TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE RESPONSIVE SMART TEXTILE
A textile fabric includes a smooth surface with one or more regions having a bound coating of hydrogel exhibiting expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof, adjusting insulation performance, air movement, and/or liquid management of the textile fabric in response to ambient conditions.
1 . A textile fabric having a smooth surface with one or more regions having a bound coating of hydrogel exhibiting expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof, adjusting insulation performance, air movement, and/or liquid management of the textile fabric in response to ambient conditions.
2 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the coating of hydrogel comprises a polymeric hydrogel.
3 . The textile fabric according to claim 2 , wherein the polymeric hydrogel is selected from the group consisting of: poly(vinyl methyl ether), and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).
4 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is bound to the smooth surface with a binder.
5 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the coating of hydrogel comprises a plurality of gel particles disposed in a binder.
6 . The textile fabric according to claim 5 , wherein the binder is hydrophilic or rendered hydrophilic to promote wicking of moisture towards the hydrogel.
7 . The textile fabric according to claim 5 , wherein the binder comprises polyurethane, silicone, or acrylic.
8 . The textile fabric according to claim 5 , wherein the hydrogel comprises acrylate or carboxymethyl cellulose.
9 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a hydrophilic polyurethane.
10 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a volume phase transition critical temperature of between about 30° C. and about 40° C.
11 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a volume phase transition critical temperature of between about 10° C. and about 50° C.
12 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a fast response gel.
13 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion and/or contraction of the hydrogel is substantially reversible.
14 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the textile fabric has a knitted construction selected from the group consisting of single jersey, plated single jersey, double knit, three-end fleece, and terry loop.
15 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the textile fabric has a plated single jersey or double knit construction configured to promote movement of moisture from a second surface of the fabric, opposite the smooth surface, toward the smooth surface.
16 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the textile fabric comprises yarn with a plurality of synthetic fibers rendered hydrophilic.
17 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the bound coating of hydrogel is a non-continuous coating comprising a plurality of discrete coating segments.
18 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 in the form of an article of wearing apparel, wherein the one or more regions correspond to regions of wearing apparel typically exposed to relatively high levels of moisture.
19 . The textile fabric as in claim 17 , wherein the smooth surface of the fabric defines an outer surface of the article of wearing apparel.
20 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the ambient conditions include physical stimuli.
21 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more regions of hydrogel are configured to adjust breathability and air movement of the textile fabric in response to ambient conditions.
22 . The textile fabric according to claim 1 , further comprising flame retardant yarns and/or fibers.
23 . A method of forming a temperature and moisture responsive textile fabric element for use in an engineered thermal fabric garment, the method comprising:
combining yarns and/or fibers to form a continuous web;
finishing the continuous web to form at least one smooth surface; and
depositing a coating of hydrogel on the smooth surface of the continuous web, the hydrogel exhibiting expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof, adjusting insulation performance, air movement, and/or liquid management of the textile fabric in response to ambient conditions.
24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of combining yarns and/or fibers in a continuous web comprises the further step of incorporating spandex fibers in the stitch yarn.
25 . The method as in any one of claims 23 , wherein the step of depositing the coating of hydrogel comprises depositing the hydrogel in a non-continuous pattern.
26 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein the non-continuous pattern is a grid pattern, a pattern comprising one or more bands, or combinations thereof.
27 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a polymer gel having a single polymer network.
28 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a polymer gel having an interpenetrating polymer network.
29 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of depositing the coating of hydrogel comprises depositing the hydrogel by a process selected from the group consisting of: coating, lamination, and printing.
30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein printing includes hot melt printing, gravure roll printing, hot melt gravure roll printing, or screen printing.
31 . A textile fabric comprising:
a plurality of interconnected yarns and/or fibers together forming a fabric body and including a plurality of responsive yarns and/or fibers integrated into the fabric body in spaced relation to each other, wherein the responsive yarns and/or fibers exhibit expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof, adjusting three dimensional geometry, insulation performance, air movement, and/or liquid management of the textile fabric in response to ambient conditions.
32 . The textile fabric according to claim 31 , wherein the responsive yarns and/or fibers comprise hydrogel.
33 . The textile fabric according to claim 32 , wherein the fabric body comprises a knit construction including responsive yarns and/or fibers interlooped with other yarns and/or fibers, wherein the other yarns and/or fibers are substantially free of the hydrogel.
34 . The textile fabric according to claim 33 , wherein the fabric body comprises at least two responsive yarns and/or fibers disposed in spaced apart relation along the fabric body and including one or more other yarns and/or fibers disposed therebetween.
35 . The textile fabric according to claim 33 , wherein the responsive yarns and/or fibers are integrated into the fabric body in single course and/or multicourse in a band form.
36 . The textile fabric according to claim 31 , wherein the fabric body has a knitted construction selected from the group consisting of single jersey, plated single jersey, double knit, three-end fleece, terry loop in regular plating, and terry loop in reverse plating.
37 . The textile fabric according to claim 36 , wherein the knit fabric body includes at least a first course comprising one of the responsive yarns and/or fibers, a second course comprising another one of the responsive yarns and/or fibers, wherein the first and second courses are disposed in spaced apart relation along the fabric body with one or more courses of other yarns and/or fibers disposed therebetween, wherein the other yarns and/or fibers are substantially free of the hydrogel.
38 . The textile fabric according to claim 31 , wherein at least some of the responsive yarns and/or fibers include a coating of hydrogel carried by a yarn and/or fiber core.
39 . The textile fabric according to claim 31 , wherein the responsive yarns and/or fibers include co-extruded fibers comprising a fiber core co-extruded with a hydrogel fiber.
40 . The textile fabric according to claim 39 , wherein the fiber core and the hydrogel fiber are co-extruded in side-by-side relationship.
41 . The textile fabric according to claim 39 , wherein the fiber core and the hydrogel fiber are co-extruded in a core-and-sheath relationship.
42 . The textile fabric according to claim 39 , wherein the hydrogel fiber is selected from the group consisting of: a fiber embedded with a hydrogel chemical, a fiber comprising a polymer exhibiting expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof, and a fiber comprising a co-polymer exhibiting expansion or contraction in response to change in relative humidity or exposure to liquid sweat or a combination thereof.