Intelligent drive film composite fabric and method of making same

Abstract

The application provides a kind of intelligent driving film composite fabric and its preparation method, by wet sensitive yarn is treated with alkali, obtain pretreatment yarn;After pretreatment yarn absorbs moisture, twist, obtain twisted yarn;Twisted yarn is made into shuttle weaving fabric by shuttle weaving process;With shuttle weaving fabric as bottom layer, with hydrophobic membrane material as surface layer, solidification treatment is carried out, and intelligent driving film composite fabric is obtained.The application can realize the response of fabric under different humidity conditions through the design of the fish scale structure of hydrophobic membrane and the bottom layer wet sensitive yarn.The hydrophilic group arranged on the cellulose macromolecule promotes the excellent moisture absorption performance of the fiber.The proportion of internal crystal region and amorphous region of the yarn treated with alkali solution is changed, and the humidity sensitivity is strengthened.The application combines a variety of functions, improves the performance of fabric in humidity management and environmental adaptability, and helps to more effectively cope with the demand of humidity change and environmental regulation in various application occasions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart materials technology, and in particular to a smart drive membrane composite fabric and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Smart materials are a new type of material that can respond to external stimuli under certain conditions. With the advent of Industry 4.0, smart materials, centered on "life," have experienced rapid development. As an interdisciplinary field within new materials, smart materials have become a focus of attention for researchers from various disciplines.

[0003] As people's desire for outdoor sports grows and their demands for the performance of smart materials increase, traditional smart communication devices face problems such as poor continuous power supply and low portability, leading to delayed rescues and significant loss of life. Furthermore, the complex outdoor environment requires smart materials to possess multiple functions, including intelligence, protection, flexibility, and wearing comfort.

[0004] While providing intelligence, smart materials need to ensure the high flexibility, wearing comfort, durability and a certain degree of protection of the substrate. At the same time, they also need to be able to achieve large-scale production and customized preparation. Therefore, in the development of multifunctional smart materials for outdoor use, realizing the transformation of passive reaction into active response and self-responsive functional smart materials has become the main research direction of future smart materials.

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to design an improved intelligent driving membrane composite fabric and its preparation method to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an intelligent driving membrane composite fabric and its preparation method, which achieves the response of the fabric under different humidity conditions through the design of the fish-scale structure of the hydrophobic membrane and the bottom yarn.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric, comprising the following steps:

[0008] S1. Add the moisture-sensitive yarn to NaOH solution for alkaline treatment to obtain pretreated yarn;

[0009] S2. After absorbing moisture, the pretreated yarn obtained in step S1 is twisted to obtain twisted yarn;

[0010] S3. The twisted yarn obtained in step S2 is processed into woven fabric using a weaving process;

[0011] S4. Using the woven fabric obtained in step S3 as the bottom layer and the hydrophobic membrane material as the surface layer, a curing treatment is performed to obtain a smart drive membrane composite fabric.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S1, the concentration of the NaOH solution is 140-420 g / L.

[0013] The moisture-sensitive yarn is one or more of cotton yarn, silk, wool fiber and viscose fiber.

[0014] The moisture regain of the pretreated yarn is 40-70%.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S2, the twist is 300 to 1500 twists. The twisting direction is right-handed.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S4, the hydrophobic membrane material is one of polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, polyethylene membrane and siloxane membrane.

[0017] Furthermore, the hydrophobic membrane material has a flake-like structure.

[0018] The curing process involves bonding the ends of the scales of the hydrophobic membrane material to the underlying fabric, with a gap between the front end of the scales and the membrane material.

[0019] The present invention also provides a smart driving membrane composite fabric, which is prepared by the above-described method for preparing smart driving membrane composite fabric.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0021] This invention provides a smart driven membrane composite fabric and its preparation method. Through the design of the fish-scale structure of the hydrophobic membrane and the underlying yarn, the fabric can respond to different humidity conditions. The hydrophilic groups arranged on the cellulose macromolecules give the fiber excellent moisture absorption properties. Although the initial purpose of treating the yarn with alkali was to improve its dyeing and wearing properties, the alkali-treated yarn changes the ratio of its internal crystalline to amorphous regions, enhancing its humidity sensitivity. When the ambient humidity changes, the fiber undergoes a moisture absorption and expansion effect; increased humidity causes the fiber to untwist, while decreased humidity causes it to twist and retract. When humidity rises, the moisture-sensitive yarn untwists, resulting in larger pores that allow moisture to pass through and dissipate into the external environment, thereby reducing ambient humidity. Conversely, at lower humidity, the scale structure closes, reducing moisture loss and maintaining a relatively dry environment.

[0022] The application of a hydrophobic surface film endows the fabric surface with excellent hydrophobic properties, effectively resisting moisture penetration and protecting the internal moisture-sensitive yarn structure from excessive moisture. This not only enhances the material's functionality but also improves the fabric's overall strength and durability. This composite structure can better adapt to different usage environments and needs. This technology not only effectively regulates ambient humidity when humidity changes but also helps improve indoor air quality and comfort, making it particularly suitable for occasions requiring stable ambient humidity. Compared to traditional moisture-sensitive materials or simple hydrophobic fabrics, this invention combines multiple functions into one, improving the fabric's performance in humidity management and environmental adaptability. This comprehensive performance enhancement helps to more effectively address the needs of humidity changes and environmental regulation in various applications. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the synthesis route of the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional scanning electron microscope image of the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention with unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the present invention are omitted.

[0027] Additionally, it should be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0028] This invention provides a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric, comprising the following steps:

[0029] S1. Add the moisture-sensitive yarn to a NaOH solution for alkaline treatment to obtain pretreated yarn.

[0030] Specifically, the concentration of the NaOH solution is preferably 140–420 g / L; the moisture-sensitive yarn is one or more of cotton yarn, silk, wool fiber, and viscose fiber, preferably cotton yarn. The resulting pretreated yarn has a moisture regain of 40–70%. The alkali treatment alters the ratio of crystalline to amorphous regions in the yarn, thus enhancing its moisture sensitivity.

[0031] S2. After absorbing moisture, the pretreated yarn obtained in step S1 is twisted to obtain twisted yarn.

[0032] Specifically, the alkali-treated yarn is placed in deionized water to fully absorb moisture. The yarn is then twisted, and the mechanical rotation of the motor causes the yarn, originally parallel to the axis, to rotate at an angle to the axis. The preferred twist is 300–1500 twists, with a right-hand twist. Different twists affect the yarn's strength, elasticity, and moisture permeability. Excessive twist leads to excessive internal stress in the yarn, making it more prone to breakage under tension. Furthermore, excessive twisting affects the overall toughness of the yarn.

[0033] S3. The twisted yarn obtained in step S2 is processed into woven fabric through a weaving process.

[0034] Specifically, the twisted alkali-treated yarn is woven into cloth, and the shuttle weaves the warp and weft threads together to produce a soft and textured base fabric.

[0035] S4. Using the woven fabric obtained in step S3 as the bottom layer and the hydrophobic membrane material as the surface layer, a curing treatment is performed to obtain a smart drive membrane composite fabric.

[0036] Specifically, the hydrophobic membrane material is one of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), or siloxane membranes. The hydrophobic membrane material has a scaly structure, designed in a fish-scale pattern, allowing it to expand or close in response to humidity changes, thus achieving minute deformations on the fabric surface and facilitating moisture escape or retention. The curing process involves bonding the tips of the hydrophobic membrane material's scales to the underlying fabric, with gaps between the scale tips and the membrane material. Combining the hydrophobic material with the moisture-sensitive fabric forms a double-layer composite fabric, which not only improves the material's strength and durability but also enhances the fabric's functionality and adaptability. This structural design offers unique advantages in achieving humidity management and environmental regulation.

[0037] Using alkali-treated twisted yarns, a bottom-layer fabric is prepared. The free structure at the front end of the scales acts as a responsive part, and the membrane and fabric are cured to ensure a strong bond between the membrane and the base material, forming a double-layer fabric. Under heat / humid conditions, the bottom layer undergoes intelligent actuation, and the porosity changes. When humidity rises, it ensures that the scale structure has an opposite stress to hinder the rise of water vapor, which causes the scales to float upward. When water evaporates and humidity decreases, the scales adaptively float downward, forming a positive feedback structure.

[0038] The preparation method of the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric provided by the present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] Example 1 provides a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric, comprising the following steps:

[0041] S1. Untreated cotton yarn is added to a 140g / L NaOH solution for alkali treatment to obtain pretreated yarn;

[0042] S2. Place the pretreated yarn in deionized water to fully absorb the water, twist the cotton yarn to a twist of 300 twists, and twist it to the right to obtain twisted yarn;

[0043] S3. Twisted yarn is processed into woven fabric using a weaving technique;

[0044] S4. For example Figure 1 As shown, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane is cut into scale-like pieces using a laser cutter. A corresponding area of ​​these scale-like PTFE membrane is then laminated with a woven fabric, with the woven fabric serving as the bottom layer and the scale-like PTFE membrane as the top layer. The lamination is performed using ultrasonic welding, bonding the ends of the scales to the bottom fabric while ensuring a gap between the scale tips and the membrane. This results in a smart drive membrane composite fabric, the cross-sectional SEM image of which is shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the fabric consists of multiple different layers. The top layer is a scaly polytetrafluoroethylene film, and the bottom layer is a woven fabric. Through ultrasonic welding technology, the interface between the two layers is very tight and clear, showing a good bonding effect.

[0045] Examples 2-5

[0046] Examples 2-5 provide a method for preparing intelligent driving membrane composite fabric. Compared with Example 1, the only difference is the twist degree of the twisting, as shown in Table 1. Other experimental parameters and conditions are basically the same as those in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0047] Examples 6-7

[0048] Examples 6-7 provide a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric. Compared with Example 1, the only difference is the hydrophobic membrane material, as shown in Table 1. Other experimental parameters and conditions are basically the same as in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0049] Comparative Example 1

[0050] Comparative Example 1 provides a method for preparing a smart drive membrane composite fabric. Compared with Example 1, the only difference is that the cotton yarn is not twisted. Other experimental parameters and conditions are basically the same as those in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0051] Comparative Example 2

[0052] Comparative Example 2 provides a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric. Compared with Example 1, the only difference is that the cotton yarn was not treated with alkali. Other experimental parameters and conditions are basically the same as those in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] Comparative Example 3

[0054] Comparative Example 3 provides a method for preparing a smart driving membrane composite fabric. The only difference from Example 1 is that the hydrophobic membrane material is a polypropylene membrane. Other experimental parameters and conditions are basically the same as those in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0055] Table 1. Performance test results of the examples and comparative examples.

[0056]

[0057]

[0058] Table 1 shows the performance test results of the fabrics prepared in Examples 1-7 and Comparative Examples 1-3. It can be seen that in Examples 1-5, with the increase of yarn twist (from 300 twists to 1500 twists), the moisture permeability, helix angle, and scale angle of the material all showed an upward trend. Moisture permeability reflects the material's ability to allow water evaporation and is an important indicator for measuring its air permeability. In Examples 1-5, as the twist increased from 300 twists to 1500 twists, the moisture permeability gradually increased from 40.1% to 56.7%, indicating that materials with higher twists have better moisture permeability. The main reason for this is that the increased fiber gaps provide more channels for water vapor to pass through, making it easier for water molecules to pass through, thereby increasing the moisture permeability. As twist increases, tensile strength increases from 25.4 MPa to 31.7 MPa, and tear strength also increases from 15.3 N / mm to 32.7 N / mm. This trend indicates that increasing twist significantly enhances the overall strength and local tear resistance of the material. Especially for applications requiring complex stress tolerance, such as industrial fabrics or high-performance textiles, twist is a key optimization parameter; increasing yarn twist can improve the material's mechanical strength. The scale angle gradually increases from Example 1 to Example 5 (5°→10.3°), indicating that the material's recovery ability after deformation is enhanced with increasing twist. The helix angle also increases with increasing twist (30.4°→45.2°), indicating better elasticity during deformation. Increased twist leads to more ordered fiber arrangement, thereby improving the material's deformation flexibility.

[0059] The yarn twist of Comparative Example 1 was 0. Compared with Example 1, its moisture permeability and mechanical strength were both lower, with a moisture permeability of only 25.3%, a tensile strength of 21.2 MPa, and a tear strength of only 6.1 N / mm. This indicates that the untwisted material performed poorly in terms of flexibility and strength and was prone to structural damage.

[0060] In Examples 6 and 7, polyethylene and siloxane materials were used, respectively. It was found that the moisture permeability and tensile strength of Example 6 were 30.3% and 21.3 MPa, respectively. Compared with Example 1 using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the moisture permeability and tensile strength of Example 6 were lower. The moisture permeability of Example 7 was slightly higher than that of Example 6, at 37.2%, indicating that the siloxane material had better moisture permeability than polyethylene. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and tear strength of Examples 6 and 7 were slightly lower than those of PTFE with the same twist, but still met the specific application requirements.

[0061] Comparative Example 2, where the cotton yarn was not treated with alkali, showed lower moisture permeability and helix angle compared to Example 1. Simultaneously, its tensile strength and tear strength were also significantly lower than in Example 1. This indicates that alkali treatment alters the internal structure of cotton fibers, increasing fiber porosity and thus improving moisture permeability. Untreated cotton yarn retains its original compact structure, hindering the passage of moisture vapor. Alkali treatment enhances the overall structure of the yarn by improving fiber arrangement and crystallinity. Untreated cotton yarn, due to structural defects, exhibits reduced tensile and tear strength. Therefore, materials that have not undergone specific treatment show poor performance in terms of moisture permeability, structural elasticity, and mechanical properties.

[0062] Comparative Example 3 uses polypropylene material. Compared with Example 1, the moisture permeability, scale angle and helix angle are all lower. This indicates that due to the inherent material properties of polypropylene, such as differences in crystallinity, orientation, surface energy and molecular structure, the fabric is not as good as the fabric using polytetrafluoroethylene material in Example 1 in terms of moisture permeability and structural elasticity.

[0063] In summary, this invention provides a smart driven membrane composite fabric and its preparation method. The process involves treating moisture-sensitive yarn with an alkali to obtain pretreated yarn; twisting the pretreated yarn after it absorbs moisture to obtain twisted yarn; fabricating the twisted yarn into a woven fabric using a weaving process; and then curing the woven fabric as the bottom layer and a hydrophobic membrane material as the top layer to obtain the smart driven membrane composite fabric. This invention, through the fish-scale structure of the hydrophobic membrane and the design of the bottom yarn, enables the fabric to respond to different humidity conditions. The hydrophilic groups arranged on the cellulose macromolecules contribute to the excellent moisture absorption properties of cotton fibers. The alkali treatment alters the ratio of crystalline to amorphous regions in the yarn, enhancing its humidity sensitivity. This invention integrates multiple functions, improving the fabric's performance in humidity management and environmental adaptability, and helping to more effectively address humidity changes and environmental regulation needs in various applications.

[0064] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a smart driven membrane composite fabric, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Add the moisture-sensitive yarn to NaOH solution for alkaline treatment to obtain pretreated yarn; S2. After absorbing moisture, the pretreated yarn obtained in step S1 is twisted to obtain twisted yarn; S3. The twisted yarn obtained in step S2 is processed into woven fabric using a weaving process; S4. Using the woven fabric obtained in step S3 as the bottom layer and the hydrophobic membrane material as the surface layer, a curing treatment is performed to obtain a smart drive membrane composite fabric. The moisture-sensitive yarn is one or more of cotton yarn, silk, wool fiber and viscose fiber; The hydrophobic membrane material has a flake-like structure; The curing process involves bonding the ends of the scales of the hydrophobic membrane material to the underlying fabric, with a gap between the front end of the scales and the membrane material.

2. The method for preparing the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, the concentration of the NaOH solution is 140~420 g / L.

3. The method for preparing the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that, The moisture regain of the pretreated yarn is 40-70%.

4. The method for preparing the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the twisting degree is 300~1500 twists.

5. The method for preparing the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric according to claim 4, characterized in that, The twisting direction is right-handed.

6. The method for preparing the intelligent driving membrane composite fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the hydrophobic membrane material is one of polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, polyethylene membrane, and siloxane membrane.

7. A smart drive membrane composite fabric, characterized in that, It is prepared by the method of any one of claims 1-6 for the preparation of intelligent driving membrane composite fabric.

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