Textile materials with spontaneous emission and methods of UV protection, shading, warming, and other applications using same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional apparel fails to effectively manage sunlight interaction, leading to excess heat, UV radiation exposure, and body odor issues due to inadequate light management.
Innovation Solution
Development of light management apparel that absorbs UV to near-infrared light spectrum and spontaneously emits visible and near-infrared light, utilizing a network of yarns with fluorescent components to achieve quantum efficiencies above 50% at near-infrared and 90% at visible wavelengths, providing cooling, UV blocking, and antibacterial effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional apparel is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it fails to effectively manage sunlight interaction leading to excess heat and UV radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the yarns by incorporating fluorescent components that absorb UV radiation and emit visible light. This parameter change enables the apparel to block UV radiation while managing heat through fluorescence, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective sunlight management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite yarns made from polymeric host materials combined with fluorescent components. This composite material approach enables the apparel to simultaneously achieve UV blocking, heat management, and visible light emission while maintaining a relatively simple knit or weave structure.
2Temperature
If apparel absorbs more sunlight to provide warming effect, then warming effect is improved, but excess heat is generated causing discomfort in hot weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of energy absorption and emission through fluorescence. The fluorescent components absorb UV energy and transition to emit visible light, converting harmful UV radiation into useful visible light while managing thermal energy, thus providing warming effect without excessive heat buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts harmful UV radiation into beneficial visible light through fluorescence. The UV energy that would otherwise cause damage and excess heat is transformed into visible light that can provide warming effect while reducing the harmful thermal impact, resolving the contradiction between warming and heat management.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If apparel uses dense knit or weave structure to provide shielding, then UV blocking is improved, but the apparel loses breathability and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the yarns themselves by incorporating fluorescent components. This enables the yarns to provide UV blocking at the material level rather than relying on dense structure, thus maintaining breathability and comfort while achieving effective UV protection.
4Temperature
If apparel uses fluorescent components with high quantum efficiency, then light emission and cooling effect are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of fluorescent components within specific ranges (0.01-10 wt% for first fluorescent component, 0.01-5 wt% for second fluorescent component). This parameter optimization achieves high quantum efficiency for cooling effect while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional textile processing techniques.
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 apparel remains cool under sunlight, offers enhanced UV protection, reduces bacteria that cause body odor, and provides a warming effect in cold weather through directed emission, while maintaining a sheer knit or weave structure.
Implementation Method 1
a textile material consisting of a network of yarns (as well as the article of apparel incorporating such a textile material) and the emitted light has an emission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infrared radiation
Implementation Method 2
absorbs an incident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and spontaneously emits light having an emission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infrared radiation
Implementation Method 3
The strong absorption in the UV range makes the article of apparel a UV blocker
Implementation Method 4
the spontaneous emission is strong to the point that the article of apparel releases most of the absorbed energy and therefore remains relatively cool under sunlight, the shading effect
Implementation Method 5
the strong spontaneous emission allows for shielding properties even when the apparel is made from otherwise sheer knit or weave structure. Furthermore, the strong spontaneous emission reduces the bacteria population that break down sweat therefore reducing body odor
Implementation Method 6
the strong spontaneous emission when directed toward a secondary layer provides a warming effect under sunlight in cold weather
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and associated light management system variously provide protection of at least UPF 50, a cooling effect, a shading effect, a warming effect and a source for a photovoltaic device. A textile material absorb incident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and spontaneously emits light having an emission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infrared radiation. The textile material and associated articles have a high degree of UV blocking property due to strong absorption in the UV range. In addition, the spontaneous emission releases most of the absorbed energy and, therefore, the textile material remains relatively cool under sunlight, the shading effect. Furthermore, the strong spontaneous emission allows for shielding properties even when the apparel is made from otherwise sheer knit or weave structure. Associated application methods and manufacture methods are also disclosed.