Multilayer Circular Knit Structure for Tactile Coolness and Quick Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing garments with cellulose-based materials suffer from poor quick-drying properties, leading to sticky and clammy sensations, and inadequate tactile coolness due to retained sweat and insufficient moisture diffusion, especially during increased sweating.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer-structure circular knit fabric is created by arranging long cellulose fibers on the needle-loop side surface and hydrophobic fibers on the sinker-loop side surface, allowing for improved moisture diffusion and quick drying, while maintaining excellent tactile coolness and texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering 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 sweat retention in fibers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture absorptionVSAvoidquick-drying properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is divided into multiple layers with different fiber compositions: a skin-contacting layer with hydrophobic fibers for quick drying, and an inner layer with cellulose fibers for moisture absorption, preventing sweat retention while maintaining hygroscopicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fabric combines hydrophobic fibers (polyester, polyamide) and hydrophilic cellulose fibers in a multilayer structure, creating composite material properties that simultaneously achieve quick-drying performance and high moisture absorption capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If cellulose fibers are arranged to maximize tactile coolness, then cooling effect is improved, but quick-drying properties deteriorate due to insufficient moisture diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile coolnessVSAvoidquick-drying properties

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the fabric have different fiber compositions: the skin-contacting surface has hydrophobic fibers for moisture transport and quick drying, while inner layers have cellulose fibers for absorption, creating local functional zones that resolve the contradiction between cooling and drying

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 with cooling fibers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequick-drying propertiesVSAvoidtactile coolness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric uses a vertical multilayer structure where hydrophobic fibers are positioned at the outer skin-contacting surface for moisture wicking, while cellulose fibers are positioned in inner layers for absorption, creating a three-dimensional functional gradient that achieves both quick-drying and cooling effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 garment achieves enhanced tactile coolness, quick drying, and refreshing properties, reducing stickiness and post-sweat chill, making it suitable for undergarments, sportswear, or casual wear.

Implementation Method 1

a knit fabric structure in which the exposure ratio of long cellulose fibers (cellulose filaments) on the surface of a convex part in contact with the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

polyester processed yarns, which are hydrophobic fibers, are arranged in the skin surface layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3604650B1garment

Publication Date: 2021.05.05 ASAHI KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

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Figure 3~4

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. Said 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 said 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%. The tactile coolness of the circular-knit fabric is 130-200 W/m2·°C. The time for the moisture content of the circular-knit fabric to reach 10% after 0.3 cc of water is dripped thereon is 50 minutes or less.