Functionalized textile compositions and articles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current textile materials lack enhanced performance characteristics such as resistance to environmental conditions and functional properties, necessitating the development of new compositions with improved durability and functionality.

Innovation Solution

Integration of binderless ceramic materials, including metal oxides and hydroxides, onto porous substrates like textiles, which can partially or completely fill pores, maintaining or altering the substrate's porosity to impart functional properties like hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, and photocatalysis, while maintaining air permeability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If binderless ceramic material is deposited on porous substrate, then functional properties (hydrophobicity, photocatalysis) are enhanced, but pore diameter and air permeability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional propertiesVSAvoidpore diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous ceramic materials (metal oxides and hydroxides) as coating layers on textile substrates. The ceramic coating itself possesses porous structure that maintains breathability while providing functional properties. The porous nature of the ceramic material allows it to fulfill dual roles: providing protective functional properties and maintaining air permeability for breathability applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic coating is applied to provide specific functional properties at the surface level while the bulk substrate maintains its original porous structure. The coating thickness and porosity are controlled to ensure that the surface gains enhanced functionality (hydrophobicity, photocatalysis) without completely blocking the underlying substrate pores, thus achieving local quality enhancement without global structure compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If ceramic material fills pores of substrate, then functional properties are improved, but air permeability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional propertiesVSAvoidair permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the ceramic coating layer maintains a porous structure with controlled porosity (5-80%) to balance functional property enhancement with air permeability requirements. The porous structure allows air and vapor transmission while providing the desired functional properties on the coating surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic material partially fills the pores rather than completely blocking them, achieving a balance between functional property enhancement and maintaining air permeability. This partial action approach ensures that sufficient porosity remains for breathability applications while still providing the desired functional properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If textile surface is functionalized, then performance characteristics are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance characteristicsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure combining textile substrate with ceramic coating layer. This composite material approach integrates the breathability and flexibility of textiles with the functional properties of ceramics (hydrophobicity, photocatalysis, durability). The composite structure achieves enhanced performance characteristics through material combination rather than complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical functionalization processes with a simpler ceramic coating deposition process. The ceramic coating inherently provides multiple functional properties (hydrophobicity, photocatalysis, durability) through its material composition and structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate functionalization steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 ceramic-coated textiles exhibit enhanced functional properties, including improved hydrophobicity, photocatalytic degradation of adherent materials, and increased durability, with the ceramic material and optional top coat synergistically enhancing performance beyond individual components, suitable for various applications including filters and clothing.

Implementation Method 1

a binderless ceramic material on a porous substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the ceramic material on the substrate partially or completely fills the pores of the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12145350B2Functionalized textile compositions and articles
Publication Date: 2024.11.19 NELUMBO INC

AI summary

Functionalized textile materials are provided. At least a portion of a textile surface in includes a ceramic material, such as a binderless porous structured ceramic, and optionally, one or more functional layer is applied, resulting in a textile material with one or more desirable functional properties, such as hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, flame retardancy, photocatalysis, anti-fouling, and/or deodorant properties.