Multi-layer flexible fabric and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-layer flexible fabric and a preparation method thereof, the multi-layer flexible fabric at least comprises two layers of flexible fabric, each layer of flexible fabric is provided with a plurality of rows or columns of conductive patterns formed by conductive yarns, and the conductive patterns between adjacent fabrics are staggered mutually; the conductive patterns are broken after being damaged by impact, and the damaged row and column can be respectively identified by collecting the resistance signal change of the conductive patterns in each row and column in the two adjacent layers of flexible fabrics, so that the impact position is positioned. The specific preparation method comprises the steps of weaving the impact-resistant flexible fabric, embroidering the conductive pattern and finishing and assembling. The prepared multi-layer flexible fabric has excellent softness and portability, meanwhile has impact sensing capacity and impact resistance, is simple in preparation method and low in price, and is suitable for various impact sensing scenes such as spacecrafts and intelligent wearable equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of intelligent sensing and protective materials, and particularly relates to a multi-layer flexible fabric and a preparation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Impact-resistant protective materials are widely used in aerospace, shipbuilding, automobile construction and other fields. In view of the stringent requirements of modern equipment for lightweight structures, impact-resistant protective materials have gradually transformed from traditional metal materials to new lightweight and high-strength materials. High-performance fiber fabrics are regarded as a new generation of protective materials that have both lightweight characteristics and good impact resistance due to their high strength and high stiffness mechanical properties. In addition, their unique flexibility and excellent deformability enable high-performance fiber fabrics to adapt to various complex surfaces and can be effectively used in the field of human protection.

[0003] With the progress of intelligent equipment, many application scenarios have put forward the requirement of being able to identify and perceive impact loads and impact damage. For example, in the space environment where spacecraft are in long-term service, it is necessary to perceive the ultra-high-speed impact events of space debris and the range of damage caused by the impact. Most of the existing impact sensing technologies are based on piezoelectric, strain, optics, sound waves and other methods to implement real-time monitoring of impact events. However, their signals are easily interfered by the external environment, and they are unable to detect and evaluate the severity of impact events. More importantly, the currently known impact-resistant protective materials and impact-sensing materials are two independent materials, which is not conducive to achieving lightweight and improving reliability. Based on the advantages of high-performance fiber fabrics in impact resistance, it is urgent to develop a flexible fabric material that integrates impact sensing and protection. Summary of the invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multi-layer flexible fabric and a preparation method thereof in view of the deficiencies in the above-mentioned prior art, so as to solve the technical problems that the severity of impact events cannot be accurately detected and evaluated due to the external environment, and that real-time impact data and evaluation cannot be provided.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric comprises the following steps: S1. Weaving impact-resistant flexible fabrics using fiber materials; S2, using conductive yarn to embroider a conductive pattern on the flexible fabric obtained in step S1; S3, fixing the flexible fabric embroidered in step S2 on a water-soluble backing cloth, then soaking it in water to dissolve, and air-drying it as the first layer; then stacking multiple layers of flexible fabrics with conductive patterns on the first layer in an orthogonal manner, and finally obtaining a multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection.

[0006] Preferably, the fiber material is any one of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, glass fiber, and alumina fiber.

[0007] Preferably, each layer of flexible fabric uses a different fiber material.

[0008] Preferably, the fabric structure of the flexible fabric is plain, satin or twill.

[0009] Preferably, each layer of the flexible fabric has a thickness of 0.25-0.6 mm and a surface density of 100-480 g·m -2 .

[0010] Preferably, the conductive yarn is metal fiber, carbon fiber and conductive polymer fiber.

[0011] Preferably, the wire diameter of the conductive yarn is 70-300 D.

[0012] Preferably, the conductive patterns between rows and columns on the flexible fabric are interrupted with a spacing of 0.5-1 mm.

[0013] Preferably, the conductive pattern is in the shape of a U, a F or a Y.

[0014] Another technical solution of the present invention is a multi-layer flexible fabric.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: A method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric. When a protective material is impacted, traditional methods are often unable to accurately detect and evaluate the severity of the impact event due to external environmental problems, and are unable to provide real-time impact data and evaluation, which makes it impossible to fully understand the impact of the impact on the protective effect in practical applications. The present invention uses fiber materials to weave impact-resistant flexible fabrics, and uses multiple layers of flexible fabrics with conductive patterns to be orthogonally stacked. The whole process is simple, and the process flow of weaving the impact-resistant flexible fabric, embroidering the conductive pattern, and finishing and assembling is clear. The overall fabric combines the impact resistance advantages of high-performance fibers and the sensing function of the conductive pattern. The prepared multi-layer flexible fabric has excellent softness and lightness, and at the same time has impact sensing ability and impact resistance. The preparation method is simple and inexpensive, and is suitable for various impact sensing scenarios such as spacecraft and smart wearable devices.

[0016] Furthermore, high-performance fibers such as carbon fiber are selected to weave multiple layers of flexible fabrics, so that the fabrics have the advantages of impact resistance, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance.

[0017] Furthermore, using different fiber materials for each layer of the flexible fabric can combine the advantages of different fibers, making the overall protective performance of the fabric more superior.

[0018] Furthermore, selecting different tissue structures can endow the flexible fabric with different characteristics. Plain weave fabrics are firm, wear-resistant, stiff, and flat. Twill weave fabrics are soft, thicker and denser than plain weave fabrics. Satin weave fabrics have a flat and smooth surface, are shiny, and the longer floating yarns can form a shiny surface, making it easier to reflect light.

[0019] Furthermore, the thickness of each layer of the flexible fabric is set to be 0.25 - 0.6 mm, and the areal density is 100 - 480 g·m -2 , making the overall mass light and the flexibility good.

[0020] Furthermore, conductive yarns such as metal fibers are selected to embroider conductive yarns, and the conductivity, flexibility, and environmental stability of the conductive yarns can be utilized to ensure the impact perception ability of the overall multi-layer flexible fabric.

[0021] Furthermore, the conductive pattern is embroidered with conductive yarns having a linear density of 70 - 300 D, the pattern is clearer, has good flexibility, and has excellent conductive functions.

[0022] Furthermore, the distance between two rows of conductive patterns is set to be 0.5 - 1 mm and they are intermittent with each other, which can ensure the impact perception function of each row of conductive patterns.

[0023] Furthermore, the conductive pattern is designed to be a loop shape, a J shape, or a straight shape, and different patterns can be selected according to the requirements of perception accuracy.

[0024] A multi-layer flexible fabric includes at least two layers of flexible fabrics. Conductive patterns composed of multiple rows or columns of conductive yarns are arranged on each layer of the flexible fabric, and the conductive patterns between adjacent fabrics are staggered with each other; when the conductive pattern is damaged by impact, an open circuit will occur. By collecting the resistance signal changes of the conductive patterns in each row and each column of adjacent two layers of flexible fabrics, the damaged row and column can be respectively identified, so as to realize the positioning of the impact position.

[0025] In summary, due to the strict requirements of modern equipment for lightweight, the anti-impact protection materials are gradually shifting from traditional metal materials to new lightweight and high-strength materials. The multi-layer flexible fabric prepared by the present invention not only has excellent softness and lightness, but also has impact perception and anti-impact protection performances. Moreover, the preparation method is simple and economically effective, and its unique flexibility and deformability enable it to adapt to complex surfaces and be effectively applied in the protection field, and is suitable for impact perception scenarios such as spacecraft and smart wearable devices.

[0026] The technical solutions of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings to be used in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of flexible fabric integrating impact sensing and protection; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the embroidery process of a conductive pattern on a layer of flexible fabric; FIG3 is an example of conductive pattern types, wherein (a) is a straight line, (b) is a square line, and (c) is a circle line; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the sensing principle of the present invention.

[0029] Among them, 1. flexible fabric; 2. lining cloth; 3. conductive yarn; 4. needle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The technical solution of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, all the embodiments and preferred implementation methods mentioned herein can be combined with each other to form a new technical solution.

[0032] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, all technical features and preferred features mentioned herein can be combined with each other to form a new technical solution.

[0033] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, percentage (%) or part refers to the weight percentage or weight part relative to the composition.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the components or preferred components involved can be combined with each other to form a new technical solution.

[0035] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the numerical range "a-b" represents an abbreviation of any real number combination between a and b, where a and b are real numbers. For example, the numerical range "6-22" represents that all real numbers between "6-22" are listed in this document, and "6-22" is just an abbreviation of these numerical combinations.

[0036] The “range” disclosed in the present invention is in the form of a lower limit and an upper limit, which can be one or more lower limits, and one or more upper limits, respectively.

[0037] In the present invention, the term "and / or" used herein refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes these combinations.

[0038] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, each reaction or operation step can be carried out sequentially or in accordance with the sequence. Preferably, the reaction method herein is carried out sequentially.

[0039] Unless otherwise specified, the professional and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those familiar to those skilled in the art. In addition, any method or material similar or equivalent to the described content may also be applied to the present invention.

[0040] The present invention provides a multi-layer flexible fabric and a preparation method thereof, and prepares a multi-layer flexible fabric integrating impact sensing and protection, combines the sensing and detection functions of the sensor with the superior protective performance of the fabric itself, converts the resistance signal into usable information, thereby achieving the purpose of locating the damage position, and obtaining a flexible fabric with strong protective performance, light weight, and integrated intelligent sensing and protection. This design that integrates sensing technology with protective materials combines sensing function with protective performance to create a more intelligent and efficient protective product.

[0041] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present invention provides a multi-layer flexible fabric, comprising at least two layers of flexible fabric 1, wherein the first layer of flexible fabric 1 is arranged on a lining cloth 2, and each layer of protective flexible fabric 1 is provided with conductive yarns 3 distributed in multiple rows or columns, and the conductive yarns 3 are arranged on the flexible fabric 1 in multiple rows or columns by using a needle 4 to form a conductive pattern, and the conductive patterns between adjacent flexible fabrics 1 are arranged in an interlaced manner, and the conductive patterns are embroidered on the flexible fabric 1 by embroidery, so as to achieve the purpose of integrated sensing and protection, and obtain a sensing and protection flexible fabric.

[0042] The conductive pattern of the multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection will be broken after being damaged by impact. By collecting the resistance signal changes of the conductive patterns in each row and column in two adjacent layers of flexible fabric, the damaged rows and columns can be identified respectively, thereby locating the impact position.

[0043] The present invention provides a method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric, comprising the following steps: S1. Weaving impact-resistant flexible fabrics According to the requirements of impact resistance, suitable fiber materials are selected and the fabric structure diagram is designed. Then the warp yarns are wound in parallel on the warp beam, and then inserted into the corresponding dropper pieces, healds and reeds in turn. The weaving is completed on the machine through the opening movement, weft insertion, weft beating and warp delivery processes. Finally, the multi-layer impact-resistant flexible fabric is cut and finished.

[0044] The fiber material of the single layer is woven from any one of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, glass fiber, and alumina fiber, and each layer can be set to a different fiber material.

[0045] S2. Embroidering conductive patterns See also Figure 2 As shown in Figure 3, a conductive pattern is designed using computer embroidery design software, and the stitch type, density, length, and direction parameters of the embroidery are set. Then, a layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are flatly fixed on the embroidery frame of the embroidery machine, and the embroidery needle is controlled to move up and down according to the set program and parameters to embroider a conductive pattern on the impact-resistant flexible fabric with conductive yarn.

[0046] The fabric structure can be plain, satin or twill, the thickness of a single layer of fabric is 0.25~0.6 mm, and the surface density is 100~480 g·m -2 .

[0047] S3, finishing and assembly The embroidered layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are soaked in water to dissolve, and then ventilated and dried; finally, the multiple layers of flexible fabric with conductive patterns are orthogonally stacked together to obtain a multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection.

[0048] The conductive yarn is arranged on the flexible fabric by embroidery, and can be any one of metal fiber, carbon fiber and conductive polymer fiber, and the yarn thickness is 70~300 D.

[0049] The conductive pattern is any one of a U-shaped, a F-shaped, and a I-shaped, and the conductive patterns between each row and each column are interrupted with a spacing of 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0050] See also Figure 4 , schematic diagram of the damage of a row or column of the conductive pattern of the first layer and the second layer of protective flexible fabric when the flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection is damaged by impact, ○ indicates that the conductive yarn is not damaged, × indicates that the conductive yarn is damaged, and the intersection of the two groups of × is the damage point.

[0051] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Usually, the components described and shown in the accompanying drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed present invention, but merely represents the selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0052] Example 1 Weaving an impact-resistant flexible fabric Plain weave is selected as the basic weave, and aramid fibers are used as the fibers. Design the fabric weave diagram, select the beam for warping, calculate the yarn consumption of the warp according to the overall size of the required fabric of 40 cm × 160 cm. Then wind the warp parallelly on the beam, and then thread it through the corresponding drop wires, heddles, and reeds in sequence. Complete the loom weaving through processes such as shedding, weft insertion, beating-up, and warp feeding. Finally, cut and finish to obtain a single-layer fabric with a thickness of 0.6 mm and a surface density of 480 g·m -2 , and a multi-layer impact-resistant flexible fabric block with a size of 40 cm × 40 cm.

[0053] Embroidery of conductive patterns The pattern designed to be embroidered on the fabric is in a zigzag shape, and the overall size of the pattern is 35 cm × 35 cm. Use the computer embroidery design software Wilcom EmbroideryStudio e4.2 to design the conductive pattern, set the embroidery parameters, the stitch type is the flat-lock stitch, the density is 0.5, the length is 0.8, the direction is from left to right, the distance between two rows of conductive patterns is 1 mm, and the conductive yarn is selected as 300 D silver fiber sewing thread. Then fix a layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble backing cloth flatly on the embroidery frame of the embroidery machine, and control the embroidery needle to move up and down according to the set program and parameters, and embroider the zigzag conductive pattern on the impact-resistant flexible fabric with the conductive yarn.

[0054] Finishing and assembling Soak the embroidered layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble backing cloth in water to dissolve, and ventilate and dry; finally, orthogonally stack the multi-layer flexible fabrics with conductive patterns together to obtain a multi-layer flexible fabric integrated with impact perception and protection.

[0055] Example 2 Weaving an impact-resistant flexible fabric Satin weave was selected as the basic structure and carbon fiber was used as the fiber. The fabric structure diagram was designed, and the warp beam was selected for yarn supply. The warp yarn consumption was calculated according to the overall size of the required fabric, which was 20 cm×100 cm. Then the warp yarn was wound on the warp beam in parallel, and then inserted into the corresponding dropper, heald and reed in turn. The weaving was completed through the processes of opening movement, weft insertion, weft beating and warp delivery. Finally, the single-layer fabric was cut and trimmed to obtain a thickness of 0.25 mm and a surface density of 170 g·m -2 , a multi-layer impact-resistant flexible fabric piece measuring 20 cm × 20 cm.

[0056] Embroidering conductive patterns The pattern designed to be embroidered on the fabric is a straight line with an overall size of 18 cm × 18 cm. The computer embroidery design software Wilcom EmbroideryStudio e4.2 is used to design the conductive pattern. The embroidery parameters are set. The stitch type is flat stitch, the density is 0.4, the length is 1, the direction is from left to right, the spacing between two rows of conductive patterns is 0.3 mm, and the conductive yarn is 70D carbon fiber sewing thread. Then, a layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are flatly fixed on the embroidery frame of the embroidery machine. The embroidery needle is controlled to move up and down according to the set program and parameters, and the conductive yarn is used to embroider a straight line conductive pattern on the impact-resistant flexible fabric.

[0057] Finishing and assembly The embroidered layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are soaked in water to dissolve, and then air-dried; finally, the multiple layers of flexible fabric with conductive patterns are orthogonally stacked together to obtain a multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection.

[0058] Example 3 Weaving impact-resistant flexible fabrics Twill was selected as the basic structure, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber was used as the fiber. The fabric structure diagram was designed, and the warp beam was selected for yarn supply. The warp yarn consumption was calculated according to the overall size of the required fabric of 50 cm×200 cm. Then the warp yarn was wound on the warp beam in parallel, and then inserted into the corresponding dropper, heald and reed in turn. The weaving was completed through the processes of opening movement, weft insertion, weft beating, and warp delivery. Finally, the single-layer fabric was cut and trimmed to obtain a thickness of 0.6 mm and a surface density of 320 g·m -2 , a multi-layer impact-resistant flexible fabric piece measuring 50 cm × 50 cm.

[0059] Embroidering conductive patterns The pattern designed to be embroidered on the fabric is a "J" shape with an overall size of 35 cm × 35 cm. The computer embroidery design software Wilcom EmbroideryStudio e4.2 is used to design the conductive pattern. The embroidery parameters are set. The stitch type is flat stitch, the density is 0.5, the length is 1, the direction is from left to right, the spacing between two rows of conductive patterns is 0.8 mm, and the conductive yarn is 210 D copper fiber sewing thread. Then, a layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are flatly fixed on the embroidery frame of the embroidery machine. The embroidery needle is controlled to move up and down according to the set program and parameters, and the conductive yarn is used to embroider a "J"-shaped conductive pattern on the impact-resistant flexible fabric.

[0060] Finishing and assembly The embroidered layer of impact-resistant flexible fabric and a layer of water-soluble lining cloth are soaked in water to dissolve, and then ventilated and dried; finally, the multiple layers of flexible fabric with conductive patterns are orthogonally stacked together to obtain a multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection.

[0061] The above multi-layer flexible fabrics all combine the protective characteristics of the multi-layer flexible fabric itself and the sensing function of the conductive pattern, achieving the purpose of different sizes, different precisions, and different degrees of flexibility to adapt to the use of various impact sensing scenarios.

[0062] In summary, the present invention provides a multi-layer flexible fabric and a preparation method thereof, which comprises at least two layers of flexible fabrics, each layer of flexible fabrics being provided with a conductive pattern composed of multiple rows or columns of conductive yarns, and the conductive patterns between adjacent fabrics are interlaced with each other; after the conductive pattern is damaged by impact, a short circuit will occur, and by collecting the resistance signal changes of the conductive patterns in each row and column in the two adjacent layers of flexible fabrics, the damaged rows and columns can be identified respectively, thereby locating the impact position. The prepared multi-layer flexible fabric has excellent impact sensing and impact protection performance, as well as softness and lightness. The preparation method is simple and economical, and it has unique flexibility and deformability, which enables it to adapt to complex surfaces and be effectively used in the field of protection, and is suitable for impact sensing scenarios such as spacecraft and smart wearable devices.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric, characterized in that: Including the following steps: S1. Weave a shock-resistant flexible fabric using fiber materials; S2. Embroider a conductive pattern on the flexible fabric obtained in step S1 using conductive yarns; S3. Fix the flexible fabric embroidered in step S2 on a water-soluble backing cloth, then soak it in water to dissolve, air-dry it to obtain the first layer; then stack multiple layers of flexible fabrics with conductive patterns orthogonally on top of the first layer in sequence, and finally obtain a multi-layer flexible fabric with integrated impact sensing and protection.

2. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fiber material is any one of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, glass fiber, and alumina fiber.

3. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fiber materials used for each layer of flexible fabric are different.

4. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fabric structure of the flexible fabric is plain weave, satin weave or twill weave.

5. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 4, characterized in that: The thickness of each layer of flexible fabric is 0.25~0.6 mm, and the surface density is 100~480 g·m -2 .

6. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive yarns are metal fibers, carbon fibers and conductive polymer fibers.

7. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 6, characterized in that: The yarn diameter of the conductive yarns is 70 - 300 D.

8. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive patterns between rows and columns on the flexible fabric are discontinuous from each other, and the spacing is 0.5 - 1 mm.

9. The method for preparing a multi-layer flexible fabric according to claim 8, characterized in that: The conductive pattern is a square loop, a capital omega or a straight line.

10. A multi-layer flexible fabric, characterized in that: Prepared by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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