Cooling Polyamide Yarn with I-Shaped Capillaries
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Polyamide yarns used in textiles often compromise on feel and cooling properties when attempting to enhance mechanical strength and surface aspect, leading to unpredictable results and adherence issues during processing.
Innovation Solution
A polyamide yarn with a low crimp modulus of 1-4 and an oval cross-section, containing an inorganic additive like titanium dioxide, is developed to provide a pleasant, soft, and cooling sensation on the skin, achieved through a specialized spinning process using I-shaped capillaries and texturing settings that maintain the filament shape and reduce bulkiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If novel additives are included to improve cooling sensation, then cooling effect is improved, but process problems arise such as material adherence to equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses I-shaped capillaries as an intermediary structure during the spinning process. The unique geometry of the capillaries with reduced thickness in the middle section prevents material adherence to equipment walls while allowing the polyamide melt to flow through and form filaments with the desired oval cross-section and low crimp characteristics, thus resolving the adherence problem while maintaining cooling functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the spinning capillaries by creating an I-shaped cross-section with varying thickness (thinner in the middle, thicker at edges). This parameter change in the capillary structure enables better flow characteristics and prevents material sticking during processing, thereby improving ease of manufacture while preserving the cooling effect of the additives
2Shape
If yarn is textured to improve surface aspect, then surface quality is improved, but crimp increases reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating yarns with specific localized characteristics - the filaments have an oval cross-section with aspect ratio between 3:7 and 6:7, and the yarn exhibits low crimp (crimp modulus of 1-4). This local structural optimization maintains smooth surface appearance while minimizing crimp to preserve cooling efficiency through enhanced ventilation
3Temperature
If inorganic additives are added to enhance cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but material adherence to equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The I-shaped capillaries serve as an intermediary that mediates between the inorganic additives and the spinning equipment. The unique capillary geometry with reduced central thickness creates flow patterns that prevent material containing inorganic additives from adhering to equipment surfaces, thus eliminating the harmful adherence effect while preserving the cooling performance benefit
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 yarn effectively lowers skin surface temperature by enhancing ventilation and maintaining physical properties, as confirmed by laboratory tests showing a surface temperature reduction of up to 0.5°C compared to standard yarns, making it suitable for clothing in high-effort or high-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
In the field of polymer yarns, modifications are incessantly sought, which aim not only at improving physical properties like mechanical strength and surface aspect, but also at improving the sensation created by the textile material on the skin of the wearer... providing a cooling effect on the skin of the wearer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a polyamide (preferably Nylon 66) yarn for weaving or knitting clothes articles which have a cooling effect on the skin of the wearer. The yarn contains an inorganic additive (preferably Titanium dioxide) in an amount of between 0.3 and 3.0 wt% and is characterized by a low crimp modulus and a flat cross section.