct layers in a single body or unitary structure of fabric, wherein each layer of the fabric is identified or characterised by a particular feature or property such as the type of the fibres or threads contained in the fabric, and the structure of the yarns or threads in each layer of the fabric such as whether the fibres are knitted or woven.
  • the fabric be a single layered fabric.
  • single layered fabric embraces any fabric whether partially or entirely assembled, wherein when fully assembled, that fabric has any one or a combination of individual threads, yarns, filaments or fibres are assembled so as to extend between inner and outer faces of the fabric.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that the inner hydrophobic face of the fabric will essentially remain dry to touch and minimise the flow of liquid in a reverse direction, that is, from the outer face to the inner face.
  • hydrophilic agent extend from the outer face toward the inner face and substantially cross at least half the thickness of the fabric.
  • hydrophobic agent extend from the inner face toward the outer face without substantially crossing at least half the thickness of the fabric.
  • the hydrophobic agent extend from the inner face toward a central point substantially centred between the inner and outer faces without substantially crossing the central point.
  • the hydrophilic agent substantially cross the central point.
  • hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents there are various techniques and methods available for measuring the extent to which the hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents have migrate through the fabric.
  • One of the most practical techniques for checking the extent of migration into the fabric is by the hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic agent containing a coloured dye so that the degree of migration can be visually observed.
  • staining the fabric with an aqueous dye solution will preferentially stain the hydrophilic layer of the fabric.
  • the fabric may be made from any suitable fibre or filament type including synthetic, man-made, or natural fibres.
  • the fabric may be made from one or a blend of the following: proteinaceous fibres such as wool, silk and hair; cellulosic fibres such as cotton, bamboo, linen, synthetic fibres such as polypropylene, polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, and man-made fibres such as the regenerated cellulosics such as viscose and fibres produced from biomaterial feedstocks such as polylactic acid.
  • the fabric is made predominantly of hydrophilic fibres, for example, when the fabric includes at least 50 percent cotton fibres, it is preferred that the inner face of the fabric be treated with a hydrophobic agent. In this situation, it may not be necessary for the fabric to have been treated with a hydrophilic agent.
  • the inner face may only have a hydrophobic coverage of 50 percent or less, it is preferred that the inner face be treated with a hydrophobic agent over at least 80 percent of the inner face. It is even more preferred that the inner face of the fabric be treated with a hydrophobic agent over at least 90 percent.
  • hydrophobic agent be substantially continuously present over the inner face of the fabric.
  • hydrophobic coverage it is intended that liquid be able to be drawn through the hydrophobic regions to the outer face of the fabric.
  • the fabric is made predominantly of hydrophobic fibres, for example, when the fabric includes at least 50 percent wool, polyester or polypropylene fibres, it is preferred that the outer face of the fabric be treated with a hydrophilic agent. In this situation, it may not be necessary for the fabric to have been treated with a hydrophobic agent.
  • the fabric has a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 10mm and even more preferably, the fabric has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 5mm.
  • the central point of the fabric will range from approximately 0.05 to 5mm from the inner or outer faces for the fabric and in the situation where the fabric thickness is over the more preferred thickness range 0.2 to 5mm, the central point of the fabric is approximately 0.1 to 2.5mm from either the inner and outer faces.
  • the above thicknesses do not take into account surface fuzz or fluff that may occur on the inner and outer faces.
  • the fabric has a wicking ratio greater than 2: 1. . Details of a wicking test procedure are set out below on page 13.
  • hydrophobic agents be any one or a combination of fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, silicones and waxes.
  • hydrophobic agents that may be suitable include the following.
  • Rucostar EEE a fluorocarbon resin with polymeric, hyperbranched dendrimers in a hydrocarbon matrix from Rudolf Chemie that is normally applied at 30- 50g/L with a 60-80% wet pickup.
  • Rucostar DDD a fluorocarbon resin with polymeric, hyperbranched dendrimers in a hydrocarbon matrix from Rudolf Chemie that is normally applied by exhaustion methods at 4-6% on weight of sample.
  • Ruco-Dry DHY a water-repellent based on polymeric, hyperbranched dendrimers in a hydrocarbon matrix from Rudolf Chemie that is normally applied at 80-130g/L with a wet pick-up of 60-80%.
  • Ruco-Phob PZN a paraffin compound from Rudolf Chemie that is normally applied at 60-100g/L with a wet pick up of 60-80%.
  • SM8709 a silicone emulsion for handle modifying of textiles from Dow Corning/Toray that is normally applied at 2-10% on weight of sample (solids component).
  • hydrophilic agents include functional groups that include but are not limited to any one or a combination of carboxylates, silicates, sulfonates, sulfates, hydroxyl and phosphates.
  • hydrophilic agents that may be suitable include the following. • Rucofin SIQ-G a polysiloxane compound from Rudolf Chemie that is normally applied by both pad application at 10-40g/L or exhaust application and a range of 1-4% on weight of sample.
  • SA4188 a hydrophilic aminosilicone microemulsion from Flexichem normally applied at 10-40g/L and a wet pickup of 70%.
  • SA4132 a hydrophilic silicone microemulsion from Flexichem normally applied at 10-40g/L and a wet pickup of 70%.
  • the fabric contains from 0.5 to 20Og of hydrophobic agent per kilogram of fabric, more preferably from 1 to 100 g/kg of fabric and most preferably from 2 to 25 g/kg of fabric. It is also preferred that the fabric contains from 0.5 to 200 g of hydrophilic active agent per kilogram of fabric, more preferably from 1 to 100 g/kg of fabric and most preferably from 2 to 25 g/kg of fabric.
  • a single or multilayered fabric wherein an inner face of the fabric is partly or entirely hydrophobic relative to an outer face and liquid can be drawn through hydrophobic regions of the inner face to the outer face by wicking, and wherein when the fabric is assembled into a fully formed fabric, the fabric is treated with either one or a combination of hydrophobic or hydrophilic agents, the fabric has a structure in which: i) the hydrophobic agent is confined to the inner face or has penetrated the inner face such that the hydrophobic agent and the hydrophobicity of the fabric extends from the inner face toward the outer face without forming part of the outer face; or ii) the hydrophilic agent is confined to the outer face or has penetrated the outer face such that the hydrophilic agent and the hydrophilicity of the fabric extends from the outer face toward the inner face without forming part of the inner face.
  • a method of making or treating a fabric so that it is capable of wicking liquid from an inner or first face of the fabric to an outer or second face of the fabric, the fabric having a single layered or a multi-layered construction and includes either one or a combination of the following steps: a) treating the inner or first face of the fabric with a hydrophobic agent under conditions such that the hydrophobic agent is confined to the inner or first face or is allowed to penetrate the inner or first face such that the hydrophobic agent and the hydrophobicity of the fabric extends from the inner or first face toward the outer or second face without forming part of the outer or second face; or b) treating the outer or second face of the fabric with a hydrophilic agent under conditions such that the hydrophilic agent is confined to the outer second face or is allowed to penetrate the outer or second face such that the hydrophilic agent and the hydrophilicity of the fabric extends from the outer or second face toward the inner first face without forming part of the inner or first face.
  • steps a) and b) may be carried out using any suitable technique such as inkjet printing, screen printing, spraying, pad application, doctor blade or lick- roller, it is preferred that step a) and/or b) be carried out using a foam applicator. An .
  • a suitable foam applicator is that which is commercially available from Gaston System under the trade name CFS (Chemical Foam Systems).
  • hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents penetrate or • migrate into the fabric is dependent on a number of factors, such as:
  • the hydrophobic agent be applied by way of foam application.
  • the hydrophilic agent be applied by way of foam application.
  • hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents are applied in one of the following combinations: • the hydrophobic agent is applied by pad application and the hydrophilic agent is applied by foam application in accordance with step b);
  • the hydrophobic agent is applied by foam application in accordance with step a) and then dried and cured, followed by the hydrophilic agent is then applied by ' foam application in accordance with step b) and dried and cured; or alternatively
  • hydrophilic agent is applied by foam application in accordance with step b) and dried and cured, followed by the hydrophobic agent is then applied by foam application in accordance with step a) and dried and cured.
  • the method of the present invention may also include any one or a combination of the preferred features of the fabric mentioned above such as: • the extent to which the hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the fabric extends through the fabric;
  • the hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic agents will need to be fixed in position to the fibres by way of chemical bonding such as covalent bonding, ionic bonding, dispersion forces or by way of physical encapsulation possibly followed by crosslinking.
  • the method also include either one or a combination of drying or curing steps. These steps increase the durability of the wicking treatment to washing and laundering.
  • a garment including the fabric either separately from or in combination with any one of the preferred features of the fabric described above.
  • the garment includes but is by no means limited to underwear, outerwear such as pants and rain coats, jumpers, shirts, dressings and medical bandages.
  • the inner and outer faces of the fabric will be arranged so as to form part of the inner and outer parts of the garment so that the garment is adapted to wick liquid in a direction away from the skin of the person.
  • the fabric may be reversed so that the inner and outer faces of the fabric form part of the outer and inner parts of the garment respectively. In this situation, the garment can wick moisture inwardly toward the person wearing the . garment and is suitable for applicatiqns such as treating skin burns where moisture and medication can be applied to a wound without removing the bandage and dressing while leaving the outside of the bandage dry.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective view of a section of the fabric, wherein an inner face of the fabric has been treated with a hydrophobic agent and liquid is capable of being wicked through the fabric in the direction of the arrows; - ii -
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective view of a section of the fabric, wherein the outer face of the fabric has been treated with a hydrophilic agent and liquid is capable of being wicked through the fabric in the direction of the arrows;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective view of a section of a fabric, wherein the inner face of the fabric has been treated with a hydrophobic agent and the outer face of the fabric has been treated with a hydrophilic agent and liquid is capable of being wicked through the fabric in the direction of the arrows;
  • Figures 4 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for applying hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic agents to the fabric in the form of foam.
  • Figure 1 is an example of a hydrophilic base fabric that is made from hydrophilic fibres or filaments including, but by no means limited to, wool fibre treated to be hydrophilic, cotton, other types of cellulosic fibres, regenerated cellulosic, hydrophilic polyester or blends thereof.
  • the fabric is of a single layered construction and has an inner and outer face that is generally identified by reference numerals 10 and 11 respectively.
  • a dashed line 12 between the inner and outer faces 10 and 11 has been drawn at approximately the centre of the fabric.
  • the hydrophilic fabric has been treated with a hydrophobic agent that has penetrated the inner face 10 and is located on the inner face 10 and extends towards but does not cross the central line 12.
  • the hydrophobic agent is schematically represented in Figure 1 by the diagonal lines 13.
  • the hydrophobic treatment on the inner face 10 is continuously applied across the inner face or only across a portion.
  • the hydrophobic treatment is such that the liquid can be drawn through the hydrophobic treatment to the outer face in the direction of arrows A.
  • Figure 2 is an example of a single layered hydrophobic base fabric that is made from hydrophobic fibres or filaments including, but by no means limited to, wool, polyester, polypropylene or blends thereof.
  • the fabric has been treated with a hydrophilic agent that has penetrated the outer face 11 and is located on outer face 11 and extends toward but does not form part of the inner face 10.
  • the hydrophilic agent is schematically represented by small crosses 14 that extend from the outer face 11 and substantially crosses the central line 12.
  • the inner face 10 is relatively hydrophobic in comparison to the outer face 11 by virtue of the nature of the fibres used to make the fabric and liquid is able to be drawn through the hydrophobic inner face 10 in the direction of arrows A to the outer face 11.
  • Figure 3 is an example of a single layered base fabric containing a blend of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibres.
  • the fabric has been treated with a hydrophobic agent 13 that has penetrated the inner face 10 such that the hydrophobicity of the fabric extends from the inner face 10 toward to the central dashed line 12 but does not substantially cross the dashed line 12.
  • the fabric has also been treated with a hydrophilic agent 14 that extends from the outer face 11 of the fabric and across the central dashed line 12 but does not form part of the inner face 10 of the fabric. Again, liquid is able to be drawn through the hydrophobic inner face 10 to the outer face 11 in the direction of arrows A.
  • FIG 4 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus suitable for applying hydrophobic or hydrophilic agents in foam form to the fabric.
  • An example of an apparatus suitable for foam application is the apparatus by GASTON SYSTEMS that is commercially available under the trade name CFS.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 4 comprises two foam head applicators 20 for applying foam to inner and/or outer faces of the fabric 21.
  • Each foam head 20 is connected to a foam generator 22 to which: i) air is fed via air compressor 23; and ii) a liquor containing a hydrophobic agent and, optionally surfactant, are fed via pump 24.
  • the foam generators 22 produce a continuous supply of fine but variable bubble size homogeneous foam that is fed into the foam heads 20 via a pump 25. If needed, additional air can be supplied to the foam heads 20 to: increase air content, increase flow rate or increase pressure of the foam applied to the fabric 21.
  • the apparatus also includes two pairs of rollers 26 that form a nip through which the fabric 21 passes and an oven 27 for drying the foam applied to the fabric 21.
  • the broken line 28 in Figure 4 represents that the oven 27 may be separated from the foam head applicators 20.
  • the rate at which the fabric 21 is fed through the apparatus can be controlled by the speed of revolution of the pairs of rollers 26.
  • the fabric may also be fed through the apparatus in individual sheets, or preferably as a continuously web that is stored in rolls 29 at the front and back ends of the apparatus.
  • the apparatus includes two foam heads 20 that are capable of applying foam simultaneously to opposite side of the fabric 21, in the situation where both hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents are applied to opposite sides of the fabric it is envisaged that the hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents will be applied to the fabric on separate passes through the apparatus where a single foam generator is used. In other words, one of the agents will be applied to the fabric 20 on one pass through the apparatus and the other agent will then be applied to the fabric 20 on another pass through the apparatus. Ideally the agent applied to the fabric on the first pass will be dried before the fabric is run through the apparatus on the second occasion. Where two foam generators are available, simultaneous application of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents to opposite sides of the fabric can be achieved in a single pass, as shown in Figure 4.
  • hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents penetrate or migrate into the fabric is dependent on a number of factors, such as:
  • the fabric in order for hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents to coat the inner and outer surfaces adequately and provide the desired level of penetration through the thickness of the fabric, ideally the fabric contains from 0.5 to 40Og of hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic agent per kilogram of fabric. Preferably the fabric contains from 1 to 20Og of hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic agent per kilogram of fabric and even more preferably from 2 to 50g/kg of fabric.
  • the wicking performance of a fabric can be demonstrated and quantitatively measured by a differential wicking test.
  • the test involves placing a drop of water measuring 50 microlitres from a pipette on the inner face or skin side of the fabric. After the water has been absorbed entirely by the fabric (this is usually less then 30 seconds for most fabrics), weighed pieces of blotting paper are placed either side of the fabric and the assembly laid flat with a 1.Okg weight having a base diameter of 70mm is placed on top of the paper and fabric assembly. After 30 seconds the weight is removed, the blotting papers reweighed and the mass of water ⁇ absorbed by each determined.
  • a wicking ratio defined as the mass of water extracted from the outer face divided by the mass of water extracted by the inner fabric face can then be calculated.
  • An average wicking ratio can be determined by repeating this procedure 3 times and then repeated a further 3 times with the water being placed on the opposite face of the fabric.
  • Examples 1 to 6 relate to the application of hydrophobic agents by spraying
  • Examples 7 and 8 relate to the application of hydrophobic agents by foam. application.
  • Example 9 relates to the application of hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents.
  • Example 1 A pure wool fabric knitted from chlorine/Hercosett shrink resist treated yarns (80-tex, two folded, single jersey knitted structure with a coverfactor of 1.32) was scoured with 2g/l Softinol 90 at pH ⁇ 3 and 65 0 C for 35 minutes then rinsed and neutralised with 2ml/l ammonia for lOminutes at 4O 0 C, then rinsed, to remove all presence of the hydrophobic softener that is normally applied as part of the shrink resist process. A drop of water placed on the surface of the fabric spreads and is absorbed by the fabric in less than 1 second, ie., the base fabric is rendered hydrophilic.
  • Fabric that has not had the softener removed is hydrophobic and a water droplet remains on the surface for greater than 30 seconds.
  • a solution of a silicone emulsion, Dow Corning/Toray SM8709 at lOg/1 in water is sprayed onto the inner face of the fabric at a rate of 200ml/m 2 using an industrial air spraying gun to render the inner face hydrophobic.
  • the fabric was then dried at 8O 0 C for 10 minutes and later cured in an oven for 10 minutes at HO 0 C.
  • a water soluble dye may be added to the spaying solution.
  • the fabric was cooled to room temperature and a drop of water placed on the inner hydrophobic surface was absorbed within 2 to 5 seconds. A wicking ratio of greater than 50:1 was achieved. After washing the fabric according to Woolmark TM31 to 5x5A wascator cycles the wicking ratio remained at more than 7:1.
  • Example 2 This example followed the same basic procedure as Example 1 to provide a hydrophilic base fabric. However, rather than treating the fabric with a solution of a silicone emulsion, Dow Corning/Toray SM8709, the fabric underwent a hydrophobic treatment involving treating the fabric with Nuva TTC, a fluorocarbon based product from Clarient, at a concentration of 20g/l. The fabric was subsequently dried and cured as described above.
  • the fabric had a wicking ratio after treatment of 6:1.
  • This example is substantially the same as Example 2, save for the hydrophobic treatment involved treating the fabric with Rucostar EEE, a fluorocarbon based product from Ruldof Chemie, at a concentration of lOg/1 with the water pH adjusted to ⁇ 3.5 with 60% acetic acid.
  • the fabric had a wicking ratio after treatment of 5:1.
  • the wicking ratio was reduced to 3:1.
  • This example is substantially the same as Example 1, save for the hydrophobic treatment involved treating the fabric with Ruco-Dry DHY, a hydrocarbon from based product Ruldof Chemie, at a concentration of lOg/1 with the water pH adjusted to ⁇ 3.5 with 60% acetic acid.
  • the fabric has a wicking ratio after treatment of 8:1.
  • the wicking ratio was reduced to 4: 1.
  • Example 2 This example is substantially the same as Example 1, save for the fabric which was a single jersey polyester fabric (1/24 Ne count) knitted to a cover factor of 1.32 and prior to treatment with a hydrophobic agent, the fabric was rendered hydrophilic by pre-treatment with a hydrophilic agent.
  • the fabric was purchased from Spotlight retailers, who are supplied by George Black wholesalers.
  • the fabric had a wicking ratio of 6: 1 after treatment with the hydrophobic.
  • Example 6 This example is substantially the same as Example 2, save for the fabric which was a single jersey cotton fabric (1/20 Ne count) with a weight of 170g/m 2
  • the fabric has a wicking ratio after treatment of 70:1.
  • a 100% cotton Birdseye knit structure with a fabric weight of 233g/m 2 was treated on the inner face of the fabric by top foam application using a Gaston Systems CFS Foam applicator.
  • a liquor was made comprising a hydrophobic agent in the form of 50g/l of SM8709 (Dow Corning/Toray) and a surfactant in the form of 1.5% solution of Ricofoam 227 (Ruldof Chemie). The liquor was then foamed in the CFS applicator at a flow rate of 40 cc/min and an air flow rate of 1.8 1/min which gave a blow ratio of air to liquid phase of approximately 45.
  • the foam was then applied by single sided application to the fabric with the fabric running through the applicator at three different speeds, namely 3.3m/min, 6.6m/min 9.9m/min.
  • the pick up for the three samples was calculated as a ratio of the amount of mass of the liquor on the sample after the treatment to the mass of the sample before treatment as 11.07%, 5.5% and 3.7% respectively.
  • the treated fabric for each respective speed contained approximately 5.54g, 2.75g and 1.85g of hydrophobic agent product per kilogram of fabric.
  • the three samples were then dried in a mini stenter at 16O 0 C with a retention time of 4 minutes.
  • Example 8 A double knit polyester outer and cotton inner fabric with a weight of 223 g/m was treated on the cotton side by top foam application using a Gaston Systems CFS Foam applicator. A liquor was then made from a hydrophobic agent in the form of a 50g/l of SM8709 and a surfactant in the form of a 1.5% solution of Ricofoam 227, both of which were obtained from Ruldof Chemie. The liquor was then foamed in the CFS applicator at a liquor flow rate of 30cc/min and an air flow rate of 1.21/min which gave a blow ratio of air to liquid phase of approximately 40.
  • the foam was then applied by single sided application to the fabric at a speed of 6m/min to give a single sided pick up of 4.7%.
  • the sample was then dried in a mini stenter at 16O 0 C with a retention time of 4 minutes.
  • the treated fabric contained approximately 2.35g of hydrophobic agent per kilogram of fabric.
  • the wicking ratio of the untreated fabric was 0.08:1 (poly:cotton, oute ⁇ inner) while the treated fabric gave a result of 0.52: 1 substantially reducing the moisture in the inner face of the fabric giving a wicking improvement factor (wif) of 6.5 where the wicking improvement factor is the normalised mass of water (inner face normalised tol) retained in the outer face of the treated fabric divided by the normalised mass of water retained in the outer face of untreated fabric.
  • the column in Table 1 entitled WICKING provides the wicking ratio for an untreated fabric.
  • Fabric types 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are examples of single layered fabric, whereas fabric type 2 is an example of the multi-layered fabric.
  • Table 1 The six fabric types listed in the Table 1 were subject to treatments in accordance with the method outline in Examples 7 and 8.
  • Table 2 on pages 19 and 20 provides a summary of the conditions including the agents and make of liquor used to treat the fabric, pick up of the treated fabric and wicking properties. As can be seen from Table 2, the treated fabric exhibits improved wicking properties that can be used to draw through the fabric.
  • the hydrophobic agent is confined to a first face of the fabric, such as the inside face of a garment or has penetrated the inside face such that the hydrophobic agent and the hydrophobicity of the fabric extends from the first or inside face toward the second or outer face without forming part of, or included in, the second face.
  • the ⁇ hydrophilic agent is confined to what would be the second or outside face of the garment or has penetrated the second face such that the hydrophilic agent and the hydrophilicity of the fabric extends from the second face toward the first face without forming part of, or included in, the first face.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un tissu et un procédé de fabrication d'un tissu, une face interne ou première face du tissu étant partiellement ou entièrement hydrophobe par rapport à une face externe ou deuxième face et le liquide pouvant être absorbé à travers les régions hydrophobes de la face interne ou première face jusqu'à la face externe ou deuxième face par effet mèche. L'hydrophobicité relative de la face interne ou première face est obtenue soit par des agents hydrophobes ou des agents hydrophiles soit par une association des deux, i) l'agent hydrophobe étant localisé sur la face interne ou première face ou ayant pénétré à l'intérieur de la face interne ou première face de façon à ce que l'agent hydrophobe et l'hydrophobicité du tissu s'étende de la face interne ou première face jusqu'à la face externe ou deuxième face sans faire partie de la face externe ou deuxième face, ou ii) l'agent hydrophile étant localisé sur la face externe ou deuxième face ou ayant pénétré à l'intérieur de la face externe ou deuxième face de sorte que l'agent hydrophile et l'hydrophilicité du tissu s'étende de la face externe ou deuxième face jusqu'à la face interne ou première face sans faire partie de la face interne ou première face.
PCT/AU2006/001794 2005-11-25 2006-11-27 Tissu a effet meche et procede de fabrication correspondant WO2007059590A1 (fr)

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AU2005906572 2005-11-25
AU2005906572A AU2005906572A0 (en) 2005-11-25 A wicking fabric and a method for manufacturing the same

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Cited By (9)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120159692A1 (en) * 2009-08-31 2012-06-28 Blythe Guy Rees-Jones Fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems
CN104839916A (zh) * 2015-05-20 2015-08-19 嘉兴市迪洋纺织品有限公司 一种吸湿排汗的织物
US10640915B2 (en) 2017-11-01 2020-05-05 Dryco, Inc. Moisture control fabrics
US11008699B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2021-05-18 Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri San. Ve Tic. A.S. Fabric having moisture management features
WO2021154636A1 (fr) * 2020-01-29 2021-08-05 Lisa Lindberg Application de parfum sur des substrats de tissu à l'aide de mousse
US11098444B2 (en) 2016-01-07 2021-08-24 Tommie Copper Ip, Inc. Cotton performance products and methods of their manufacture
WO2021229438A1 (fr) * 2020-05-12 2021-11-18 Cityzen S.R.O. Vêtement pouvant masquer des traces d'humidité corporelle et procédé de fabrication correspondant
CN114311874A (zh) * 2021-11-22 2022-04-12 江苏中纺联针织有限公司 抗菌保暖吸湿速干针织运动面料及其生产方法
TWI791720B (zh) * 2018-12-24 2023-02-11 財團法人紡織產業綜合研究所 布料

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US5269720A (en) * 1991-11-12 1993-12-14 Moretz Herbert L Moisture managing brassiere
US5901373A (en) * 1997-11-21 1999-05-11 Dicker; Timothy P. Multilayer energy expenditure garment made from hydrophobic/hydrophilic materials
WO2001090465A2 (fr) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Systemes d'aspiration pour des produits de soin personnel
US6918140B1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2005-07-19 Defeet International, Inc. Protective fabric and apparel systems

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4501025A (en) * 1983-07-28 1985-02-26 Lawrence Kuznetz Composite fabric for sportswear
US5269720A (en) * 1991-11-12 1993-12-14 Moretz Herbert L Moisture managing brassiere
US5901373A (en) * 1997-11-21 1999-05-11 Dicker; Timothy P. Multilayer energy expenditure garment made from hydrophobic/hydrophilic materials
WO2001090465A2 (fr) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Systemes d'aspiration pour des produits de soin personnel
US6918140B1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2005-07-19 Defeet International, Inc. Protective fabric and apparel systems

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AU2016203458B2 (en) * 2009-08-31 2018-04-05 The Merino Company Limited Fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems
AU2018203961B2 (en) * 2009-08-31 2020-02-27 The Merino Company Limited Fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems
US20120159692A1 (en) * 2009-08-31 2012-06-28 Blythe Guy Rees-Jones Fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems
CN104839916A (zh) * 2015-05-20 2015-08-19 嘉兴市迪洋纺织品有限公司 一种吸湿排汗的织物
US11008699B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2021-05-18 Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri San. Ve Tic. A.S. Fabric having moisture management features
US11098444B2 (en) 2016-01-07 2021-08-24 Tommie Copper Ip, Inc. Cotton performance products and methods of their manufacture
US11384478B2 (en) 2017-11-01 2022-07-12 Dryco, Inc. Moisture control fabrics
US10640915B2 (en) 2017-11-01 2020-05-05 Dryco, Inc. Moisture control fabrics
TWI791720B (zh) * 2018-12-24 2023-02-11 財團法人紡織產業綜合研究所 布料
WO2021154636A1 (fr) * 2020-01-29 2021-08-05 Lisa Lindberg Application de parfum sur des substrats de tissu à l'aide de mousse
WO2021229438A1 (fr) * 2020-05-12 2021-11-18 Cityzen S.R.O. Vêtement pouvant masquer des traces d'humidité corporelle et procédé de fabrication correspondant
CN114311874A (zh) * 2021-11-22 2022-04-12 江苏中纺联针织有限公司 抗菌保暖吸湿速干针织运动面料及其生产方法
CN114311874B (zh) * 2021-11-22 2024-03-22 江苏中纺联针织有限公司 抗菌保暖吸湿速干针织运动面料及其生产方法

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