Polymer fibers, fabrics and equipment with a modified near infrared reflectance signature
View Patent ↗A modified synthetic polymer filament and multifilament yarn of polyamide or polyester filament containing a carbon black polymer additive, and fabrics from these yarns, are disclosed. These melt spun filaments are especially well-suited for use in garments and equipment where a modified Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) signature is desired. The yarn and fabrics made from this yarn may be advantageously dyed or printed to provide a camouflage fabric for use in desert sand dominated environments, urban environments and multi-terrain environments.
1. A polymer filament having IR reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of 20% to 65% comprising:
about 10 to 300 p pm carbon black; and
polymer,
wherein the polymer filament further comprises one of a circular, trilobal or diabolo profiled cross-sectional shapes, wherein further the polymer comprises polyamide or polyester of about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the polymer filament has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.
2. The polymer filament of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide comprises nylon 6,6 or nylon 6 or combinations thereof, and the polyester comprises polyethylene terephthalate or cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof.
3. The polymer filament of claim 1 comprising about 3 to about 8 dpf and about 10 to about 150 ppm carbon black.
4. The polymer filament of claim 1 comprising about 0.7 to about 2.9 dpf and about 100 to about 300 ppm carbon black.
5. The polymer filament of claim 1 further comprising a dye.
6. The polymer filament of claim 5 , wherein the dye comprises Light Tan 492.
7. The polymer filament of claim 5 , further comprising a print pattern.
8. The polymer filament of claim 7 , wherein the print pattern comprises a light color with low reflectance in the NIR such as the U.S. Army 3-day desert print.
9. A multifilament yarn comprising the polymer filament of claim 1 .
10. The multifilament yarn of claim 9 further comprising a fully drawn yarn (FDY).
11. The multifilament yarn of claim 9 further comprising a partially oriented yarn (POY).
12. A fabric comprising the polymer filament of claim 1 .
13. A garment comprising the fabric of claim 12 .
14. The garment of claim 13 comprising a jacket, a rucksack, a ballistic vest or boots.