Cut-Resistant Yarn With Water-Repellent Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-cut textile yarns for protective clothing face issues with degradation of mechanical properties when subjected to heat treatments or UV irradiation, which are necessary for achieving water-repellency, leading to compromised cut resistance and durability.

Innovation Solution

An anti-cut thread design featuring a core of cut-resistant fibers coated with a water-repellent polyester yarn that withstands high temperatures and UV exposure, maintaining mechanical properties and providing durable wetting resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the garment is coated with elastomeric waterproof material, then waterproofness is improved, but breathability and abrasion resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewaterproofnessVSAvoidbreathability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective garment is divided into multiple functional layers: a knit base layer providing structure and breathability, a waterproof membrane layer providing liquid impermeability while allowing vapor transmission, and an outer layer providing abrasion resistance. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A thin waterproof membrane is integrated into the knit structure, providing waterproof protection while maintaining the flexibility and breathability of the underlying knit fabric. The membrane acts as a selective barrier that blocks liquid water but allows water vapor to pass through.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If heat treatment at high temperature is applied to fix coating, then coating adhesion is improved, but mechanical properties of cut-resistant yarns deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating adhesionVSAvoidcut resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The curing process parameters are optimized to achieve adequate coating adhesion at lower temperatures that do not degrade the cut-resistant fibers. The coating formulation is adjusted to allow effective curing at temperatures below the degradation threshold of the high-performance fibers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The knit structure is designed with inherent properties that facilitate coating adhesion before high-temperature treatment, such as surface characteristics and fiber arrangement, allowing effective bonding at reduced temperatures that preserve fiber integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If UV irradiation is used to fix coating, then coating durability is improved, but mechanical properties of cut-resistant yarns deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating durabilityVSAvoidcut resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The UV curing process is replaced with or supplemented by thermal curing at controlled temperatures that do not damage the cut-resistant fibers. Alternatively, the coating system is selected to cure through mechanisms that do not involve harmful UV exposure to the sensitive high-performance fibers.

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

4Object-affected harmful factors

If waterproof coating is applied to cut-resistant garment, then impermeability to liquids is improved, but resistance to abrasion and washing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpermeability to liquidsVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective functions are segmented across different layers: the waterproof membrane provides liquid impermeability, while separate outer layers provide abrasion and wash resistance. This prevents the waterproof coating from being the sole source of all protective properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The garment uses composite construction combining different materials with complementary properties: a knit base for structure and breathability, a waterproof membrane for liquid barrier, and durable outer layers for abrasion resistance. The composite structure ensures that weaknesses in one material are compensated by strengths in others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution ensures that the anti-cut thread retains high resistance to cutting and wetting, even after multiple washing and drying cycles, while maintaining breathability and dexterity, thus enhancing the performance of protective clothing.

Implementation Method 1

the cover yarn is provided over its entire surface with a water-repellent coating layer, so as to give said cut-resistant yarn a property of resistance to wetting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobe: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3359717B1Cut-resistant yarn, protective clothing made with such a yarn and related manufacturing methods
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 BRUYERE HLDG
  • EP3359717B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP3359717B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a cut-resistant yarn (1) comprising: - a core (2) consisting of at least one fibre made of a material resistant to cutting by sharp objects, - at least one covering yarn (3) which at least partially covers the core (2), characterised in that the covering yarn (3) is provided, over its entire surface, with a water-repellent coating layer in order to provide water-repellency properties to said cut-resistant yarn (1).