Blended Yarns for Cut-Resistant Protective Garments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing abrasion- and cut-resistant yarns are often stiff, uncomfortable, and expensive, making it difficult to create thin, flexible, and cost-effective protective garments like gloves and sleeves that maintain high levels of protection.

Innovation Solution

Blending high tenacity fibers like HPPE and aramids with very hard fibers such as glass or carbon fibers, using a stretch-broken process to maintain fiber length and reduce fibrillation, and incorporating elastic fibers for comfort, while avoiding expensive materials like DYNEEMA DIAMOND, to create a balanced yarn with enhanced abrasion and cut resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thick, heavy yarns with high denier are used to achieve high abrasion- and cut-resistance, then protection level is improved, but comfort and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection levelVSAvoidcomfort and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines high tenacity fibers (HPPE, aramids) with mineral fibers (glass, carbon) to create a composite yarn structure. The high tenacity fibers provide cut and abrasion resistance, while the mineral fibers contribute to overall strength and structural integrity, enabling thin yet protective yarn constructions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the denier parameter to low values (1-5 denier per fiber) while maintaining high strength through fiber selection and blending. This parameter change allows thin yarn constructions that provide protection without compromising comfort or flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If stiff materials with high filler content are used to achieve cut-resistance, then cut-resistance is improved, but flexibility and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecut-resistanceVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite yarn blending high tenacity synthetic fibers with mineral fibers. This composite structure provides cut-resistance through the high strength of both fiber types while maintaining flexibility due to the fine denier and appropriate fiber ratio selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different fiber types in specific ratios within the yarn structure, with high tenacity fibers providing localized cut-protection where needed and mineral fibers providing structural support, creating optimized local properties throughout the yarn

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If expensive materials like DYNEEMA DIAMOND or steel wire are used to achieve high abrasion- and cut-resistance, then protection level is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection levelVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cost-effective high tenacity fibers (HPPE, aramids) and common mineral fibers (glass, carbon) as alternatives to expensive specialty fibers like DYNEEMA DIAMOND or metal wires, achieving comparable protection at lower material cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining multiple affordable fiber types that collectively provide the same protective performance as expensive single-material solutions, reducing overall material cost while maintaining protection levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11047069B2High tenacity fiber and mineral reinforced blended yarns

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 ANSELL LTD

AI summary

Cut-resistant and abrasion-resistant yarns including blends of technical fibers and mineral, inorganic, or ceramic fibers of substantially the same length as the technical fibers, and methods for manufacturing yarns, are disclosed.