Nanofiber Substrates for Infrared Transparency and Visible Opacity

Solution Overview

Problem

Current textile-based polymers are not transparent to infrared radiation, leading to trapped body heat and low heat transfer rates, while being transparent in the visible light range, making them unsuitable for clothing applications. Additionally, IR-transparent textiles are often hard and non-breathable.

Innovation Solution

Creating nanofibers from IR-transparent polymers with controlled diameters and micro pores between them, which scatter visible light to create opacity while maintaining air permeability, resulting in a soft, breathable, and IR-transparent fabric.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If textile-based polymers are used for clothing, then visible light transparency is achieved, but infrared radiation transparency is lost causing heat trapping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisible light transparencyVSAvoidinfrared radiation transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous materials by creating a fabric structure with controlled micro-pores between nanofibers. These pores have specific size ranges (50-500 nm) that enable infrared radiation to pass through while the overall fabric structure maintains visible light opacity, thus resolving the contradiction between visible light transparency and infrared radiation transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining nanofibers made from IR-transparent polymers with specific pore structures. This composite approach allows the fabric to simultaneously achieve visible light opacity (through the nanofiber network) and infrared radiation transparency (through the polymer material properties and pore structure), resolving the contradiction between these two optical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If IR-transparent textiles are created, then heat transfer rate is improved, but breathability and softness are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer rateVSAvoidbreathability and softness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous materials by creating a fabric structure with controlled micro-pores between nanofibers. These pores have specific size ranges (50-500 nm) that enable infrared radiation to pass through while the overall fabric structure maintains visible light opacity, thus resolving the contradiction between visible light transparency and infrared radiation transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by controlling the nanofiber diameter (50-1000 nm) and pore size (400-1500 nm) to specific ranges. These parameter optimizations allow the fabric to maintain softness and breathability while achieving high infrared radiation transparency and heat transfer rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If nanofibers with micro pores are created, then visible light opacity is achieved, but infrared radiation transparency must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisible light opacityVSAvoidinfrared radiation transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous materials by creating a fabric structure with controlled micro-pores between nanofibers. These pores have specific size ranges (50-500 nm) that enable infrared radiation to pass through while the overall fabric structure maintains visible light opacity, thus resolving the contradiction between visible light transparency and infrared radiation transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dimensionality change by working at the nanoscale level (50-1000 nm fiber diameters, 400-1500 nm pore sizes). This nanoscale dimensional approach allows the fabric to scatter visible light effectively (achieving opacity) while maintaining transparency to infrared radiation, resolving the contradiction between these two optical properties.

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 solution allows for high IR radiation transfer rates, enabling efficient body heat dissipation while maintaining the necessary opacity for clothing applications and breathability.

Implementation Method 1

the micro pores scatter visible light to change the polymer from being visible light transparent to being visible light opaque

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

the micro pores are large enough to be air permeable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

The solution allows for high IR radiation transfer rates, enabling efficient body heat dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation transmission: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS10551536B2Infrared radiation transparent substrates and systems and methods for creation and use thereof

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 NORTH FACE APPAREL CORP

AI summary

Substrates with transparency to infrared body radiation and opacity in the visible light spectrum are provided and systems and methods for creation thereof are provided. The IR radiation transparent substrate is IR radiation transparent and visible light opaque with enough breathability and softness to make it suitable for use in garments for body thermal regulation. Further, the IR radiation transparent substrate is created utilizing nanofiber technology to form specific sized micro pores between the nanofibers.