Textile article comprising graphene and process for its preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile articles for sports clothing, particularly winter sports, often fail to balance thermal insulation and breathability, leading to discomfort due to excessive heat retention in warmer areas and heat loss in colder areas, and are typically heavy and inefficient in managing body heat.
Innovation Solution
A textile article with a pattern of graphene nanoplatelets applied using screen printing, forming a network structure with varying coverage areas to create a thermal circuit that distributes heat uniformly while ensuring breathability, using a composition of polymeric binder, compatibilizing solvent, thickener, and graphene nanoplatelets with specific size and C/O ratio, and heat-treated for polymerization and cross-linking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If textile articles use thermal insulation materials to retain heat, then thermal insulation is improved, but breathability and air permeability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The textile article is divided into multiple layers with distinct functions: an outer layer with hydrophobic microporous membrane for wind protection and water resistance, a middle layer with graphene pattern for thermal regulation, and an inner layer for moisture management. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising overall breathability.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphene is applied in a patterned manner rather than uniformly across the entire textile, creating zones of different thermal conductivity. The pattern consists of graphene-rich areas for heat retention and graphene-poor areas for breathability, allowing local optimization of thermal properties while maintaining overall air permeability.
2Temperature
If textile articles use heavy insulation materials, then thermal insulation is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The textile combines multiple materials with complementary properties: hydrophobic microporous polymer for wind and water protection, graphene nanoplatelets for thermal regulation, and hydrophilic fibers for moisture management. This composite structure achieves superior thermal insulation performance per unit weight compared to traditional single-material insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and applies only the essential thermal-regulating component (graphene) in a patterned distribution rather than using bulk insulation materials. This selective application provides thermal insulation where needed while minimizing overall material weight.
3Temperature
If textile articles use uniform thermal insulation, then heat retention is improved, but heat distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The graphene pattern creates spatially varying thermal conductivity across the textile surface, with higher graphene concentration in areas requiring heat retention and lower concentration in areas requiring breathability. This local variation ensures uniform heat distribution across the body while maintaining overall thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphene is applied as a two-dimensional patterned layer within the multi-layer textile structure, creating a planar thermal regulation network that distributes heat laterally across the fabric surface while maintaining vertical layering for breathability and insulation.
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 textile article effectively manages heat distribution and dissipation, providing comfort by uniformly distributing heat and maintaining breathability, while being lightweight and suitable for various clothing items.
Implementation Method 1
graphene can improve, for example, the thermal and electrical conductivity of the article
Implementation Method 2
heat-treated for polymerization and cross-linking
Data Source
AI summary
Textile article with a pattern comprising graphene, defining a surface with empty portions and full portions, with a percentage of coverage from 10 to 70% of the surface defined by the pattern, so as to form a thermal circuit for optimal management of the heat absorbed and of the breathability of the article, and the process for its preparation.