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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garments with cellulose-based materials suffer from poor quick-drying properties and sticky sensations due to retained sweat, leading to discomfort and clamminess, especially during exercise or summer, as they fail to effectively absorb and diffuse moisture.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer-structure circular knit fabric is developed with long cellulose fibers on the needle-loop side and hydrophobic fibers on the sinker-loop side, allowing for improved moisture diffusion and quick drying, while maintaining tactile coolness and texture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cellulose-based materials are used to improve hygroscopicity and water absorption, then moisture absorption is improved, but quick-drying properties deteriorate due to retained sweat
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric is divided into multiple layers with different fiber compositions: a skin-contacting layer with hydrophobic fibers for quick drying, an intermediate layer with cellulose multifilament for moisture absorption, and a non-skin-contacting layer with hydrophobic fibers for water repellency. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without interfering with others.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fabric have different properties tailored to their functions: the skin-contacting surface has hydrophobic properties for rapid sweat evacuation, the intermediate layer has hydrophilic properties for moisture absorption and diffusion, while maintaining overall fabric coherence.
2Temperature
If cellulose fibers are arranged to maximize tactile coolness, then skin comfort is improved, but quick-drying properties deteriorate due to sweat retention
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric structure provides different local properties: the skin-contacting layer uses hydrophobic fibers to quickly move sweat away from the skin maintaining coolness, while the intermediate layer uses cellulose multifilament to absorb and diffuse moisture, achieving both tactile coolness and quick-drying performance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate layer consisting of cellulose multifilament acts as a mediator between the skin-contacting hydrophobic layer and the inner layer, absorbing moisture from the skin-contacting layer and facilitating its diffusion toward the outer layer, thereby enabling both coolness and quick-drying.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If hydrophobic fibers are used to improve quick-drying properties, then moisture diffusion is improved, but tactile coolness deteriorates due to reduced skin contact
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric is segmented into functional layers: hydrophobic fibers in the skin-contacting layer provide quick-drying properties by repelling sweat, while cellulose multifilament in the intermediate layer provides tactile coolness through moisture absorption and diffusion, allowing both properties to coexist without direct conflict.
4Temperature
If long cellulose fibers are exposed on the skin surface to improve tactile coolness, then cooling effect is improved, but texture deteriorates due to fiber exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The skin-contacting layer uses hydrophobic fibers with smooth surface properties to provide excellent texture and comfort, while the intermediate layer contains exposed long cellulose fibers that provide tactile coolness through moisture absorption, allowing both good texture and cooling effect to be achieved in different layers.
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 fabric achieves excellent tactile coolness, hygroscopicity, and quick-drying properties, reducing stickiness and post-sweat chill, making it suitable for undergarments, sportswear, or casual wear.
Implementation Method 1
a circular-knit fabric having a portion in which long cellulose fibers and hydrophobic fibers are knitted together to form identical knit loops
Implementation Method 2
hydrophobic fibers are arranged in a rear surface layer (the sinker-loop side)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a knit fabric which does not cause feelings of clamminess, feels very cool to the touch and is comfortable, and limits feelings of stickiness and post-sweat chill through rapid drying of sweat, and at the same time is capable of further improving texture. The garment comprises a multilayer-structure circular-knit fabric made of a single circular knit with a layered structure of at least two layers, and the surface that contacts the skin is the needle-loop side of the circular-knit fabric. The circular-knit fabric has portions in which long cellulose fibers and hydrophobic fibers are knit together to form the same knit loops. The garment contains 10-50 weight % of the long cellulose fibers. The exposure rate of the long cellulose fibers in the region from the surface of the side that contacts the skin to 0.13 mm into the interior of the circular-knit fabric is at least 30%.