Bistable thermochromic fabric, preparation method thereof and cloak formed by bistable thermochromic fabric

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of camouflage, in particular to a bistable thermochromic fabric, a preparation method of the bistable thermochromic fabric and a cloak formed by the bistable thermochromic fabric. The bistable thermochromic fabric comprises a breathable layer, a waterproof layer, camouflage cloth and a far infrared coating which are sequentially stacked from bottom to top. The number of the far infrared plating layers is 2-4, and the thicknesses of the far infrared plating layers are different. The base cloth is compounded by the nylon plaid cloth, the PTEF film and the nylon TRICOT cloth, the formed fabric has waterproof, breathable and windproof functions at the same time, is light in weight and suitable for being used outdoors and under extreme weather conditions, in addition, the multiple far infrared plating layers with different thicknesses are plated on the camouflage cloth, multiple layers of thermal imaging spots can be formed, and the thermal imaging effect is good. Therefore, thermal imaging detection is effectively interfered, and the camouflage effect of the fabric is further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of camouflage technology, specifically to a bistable thermochromic fabric, its preparation method, and the resulting cloak. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as wilderness exploration, the importance of camouflage equipment is self-evident. Traditional camouflage equipment often only adapts to a single environmental background, and its camouflage effectiveness diminishes significantly when environmental temperature, scene, and other factors change. Existing camouflage fabrics lack the ability to dynamically adjust camouflage patterns and thermal imaging characteristics according to environmental temperature, making it difficult to achieve effective camouflage in complex and variable outdoor and extreme weather conditions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a camouflage cloak that can automatically adjust its camouflage effect according to changes in environmental temperature and also possesses multiple practical functions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes a bistable thermochromic fabric, its preparation method, and the resulting cloak. Camouflage equipment made from the bistable thermochromic fabric proposed in this invention can achieve adaptive camouflage against different environmental backgrounds, while also possessing waterproof, breathable, windproof, and multi-purpose functions.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention proposes a bistable thermochromic fabric, comprising a breathable layer, a waterproof layer, a camouflage fabric, and a far-infrared coating layer stacked sequentially from bottom to top; the far-infrared coating layer has 2 to 4 layers, and each layer has a different thickness.

[0005] Furthermore, the thickness of each far-infrared coating layer is in the range of 30nm to 40nm, and the thickness of the waterproof layer is in the range of 20nm to 50nm.

[0006] Furthermore, the breathable layer is formed of nylon TRICOT fabric, and the waterproof layer is formed of PTEF membrane.

[0007] Furthermore, the nylon TRICOT fabric has a specification of 20D.

[0008] Furthermore, the camouflage fabric is formed from a base fabric and dye, wherein the base fabric is a nylon checkered fabric, and the camouflage fabric is prepared by printing dye onto the base fabric using a screen printing method to form the camouflage fabric; The dye includes color-changing microcapsules, each color-changing microcapsule comprising a shell and a core material filled inside the shell, the core material comprising at least one of high-temperature light brown-low-temperature dark gray pigment, high-temperature dark green-low-temperature reddish brown pigment, and high-temperature yellow-green-low-temperature medium gray pigment; The high-temperature light brown to low-temperature dark gray paste comprises, by weight, 40-60 parts of a nematic liquid crystal substrate, 10-20 parts of a bistable chiral dopant, 0-10 parts of a polymerizable monomer / polymer network precursor, 2-6 parts of carbon black, 0-2 parts of iron oxide brown, 20-38 parts of an aqueous polyurethane / acrylic emulsion, 1-3 parts of a dispersant, and 1-2 parts of a UV absorber. The nematic liquid crystal substrate is 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylate or N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-butylaniline; the bistable chiral dopant is 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylate cholesterol ester; the polymerizable monomer / polymer network precursor is polyethylene glycol diacrylate or methyl methacrylate; the dispersant is TEGODispers 750W or SN-Dispersant 5040; and the UV absorber is 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone.

[0009] The color development logic of high-temperature light brown to low-temperature dark gray paste is as follows: High-temperature light brown: The short-wavelength light (blue / violet) reflected by the liquid crystal is absorbed by the carbon black → the remaining long-wavelength light mixes and appears light brown; Low-temperature dark gray: The reddish-brown light reflected by the liquid crystal is strongly absorbed by the carbon black → extremely low reflectivity, resulting in dark gray.

[0010] The high-temperature deep green to low-temperature reddish-brown pigment paste comprises, by weight, 15-22 parts of a chiral dopant composition, 2-6 parts of carbon black, 0.1-1.8 parts of phthalocyanine green, and 0.1-1.5 parts of iron oxide red. The chiral dopant composition is a mixture of 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid cholesterol ester and S811 in a weight ratio of (1-2):(1.5-3).

[0011] The color development logic of high-temperature dark green to low-temperature reddish-brown pigment paste is as follows: High-temperature deep green: Liquid crystal reflects green light + carbon black absorbs stray light → high-saturation deep green; Low-temperature reddish-brown: Liquid crystal reflects red light + carbon black partially absorbs it → low-brightness reddish-brown.

[0012] The high-temperature yellow-green to low-temperature medium-gray color paste comprises, by weight: 8-16 parts of chiral dopant composition; 2-7 parts of carbon black; and 0.1-0.5 parts of titanium dioxide. The chiral dopant composition is a mixture of 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid cholesterol ester and S811 in a mass ratio of (1-2):(1.5-3).

[0013] The color development logic of high-temperature yellow-green and low-temperature medium-gray pigments is as follows: High-temperature yellow-green: Liquid crystal reflects yellow-green light + a small amount of carbon black → bright yellow-green; Low-temperature medium gray: disordered liquid crystal pitch / broadband reflection → strong carbon black absorption, resulting in neutral gray.

[0014] Furthermore, the far-infrared coating is an indium tin oxide coating.

[0015] The present invention also proposes a method for preparing the above-mentioned bistable thermochromic fabric, comprising combining camouflage fabric with a breathable layer and a waterproof layer by hot pressing to form a fabric body; and depositing 2 to 4 layers of far-infrared coating on the upper surface of the fabric body by magnetron sputtering.

[0016] This invention proposes a cloak formed from the aforementioned bistable thermochromic fabric, characterized by comprising a cloak body, a hood at the center of the cloak body, zippers on both sides of the hood, and a temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the thermochromic fabric. The temperature control system includes a semiconductor temperature control module and a water-conducting temperature-changing system, which is electrically connected to a power module. The semiconductor module converts electrical energy into internal energy based on the ambient temperature and transfers the internal energy to the cloak body through the water-conducting temperature-changing system, thereby achieving control over the local or overall temperature of the cloak body.

[0017] Furthermore, the edges of the cloak body are provided with air holes at intervals.

[0018] Furthermore, the cloak body is also equipped with fasteners at the armpit positions.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: (1) The bistable thermochromic fabric proposed in this invention can switch between two stable colors according to changes in ambient temperature, thereby achieving adaptive camouflage against different backgrounds such as deserts and forests, and improving the flexibility and effectiveness of camouflage.

[0020] (2) The base fabric of the present invention is made of three layers of nylon grid fabric, PTEF film and nylon TRICOT fabric. The resulting fabric has waterproof, breathable and windproof functions, and is lightweight and suitable for outdoor and extreme climate conditions.

[0021] (3) The present invention applies multiple layers of far-infrared coatings of different thicknesses to the upper layer of camouflage fabric, which can form multiple layers of thermal imaging spots, thereby effectively interfering with thermal imaging detection and further improving the camouflage effect of the fabric.

[0022] (4) The cloak proposed in this invention is based on a bistable thermochromic fabric and adopts a multi-purpose structural design, so that it can not only be worn as a camouflage cloak, but also be set up as a rain shelter, a temporary camouflage tent or a waterproof outer tent, thus improving the practicality and applicability of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the bistable thermochromic fabric of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of the cloak of the present invention; Attached reference numerals: 11. Breathable layer; 12. Waterproof layer; 13. Camouflage fabric; 21. Cloak body; 22. Hood; 23. Zipper; 24. Eyelet; 25. Button. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Example 1 This embodiment proposes a bistable thermochromic fabric, which consists of a breathable layer 11, a waterproof layer 12, a camouflage fabric 13, and a far-infrared coating layer stacked sequentially from bottom to top. The far-infrared coating layer consists of three layers, each with a different thickness. The color-changing fabric proposed in this embodiment can switch between two stable colors according to changes in ambient temperature, achieving adaptive camouflage against different backgrounds such as deserts and forests, improving the flexibility and effectiveness of camouflage. At the same time, the far-infrared coating layers of different thicknesses on the upper layer of the color-changing fabric in this embodiment can form thermal imaging spots, thereby effectively interfering with thermal imaging detection and further enhancing the camouflage effect of the fabric. When using the bistable thermochromic fabric proposed in this embodiment, the breathable layer is used as the inner surface.

[0026] In this embodiment, the breathable layer 11 is made of 20D nylon TRICOT fabric, which is thin and soft, and is used as a close-fitting surface, providing high comfort and elasticity. The camouflage fabric 13 is formed by a base fabric and dye. The base fabric is made of 40D nylon grid fabric, which has high strength, lightweight, and excellent abrasion resistance, and can also support the dye layer and far-infrared coating. The waterproof layer 12 is a PTEF membrane, which is waterproof and breathable. The PTEF membrane, combined with the 20D nylon TRICOT fabric and the 40D nylon grid fabric, provides waterproof, windproof, and breathable functions while being lightweight. The far-infrared coating is an indium tin oxide coating, which has significant absorption characteristics in the infrared band while maintaining transparency and good conductivity.

[0027] The dye consists of disperse dyes and color-changing microcapsules, which can form camouflage patterns adapted to both desert and woodland backgrounds. The disperse dyes include light brown, dark green, yellow-green, loess-colored, and black disperse dyes. The light brown, dark green, yellow-green, loess-colored, and black disperse dyes form an environmentally adaptable print on the base fabric. The color-changing microcapsules include a shell and a core material filled inside the shell. The core material has three types of color pastes: high-temperature light brown to low-temperature dark gray, high-temperature dark green to low-temperature reddish-brown, and high-temperature yellow-green to low-temperature medium gray. When the temperature reaches the high-temperature color-changing point, the color-changing dye and the color developer in the core material of the color-changing microcapsule dissolve in the solid solvent, and the color-changing dye is colorless. When the temperature reaches the low-temperature color-changing point, the color-changing dye and the color developer precipitate from the solid solvent, and the color-changing dye becomes colored. The camouflage fabric exhibits a color mixture of this colored state and the colorless disperse dye.

[0028] The high-temperature light brown to low-temperature dark gray paste is composed of the following raw materials by weight: 50 parts nematic liquid crystal substrate, 15 parts bistable chiral dopant, 5 parts polymerizable monomer / polymer network precursor, 4 parts carbon black, 1 part iron oxide brown, 30 parts waterborne polyurethane / acrylic emulsion, 2 parts dispersant, and 1.3 parts UV absorber. The nematic liquid crystal substrate is 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylnitrile; the bistable chiral dopant is 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid cholesterol ester; the polymerizable monomer / polymer network precursor is polyethylene glycol diacrylate; the dispersant is TEGODispers 750W; and the UV absorber is 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone.

[0029] The high-temperature deep green to low-temperature reddish-brown pigment paste is composed of the following raw materials by weight: 20 parts of chiral dopant composition, 4 parts of carbon black, 1.3 parts of phthalocyanine green, and 1 part of iron oxide red. The chiral dopant composition is a mixture of 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid cholesterol ester and S811 in a mass ratio of 1.5:2.

[0030] The high-temperature yellow-green to low-temperature medium-gray color paste is composed of the following raw materials by weight: 10 parts of chiral dopant composition; 5 parts of carbon black; and 0.3 parts of titanium dioxide. The chiral dopant composition is a compound of 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid cholesterol ester and S811 in a mass ratio of 1.8:2.5.

[0031] In this embodiment, the preparation steps of the color-changing fabric are as follows: S1. Preparation of camouflage fabric: According to the designed desert and woodland camouflage patterns, dyes are printed on the base fabric using screen printing method. The printing process is as follows: prepare printing dye → print with magnetic rod printing machine (magnetic force 100%, running speed 3m / min) → pre-dry (80℃×2min) → bake (150℃×2min) to obtain camouflage fabric with corresponding camouflage patterns.

[0032] S2. The camouflage fabric is combined with a breathable layer and a waterproof layer by hot pressing to form a main body of fabric with waterproof, breathable and windproof functions. S3. Three far-infrared coatings of different thicknesses are deposited on the surface of the camouflage fabric (the side facing away from the breathable layer) using magnetron sputtering to form a bistable thermochromic fabric.

[0033] In this embodiment, the thickness of the breathable layer, waterproof layer, camouflage fabric, and far-infrared coating, as well as the number of far-infrared coating layers, can be determined according to design requirements.

[0034] Example 2 This embodiment proposes a cloak formed from a bistable thermochromic fabric, wherein the bistable thermochromic fabric is the color-changing fabric described in Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, the cloak includes a cloak body 21, and a hood 22 is provided at the center of the cloak body 21. The hood 22 is also made of the color-changing fabric described in Embodiment 1. Zippers 23 are provided on both sides of the hood 22. The cloak body 21 is also provided with a temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the color-changing fabric. The temperature control system includes a semiconductor temperature control module and a water-conducting temperature-changing system. The temperature control system is electrically connected to a power module. The semiconductor module converts electrical energy into internal energy according to the ambient temperature, and transfers the internal energy to the cloak body 21 through the water-conducting temperature-changing system, thereby realizing the control of the local or overall temperature of the cloak body 21.

[0035] To reduce exposed areas and improve camouflage when the cloak is worn, the color-changing fabric is equipped with snaps 25 under the armpits, which can be fastened after the cloak is put on.

[0036] In this embodiment, air holes 24 are also provided at intervals along the edge of the cloak body. The air holes 24, together with the pull rope, can be used to set up the cloak as a rain shelter. The air holes, together with the ground pegs, can also be used to set up a temporary camouflage tent, or as a waterproof outer tent.

[0037] The steps for making the cloak in this embodiment are as follows: s1. According to the designed shape of the cloak, the prepared bistable thermochromic fabric is cut to obtain the cloak body 21 and the hood 22.

[0038] s2. Component installation: Sew a hood 22 at the center of the cloak body 21, and install zippers 23 on both sides of the hood 22; sew fasteners 25 under the armpits of the cloak body 21; install eyelets 24 at intervals along the edge of the cloak body, the number of eyelets 24 can be determined according to design requirements.

[0039] s3. Temperature control system integration: The semiconductor temperature control module and water-conducting temperature conversion system are arranged inside the cape body, connected to the power supply and control circuit to ensure that the temperature control system can work normally and realize the regulation of fabric temperature.

[0040] The specific embodiments of the present invention are provided to enable those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0041] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the content already described above, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bistable thermochromic fabric, characterized in that, It includes a breathable layer (11), a waterproof layer (12), a camouflage fabric (13), and a far-infrared coating layer stacked from bottom to top; the far-infrared coating layer has 2 to 4 layers, and the thickness of each layer is different, with the thickness of each far-infrared coating layer ranging from 30nm to 40nm, and the thickness of the waterproof layer ranging from 20nm to 50nm.

2. The bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, The breathable layer (11) is formed of nylon TRICOT fabric, and the waterproof layer (12) is formed of PTEF membrane.

3. The bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that, The nylon TRICOT fabric has a specification of 20D.

4. The bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, The camouflage fabric (13) is formed by a base fabric and dye. The base fabric is a nylon checkered fabric. The camouflage fabric is prepared by printing the dye onto the base fabric using a screen printing method to form the camouflage fabric. The dye includes color-changing microcapsules, each comprising a shell and a core material filled inside the shell. The core material includes at least one of a high-temperature light brown to low-temperature dark gray color paste, a high-temperature dark green to low-temperature reddish-brown color paste, and a high-temperature yellow-green to low-temperature medium gray color paste.

5. The bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, The far-infrared coating is an indium tin oxide coating.

6. A method for preparing a bistable thermochromic fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, This includes combining camouflage fabric (13) with a breathable layer (11) and a waterproof layer (12) by hot pressing to form the main body of the fabric; and using magnetron sputtering to coat the upper surface of the main body of the fabric with 2 to 4 layers of far-infrared coating.

7. A cloak made from the bistable thermochromic fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The cloak body (21) includes a hood (22) at the center of the cloak body (21), and zippers (23) on both sides of the hood (22). The cloak body (21) is also equipped with a temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the color-changing fabric. The temperature control system includes a semiconductor temperature control module and a water-conducting temperature-changing system. The temperature control system is electrically connected to a power module. The semiconductor module converts electrical energy into internal energy according to the ambient temperature and transmits the internal energy to the cloak body (21) through the water-conducting temperature-changing system, thereby achieving local or overall temperature control of the cloak body (21).

8. The cloak formed from the bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 7, characterized in that, The edge of the cloak body (1) is provided with air holes (24).

9. The cloak formed from the bistable thermochromic fabric according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cloak body (1) is also provided with a buckle (25) under the armpit.

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