LCST Composite Fiber for Adaptive Moisture Drying and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional moisture-absorbing and perspiration clothing loses temperature and humidity-controlling functions due to sultriness under saturated humidity during exercise, failing to maintain thermal comfort.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-sensing and humidity-controlling fiber is developed, incorporating a hydrophilic material and a temperature-sensing material with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between 31.2° C. and 36.0° C., allowing quick drying at high temperatures for cooling and slow drying at low temperatures to regulate temperature and humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional passive fabric structure design and finishing processing technology are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but temperature and humidity-controlling functions are lost under saturated humidity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining temperature-sensing material (with lower critical solution temperature between 31.2°C and 36.0°C) and hydrophilic material in a single fiber structure. This composite approach enables the fiber to simultaneously provide passive temperature sensing, humidity control, and moisture wicking functions without requiring complex active systems, thus improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by selecting specific LCST ranges (31.2°C-36.0°C) for the temperature-sensing material that correspond to human body temperature variations. This allows the material to automatically change its properties in response to temperature changes, providing adaptive temperature and humidity control through passive physical changes rather than active control mechanisms.
2Temperature
If quick-drying function is enhanced for cooling effect, then thermal comfort during exercise is improved, but heat loss control in cold conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by incorporating a temperature-sensing material with lower critical solution temperature that dynamically changes its moisture management properties in response to temperature variations. When the temperature rises above the LCST range, the material structure changes to enhance evaporation and cooling; when temperature drops below this range, the material adjusts to reduce heat loss, thus providing adaptive thermal comfort across different environmental conditions.
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 fiber maintains stable thermal comfort by quickly drying at high temperatures for cooling and slowly drying at low temperatures, enhancing moisture conductivity and evapotranspiration, suitable for moisture-absorbing and perspiration products.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature-sensing material has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between 31.2° C. and 36.0° C. when a transmittance of light of the temperature-sensing material is in a range from 3% to 80%
Implementation Method 2
a hydrophilic material and a temperature-sensing material in the temperature-sensing and humidity-controlling fiber
Implementation Method 3
the temperature-sensing and humidity-controlling fiber can be provided with functions of quick-drying, cooling, and reducing heat loss
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature-sensing and humidity-controlling fiber includes a hydrophilic material and a temperature-sensing material. The temperature-sensing material has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between 31.2° C. and 32.5° C. when a light transmittance thereof is in a range from 3% to 80%, in which a wavelength of the light is between 450 nm and 550 nm.