Backside Coated Fabric with Spacer Layer for Natural Hand
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coated fabrics lack improved water barrier properties while maintaining a natural hand and aesthetic qualities, and are not adequately durable, easy to handle, or economical.
Innovation Solution
A coated fabric design featuring a water permeable spacer layer with a mass density less than 80% of a water impermeable barrier layer, allowing water penetration at specific hydrostatic pressures, while preventing water penetration at higher pressures, and having a natural texture and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water impermeable barrier layer is applied to provide water barrier properties, then water repellency is improved, but the fabric loses its natural hand and aesthetic qualities
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into two distinct layers: a water permeable spacer layer in contact with the fabric substrate that maintains natural hand and aesthetic qualities, and a water impermeable barrier layer that provides water barrier properties. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between water repellency and natural hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The water permeable spacer layer acts as an intermediary between the fabric substrate and the water impermeable barrier layer. It transmits the natural hand and aesthetic qualities from the fabric to the coated fabric while allowing the barrier layer to provide water protection, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of natural hand and water barrier properties.
2Reliability
If a thick water impermeable barrier layer is used to ensure durability, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coating system is segmented into two functional layers with distinct roles: the spacer layer provides structural support and maintains fabric hand, while the thinner barrier layer provides water protection. This segmentation allows for a durable coating system without requiring a single thick layer, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the spacer layer mass density is kept low to maintain natural hand, then ease of operation is improved, but water barrier effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The water barrier function is separated from the spacer layer and assigned to the dedicated water impermeable barrier layer. This allows the spacer layer to maintain low mass density for natural hand while the barrier layer provides effective water protection, resolving the contradiction between natural hand and water barrier effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The coated fabric uses a composite structure combining a low-density water permeable spacer layer with a water impermeable barrier layer. This composite material approach allows the overall system to achieve both low mass density for natural hand and effective water barrier properties through the combination of materials with complementary characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The coated fabric achieves water repellency and stain resistance with a natural hand, is durable, easy to handle, and economical to produce, while maintaining effective water barrier properties.
Implementation Method 1
The water permeable spacer layer allows penetration of water therethrough when a hydrostatic pressure is applied to the front face of the fabric substrate. The water impermeable barrier layer does not allow penetration of water through the article at the hydrostatic pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
A backside coated fabric includes a fabric substrate having a front side (face) and a back side. A water permeable spacer layer is applied to the back side of the fabric substrate. The water permeable spacer layer allows penetration of water into its matrix when hydrostatic water pressure is applied to the face of the fabric substrate. The water permeable spacer layer provides a smooth coating surface onto which subsequent water impermeable barrier layers can be applied creating a physical separating layer between the fabric substrate and the water impermeable barrier layer. A water impermeable barrier layer is disposed over the water permeable spacer layer to provide an impermeable water barrier layer that does not allow penetration of water through the coated fabric when hydrostatic water pressure is applied to the face of the fabric construction.