PCM temperature regulation for raw rehmannia

Abstract

We provide PCM temperature-regulating fabrics that have diverse structures, excellent temperature control effects, high durability, and low cost. [Solution] The temperature-regulating fabric is knitted with yarn, the yarn contains temperature-regulating fibers 1, and the structure of the temperature-regulating fabric is one of warp knit, weft knit, or woven structure. This invention employs polyhydric alcohol-based phase change materials and polymer-based phase change materials, and since these materials always maintain a solid state (solid-solid phase change) during the phase change process, the risk of leakage of phase change materials can be fundamentally avoided, and temperature regulation can be achieved without relying on microcapsule technology. Furthermore, the fabric may contain antibacterial fibers 2 and / or elastic fibers 3, achieving a multifunctional synergistic effect.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of spinning, and specifically to PCM temperature-adjusting fabric. [Background Art]

[0002] With the improvement of people's living standards, the demand for comfort and functionality of daily necessities is increasing day by day. For example, people spend approximately 30% of their lifetime sleeping, and the duration and quality of sleep directly affect human physical health, so a comfortable sleeping environment is extremely important for people. According to scientific research, when the ambient temperature rises or drops by about 3°C compared to a suitable temperature environment, the quality of human sleep decreases significantly. For example, sleeping in an environment where the temperature rises by 3°C will increase sleep onset time by 33 minutes and reduce deep sleep time by 50 minutes. Therefore, the development of temperature-adjustable fabric is one of the important directions to improve sleep quality and enhance sleep comfort. In addition, if fabrics used in products such as cushions and carpets are also provided with a temperature adjustment function, the user experience can be greatly improved.

[0003] In the prior art, many fabrics mainly achieve temperature adjustment by adding phase-change microcapsules to the fiber core layer, but the preparation of microcapsules is complicated, has high cost, and there is a risk of leakage due to breakage. Furthermore, conventional temperature-adjusting fabrics mainly target clothing or bedding, and have a single tissue structure, so they cannot fully satisfy the diverse needs of different daily necessities. [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional temperature-adjusting fabric that has diverse structures, excellent temperature adjustment effect, high durability and relatively low cost. The present invention can realize the temperature adjustment function without depending on microcapsule technology. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] To achieve the above objective, this invention employs the following technical means. To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a PCM temperature-regulating fabric, characterized in that the temperature-regulating fabric is knitted with yarn, the yarn contains temperature-regulating fibers, and the structure of the temperature-regulating fabric is one of warp knitting, weft knitting, or woven fabric.

[0006] Preferably, the temperature-regulating fabric further includes antibacterial fibers and elastic fibers, and the temperature-regulating fibers are bonded with the antibacterial fibers and elastic fibers by twisting, plying, coating, or weaving to form yarn.

[0007] Preferably, the temperature-regulating fiber comprises a fiber base material and a temperature-regulating material, wherein the temperature-regulating material is blended with the fiber base material in powder or particle form to form the temperature-regulating fiber.

[0008] Preferably, the temperature-regulating fiber comprises a fibrous base material and a temperature-regulating material, wherein the temperature-regulating material adheres to the surface of the temperature-regulating fiber or to the gaps in the fibrous base material by impregnation, coating, or filling.

[0009] Preferably, the temperature-regulating fiber has a sheath layer and a core layer, the sheath layer covers the core layer, and the core layer is a temperature-regulating material.

[0010] Preferably, the temperature control material is a polyhydric alcohol-based phase change material or a polymer-based phase change material.

[0011] Preferably, the fibrous base material is one or more of polyester, nylon, polypropylene, viscose fiber, cotton fiber, and bamboo fiber.

[0012] Preferably, the antibacterial fiber is at least one of chitosan antibacterial fiber, quaternary ammonium salt modified antibacterial fiber, bamboo charcoal antibacterial fiber, or hemp antibacterial fiber.

[0013] Preferably, the elastic fiber is a polyurethane core spun yarn or a polytrimethylene terephthalate elastic fiber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] Compared to the prior art, the technical means provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention have the following beneficial effects. 1. The temperature control materials employed in this invention include polyhydric alcohol-based phase change materials and polymer-based phase change materials. These materials maintain a solid state (solid-solid phase change) throughout the phase change process, fundamentally avoiding liquid leakage problems, eliminating the need for microcapsule encapsulation, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs, and improving the durability and safety of the fabric. 2. This invention provides a variety of temperature control material introduction methods, including impregnation / coating / filling and sheath-core composite structures, offering broad process adaptability and meeting the needs of different production conditions and product performance. 3. The temperature-regulating fabric of this invention is a fabric having three basic structures: warp knitting, weft knitting, and weaving. It can adapt to different needs for elasticity, feel, thickness, and strength, and can be better suited to specific usage scenarios of different household items such as pillows, mats, and carpets. 4. The temperature-regulating fibers according to this invention are formed by combining the antibacterial fibers and elastic fibers by twisting, plying, coating, or weaving methods, so that the fabric simultaneously possesses a variety of functions such as temperature regulation, antibacterial / antimicrobial properties, and elastic comfort. The antibacterial fibers are selected from environmentally friendly or highly efficient antibacterial materials such as chitosan, quaternary ammonium salts, bamboo charcoal, and hemp fibers, and the elastic fibers provide good elastic recovery and shape retention, comprehensively improving the user experience of the fabric. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] To more clearly describe embodiments of the present invention or the technical means of the prior art, the accompanying drawings necessary for describing embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below. However, it is clear that the accompanying drawings described below represent only a few embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these accompanying drawings without any creative work.

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram (part 1) of the weft knit structure of the PCM temperature-regulating fabric of this invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram (part 2) of the warp knit structure of the PCM temperature-controlled fabric of this invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram (part 3) of the woven structure of the PCM temperature-regulating fabric of the present invention. [Figure 4] These are the temperature rise time curves for the PCM temperature-controlled fabric in Example 1 of the present invention and the ordinary fabric in Comparative Example 1. [Figure 5] These are the temperature cooling time curves for the PCM temperature-controlled fabric in Example 1 of the present invention and the ordinary fabric in Comparative Example 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] To further clarify the purpose, technical means, and advantages of this invention, the technical means of this invention will be described in detail below. Clearly, the embodiments described are only some, not all, embodiments of this invention. Any other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work based on the embodiments of this invention are all within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0018] The present invention discloses a PCM temperature-adjusting fabric. Referring to Fig. 1, when an example in which the structure of the PCM temperature-adjusting fabric is a weft-knitted structure is given, the PCM temperature-adjusting fabric is knitted by yarns, and the yarns comprise temperature-adjusting fibers 1, antibacterial fibers 2 and elastic fibers 3. A schematic cross-sectional view of the yarn is shown within the broken line frame of Fig. 1. For an example where the structure of the PCM temperature-adjusting fabric is a warp-knitted structure, refer specifically to Fig. 2. For an example where the structure of the PCM temperature-adjusting fabric is a woven structure, refer specifically to Fig. 3. In the actual use process, the structure of the temperature-adjusting fabric can be any one of a warp-knitted structure, a weft-knitted structure or a woven structure. The blending ratio of the temperature-adjusting fibers 1, the antibacterial fibers 2 and the elastic fibers 3 can also be adjusted according to actual needs, and is not limited herein.

[0019] Hereinafter, the technical means of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Example 1: The present example provides a PCM temperature-adjusting fabric, and the fabric adopts a weft-knitted structure. In terms of weight ratio, the yarn comprises 70% of temperature-adjusting fibers, 20% of chitosan antibacterial fibers, and 10% of polyurethane core spun yarn elastic fibers. The temperature-adjusting fibers are combined with the antibacterial fibers and the elastic fibers by a plying twisting method to form the yarn.

[0021] Herein, the temperature-adjusting fiber adopts a polyethylene glycol block copolymer, which is a polymeric phase change material, as the temperature-adjusting material, and the fiber base material adopts polyester. The polyethylene glycol block copolymer is a phase change material, the phase change temperature range thereof is 28 to 32°C, and it always maintains a solid state during the phase change process and does not produce liquid. In manufacturing, the polyethylene glycol block copolymer and polyester are blended in a ratio (mass ratio) of 40:60, and the temperature-adjusting fiber is produced by a melt spinning process. In the temperature-adjusting fiber, the polyethylene glycol block copolymer is uniformly dispersed in the polyester base material in the form of fine domains.

[0022] The antibacterial fiber is chitosan antibacterial fiber, which has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and is safe and harmless to the human body. The elastic fiber is 30D polyurethane core spun yarn, which imparts good elasticity and resilience to the fabric.

[0023] The above yarn is knitted into a raw fabric using a weft knitting machine (circular knitting machine, rib knitting machine, or smooth knitting machine, etc.), and after post-processing (washing, setting, etc.), the weight is approximately 80-480g / m. 2 Obtain a PCM temperature-controlled fabric.

[0024] This fabric can be used as a pillowcase fabric in the manufacture of pillow products. When the human head comes into contact with the pillow, the temperature-regulating fibers in the fabric absorb or release heat in response to changes in body temperature and ambient temperature, thereby maintaining the temperature of the contact surface within a comfortable range for the human body (approximately 28-32°C). At the same time, the chitosan antibacterial fibers effectively suppress the growth of bacteria, and the polyurethane elastic fibers ensure that the pillowcase fits well to the contours of the head, improving sleep comfort.

[0025] Example 2: This embodiment provides a PCM temperature-regulating fabric, which employs a woven structure. By weight, the yarn contains 65% temperature-regulating fibers, 25% bamboo charcoal antibacterial fibers, and 10% PTT elastic fibers. The temperature-regulating fibers are bonded with the antibacterial and elastic fibers by a plying method to form the yarn.

[0026] Here, the temperature-controlling fiber employs a mixture of pentaerythritol and neopentyl glycol, which are polyhydric alcohol-based phase-change materials. By adjusting the blending ratio of this polyhydric alcohol system, the phase-change temperature can be adjusted within the range of 25 to 35°C. In this example, a blending ratio that results in a phase-change temperature of 30°C is selected. The introduction method for this temperature-controlling material is a filling method; that is, hollow polyester fibers are used as the fiber base material, and the molten polyhydric alcohol-based phase-change material is injected into the lumen of the hollow fibers by a negative pressure filling process, and both ends are sealed to produce the temperature-controlling fiber. In this structure, the wall material of the hollow fiber plays a physical sealing role.

[0027] The antibacterial fiber is bamboo charcoal antibacterial fiber, which combines antibacterial properties with moisture absorption and breathability. The elastic fiber is PTT elastic fiber, which has excellent elastic recovery and a soft feel.

[0028] The above yarns are woven into a raw fabric using a jet loom or rapier loom, and after post-processing steps such as desizing, scouring, and setting, a PCM temperature-controlled fabric with a woven structure is obtained.

[0029] This fabric can be used as the outer fabric for mattresses in the manufacture of mattress products. When a person lies down, the fabric's temperature-regulating properties mitigate temperature fluctuations on the body surface, keeping it cool in summer and warm in winter. The moisture-absorbing and breathable properties of the bamboo charcoal fibers contribute to maintaining a dry and comfortable feel, while the PTT fibers provide the fabric with good elastic recovery, ensuring the flatness and durability of the mattress surface.

[0030] Example 3: This embodiment provides a PCM temperature-regulating fabric in which, by weight, the yarn comprises 60% temperature-regulating fibers, 30% quaternary ammonium salt-modified antimicrobial fibers, and 10% polyurethane core-spun yarn elastic fibers. The temperature-regulating fibers are bonded with the antimicrobial fibers and the elastic fibers by a weaving method to form the yarn.

[0031] Here, the temperature-regulating fiber employs a sheath-core composite structure, with the sheath layer being polyamide (PA6) and the core layer being a polymer-based phase-change material (polyurethane-based material). The sheath-core composite spinning assembly combines the sheath layer polymer and core layer phase-change material in a mass ratio of 60:40. After extrusion from the spinneret, the material is cooled and set to produce the sheath-core type temperature-regulating fiber. Because the sheath layer covers the core layer, the phase-change material in the core layer remains in a solid state throughout the phase-change process, eliminating the risk of leakage even if the sheath layer is damaged. Furthermore, because a sheath-core structure is employed, it is also possible to use a solid-liquid phase-change material in the core layer, eliminating the need to worry about leakage risk.

[0032] For the antibacterial fibers, we selected quaternary ammonium salt-modified antibacterial fibers, which possess broad-spectrum and highly efficient antibacterial properties and excellent washability. For the elastic fibers, we selected polyurethane core-spun yarn.

[0033] The above yarn is woven into a raw fabric using a warp knitting machine, and after processes such as pre-setting, dyeing, softening, and setting, a warp-knitted PCM temperature-regulating fabric is obtained. This fabric can be designed to have appropriate thickness and abrasion resistance. This fabric can be used in the manufacture of doormat products as the surface material for doormats or carpets. When a user steps on it barefoot, the temperature-regulating fabric can provide a cool feel in summer and a warm feel in winter, the antibacterial fibers can suppress the growth of bacteria and mold on the surface of the doormat, and the warp-knitted structure gives the fabric good dimensional stability and abrasion resistance, making it suitable for long-term use under foot.

[0034] Comparative Example 1: To explain the effects of the present invention, Comparative Example 1 was set up as follows, and a heating / cooling test was performed using an ordinary polyester fabric (without temperature-regulating fibers, antibacterial fibers, and elastic fibers) having the same structure and basis weight as Example 1, under the same environmental conditions.

[0035] Test equipment and test method The following instruments are used: a CWH850 infrared thermometer, a probe-type digital electronic thermometer, an O-Smart intelligent constant temperature plate (temperature control range 10-60°C, fluctuation range ±0.5°C), bottled mineral water (refrigerated at 4°C for 24 hours, equilibrated to (10±1)°C before testing), and a Q2000TA differential scanning calorimeter.

[0036] The temperature regulation and control capabilities of the fabric are tested according to the self-regulatory method and the national standard. The self-regulatory method mainly evaluates the temperature regulation and control capabilities of the fabric by simulating high-temperature exposure in summer and low-temperature contact in winter. On the other hand, the national standard GB / T19466.3-2004 "Part 3 of Differential Scanning Calorimeters (DSC) for Plastics: Measurement of Melting and Crystallization Temperature and Thermal Enthalpy" determines the temperature regulation performance by measuring the phase change enthalpy value of the fabric, that is, the fabric's ability to absorb and release thermal energy.

[0037] (1) Environmental adjustment: The fabric is conditioned for 24 hours in a GB / T6529 standard atmosphere (temperature (20±2)℃, relative humidity (65±4)%).

[0038] (2) Heating performance: The initial temperature of the fabric is set to 27.5°C, and it is placed on a 45°C constant temperature plate (simulating a high-temperature environment), and the temperature change within 3 minutes is recorded using an infrared thermometer.

[0039] (3) Cooling performance: The initial temperature of the fabric is set to 35°C, a bottle of (10±1)°C cold water is placed over it (simulating low-temperature contact), and the temperature change within 3 minutes is recorded using an infrared thermometer.

[0040] (4) Phase change enthalpy value: The test was performed using a differential scanning calorimeter under a nitrogen atmosphere, gas flow rate of 50 mL / min to 55 mL / min, heating / cooling rate of 20 °C / min, and sampling amount of (5.0 ± 0.1) mg.

[0041] Referring to Figure 4, when the temperature rises, the ordinary fabric of Comparative Example 1 heats up rapidly, while the temperature-controlled fabric of Example 1 heats up slowly, and after 6 minutes, the temperature difference between the two reaches a maximum of 6.8°C. This is because, during the process of the external temperature rising, the temperature-controlled material in the temperature-controlled fibers absorbs heat as the external temperature rises, reducing the rate at which the fabric heats up. As can be seen from the data in the figure, the temperature-controlled fabric can effectively mitigate the rate of temperature rise in high-temperature environments, effectively regulate heat exchange between the fabric and the external environment, and provide a more comfortable environment for the user.

[0042] Referring to Figure 5, when the temperature drops, the ordinary fabric of Comparative Example 1 cools down rapidly, while the temperature-controlled fabric of Example 1 cools down slowly, with the temperature difference between the two reaching a maximum of 9.2°C in 1 minute. This is because, during the process of the external temperature decreasing, the temperature-controlling material in the temperature-controlling fibers releases heat, slowing down the rate at which the fabric cools down. The rate of cooling of the temperature-controlled fabric is clearly slower than that of the ordinary fabric, and as can be seen from this phenomenon, the temperature-controlling material effectively releases heat when the temperature drops, mitigating the rate at which the fabric cools down, and the temperature-controlled fabric exhibits good temperature control ability during cooling.

[0043] The phase change enthalpy value of a fabric is the latent heat value converted per unit mass during the phase change process of the phase change material in the fabric, and its unit is J / g. The phase change enthalpy value represents the ability of the fabric to absorb and release energy, and the larger the enthalpy value, the higher the ability. The theoretical enthalpy value of the temperature-controlled fabric in Example 1 was 18.00 J / g, the melting enthalpy obtained by test was 16.7 J / g, and the crystallization enthalpy was 16.1 J / g. As can be seen from this, the performance of the PCM temperature-controlled fabric disclosed in this invention far exceeds that of ordinary cooling fabrics, and its sustained temperature control ability is more than three times that of ordinary nylon cooling fabrics. From the test data, it is shown that the temperature-controlled fabric in Example 1 has excellent heat absorption and release ability, and the temperature-controlled fabric disclosed in this invention has excellent temperature control ability.

[0044] Furthermore, after 50 standard washes, the temperature regulation performance of the fabric in Example 1 showed almost no decrease, whereas similar products on the market employing microcapsule technology experienced a decrease in temperature regulation performance of approximately 15-30%.

[0045] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that a person skilled in the art could easily conceive within the scope of the disclosed technology are all included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be the same as the scope of protection of the claims for utility model registration.

Claims

1. A PCM temperature-regulating fabric, characterized in that the temperature-regulating fabric is knitted with yarn, the yarn contains temperature-regulating fibers, and the structure of the temperature-regulating fabric is one of warp knitting, weft knitting, or woven structure.

2. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 1, further comprising antibacterial fibers and elastic fibers, wherein the temperature-regulating fibers are bonded with the antibacterial fibers and elastic fibers by twisting, plying, coating, or weaving to form yarn.

3. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-regulating fiber comprises a fiber base material and a temperature-regulating material, and the temperature-regulating material is blended with the fiber base material in powder or particle form to form the temperature-regulating fiber.

4. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-regulating fiber comprises a fiber base material and a temperature-regulating material, and the temperature-regulating material adheres to the surface of the temperature-regulating fiber or to the gaps in the fiber base material by impregnation, coating, or filling.

5. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature-regulating fiber has a sheath layer and a core layer, the sheath layer covers the core layer, and the core layer is a temperature-regulating material.

6. The temperature-controlling fabric according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the temperature-controlling material is a polyhydric alcohol-based phase change material or a polymer-based phase change material.

7. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the fibrous base material is one or more of polyester, nylon, polypropylene, viscose fiber, cotton fiber, and bamboo fiber.

8. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that the antibacterial fiber is at least one of chitosan antibacterial fiber, quaternary ammonium salt modified antibacterial fiber, bamboo charcoal antibacterial fiber, and hemp antibacterial fiber.

9. The temperature-regulating fabric according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic fiber is polyurethane core spun yarn or polytrimethylene terephthalate elastic fiber.

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