Multilayer Garment Fabric for Thinness-Strength Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nonwoven fabrics face challenges in achieving both thinness and strength when used for garments, often leading to tearing due to insufficient strength or reduced flexibility when thickness is increased to improve strength, which affects touch and feel.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer garment fabric structure comprising a breathable first layer and a second layer formed by mixing a treatment agent with defibrated fibers, where the second layer is a nonwoven fabric with a basis weight of 100-180 g/m², enhanced by a binding material and surface processes, is manufactured using a dry method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the fabric is thickened to improve strength, then the strength is improved, but the flexibility is reduced and touch and feel are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric strengthVSAvoidflexibility and touch and feel
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is divided into multiple layers with distinct functions: a breathable first layer and a nonwoven second layer with defibrated fibers. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, achieving both strength and flexibility through layered construction rather than uniform thickening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining different materials and textures - a breathable fabric layer combined with a nonwoven layer containing defibrated fibers and treatment agents. This composite approach enables the fabric to achieve enhanced strength through material combination rather than increasing the thickness of a single homogeneous layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Length of moving object

If a nonwoven fabric is made thin to achieve thinness, then the thinness is achieved, but the strength is insufficient and tearing occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric thicknessVSAvoidfabric strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The thin nonwoven fabric achieves sufficient strength through composite construction - combining defibrated fibers with treatment agents and creating a multilayer structure. The strength comes from the composite nature and interlayer bonding rather than from increased thickness of individual layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes key parameters of the nonwoven fabric including basis weight (100-180 g/m2), fiber length distribution, and treatment agent concentration. These parameter optimizations enable the thin fabric to achieve adequate strength without requiring increased thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 a balance of thinness and strength, reducing thickness variations and improving flexibility, while maintaining breathability and physical properties such as abrasion resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a defibrating step of defibrating a cloth using a dry method to produce a fiber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a depositing step of depositing, through air, the mixture on a fabric having breathability serving as a first layer to produce a web

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a forming step of forming the fabric and the web by pressurization and heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

a forming step of forming the fabric and the web by pressurization and heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurization: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP4484154B1Garment fabric and garment fabric manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP4484154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4484154B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4484154B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A garment fabric S includes a multilayer structure including a first layer L1 having breathability and a second layer L2 formed by mixing a treatment agent with a defibrated fiber.