Reflective fabrics
Disclosed is a retro-reflective fabric, having an inner surface and an outer surface; one or more strands of retro-reflective yarn incorporated into the fabric; and a reflective ink coupled to the outer surface of the fabric. Also provided is a method of making a retro-reflective fabric, including: providing a coated retro-reflective yarn; incorporating the coated retro-reflective yarn into the weave or knit of a fabric; and disposing a reflective ink into an outward facing surface of the fabric.
1. A method of making a retro-reflective fabric, comprising:
providing a coated retro-reflective yarn comprising a retro-reflective tape core forming the innermost core of the coated retro-reflective yarn;
incorporating the coated retro-reflective yarn into a weave or a knit of a fabric; and
disposing a passive reflective ink into an outward facing surface of the fabric.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing coated retro-reflective yarn comprises coating the retro-reflective tape core having retro-reflective elements with a thermoset polymer.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the thermoset polymer is substantially optically clear.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the thermoset polymer comprises one or more functional polyurethanes and/or functional acrylates.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein coating the retro-reflective tape core having retro-reflective elements with the thermoset polymer, comprises disposing the thermoset polymer on an outer surface of the retro-reflective tape core and curing the thermoset polymer with light radiation.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the light radiation comprises one or more of UV light or IR light.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising cleaning the retro-reflective tape core prior to coating.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein cleaning the retro-reflective tape core, comprises plasma treatment.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the retro-reflective tape core is coated within a slot die.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a woven fabric and with one or more strands of retro-reflective yarn incorporated into a weft and/or a warp of the fabric.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a plain weave, a rib weave, a mat weave, a twill weave, a satin weave, or an oxford weave.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coated retro-reflective yarn is placed at regular, or irregular positions within the fabric.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a denim.
14. A method of making a retro-reflective fabric, comprising:
knitting or weaving a coated retro-reflective yarn into a fabric, the coated retro-reflective yarn comprising a retro-reflective tape core forming the innermost core of the coated retro-reflective yarn; and
disposing a passive reflective ink into an outward facing surface of the fabric.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising coating the retro-reflective tape core having retro-reflective elements with a thermoset polymer to form the coated retro-reflective yarn before knitting or weaving the coated retro-reflective yarn into the fabric.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein coating the retro-reflective tape core with the thermoset polymer includes the thermoset polymer being substantially optically clear.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein coating the retro-reflective tape core with the thermoset polymer includes the thermoset polymer comprising one or more functional polyurethanes and/or functional acrylates.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein coating the retro-reflective tape core having retro-reflective elements with the thermoset polymer further comprises disposing the thermoset polymer on an outer surface of the retro-reflective tape core and curing the thermoset polymer with light radiation.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein curing the thermoset polymer with light radiation includes curing the thermoset polymer with UV light or IR light.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising cleaning the retro-reflective tape core prior to coating.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein cleaning the retro-reflective tape core, comprises plasma treatment.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein coating the retro-reflective tape core includes coating the retro-reflective tape core within a slot die.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein knitting or weaving the coated retro-reflective yarn into the fabric includes weaving one or more strands of retro-reflective yarn into a weft or a warp of the fabric.
24. The method of claim 14 , wherein knitting or weaving the coated retro-reflective yarn into the fabric includes placing the coated retro-reflective yarn regular or irregular positions within the fabric.