Nanoparticle treated fabrics, fibers, filaments, and yarns and related methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nanoparticle-treated fabrics face challenges in maintaining antimicrobial efficacy while preventing the release of toxic metal cations into the environment, as current methods either lose performance quickly or alter nanoparticle characteristics through permanent immobilization, and covalent bonding is expensive.
Innovation Solution
Nonionic metal nanoparticles, such as spherical and coral-shaped silver and gold nanoparticles, are affixed to fibrous articles using Van der Waals forces, allowing them to remain adhered during normal use but be released upon contact with microbes, thereby providing antimicrobial efficacy without relying on ion release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nanoparticles are permanently immobilized onto fabric using covalent bonds, then nanoparticle retention is improved, but nanoparticle activity and antimicrobial efficacy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a binder material as an intermediary substance that adheres nanoparticles to the fabric surface without requiring covalent bonding. This binder layer allows nanoparticles to remain attached during normal use and washing while still being available to interact with and kill microbes, thus resolving the contradiction between retention and activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bonding mechanism from strong covalent bonds to weaker adhesive forces through the use of binder materials. This parameter change in bond strength allows nanoparticles to be retained on fabric during normal conditions while remaining releasable for microbial interaction, balancing retention and efficacy.
2Reliability
If nanoparticles are encapsulated within polymer or binder material, then nanoparticle immobilization is improved, but nanoparticle availability is reduced until binder degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin binder film to encapsulate nanoparticles, providing immobilization while maintaining nanoparticle accessibility. The binder film is designed to be permeable or loosely structured, allowing microbes to contact and be killed by nanoparticles without requiring the binder to degrade or slough off completely.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If metal cations are released into environment to provide antimicrobial efficacy, then antimicrobial action is improved, but environmental toxicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antimicrobial function from metal cation release and assigns it directly to the nanoparticles themselves. Instead of relying on ion release, the intact nanoparticles contact and kill microbes directly, maintaining efficacy while eliminating the environmental toxicity associated with heavy metal cation discharge.
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 nanoparticles effectively kill or denature microbes while remaining harmless to humans, maintaining durability and colorfastness, and reducing odor and radiation exposure, with improved moisture removal and conductive properties.
Implementation Method 1
nonionic metal nanoparticles affixed thereto by Van der Waals forces
Data Source
AI summary
Nanoparticle treated fibrous articles, such as fabrics, fibers, filaments, or yarns, include a plurality of exposed, nonionic metal nanoparticles non-covalently affixed thereto. Metal nanoparticles, particularly spherical-shaped metal nanoparticles which have solid cores, can be strongly affixed to fibrous articles without covalently bonds and/or without being encapsulated within a polymer or adhesive. Spherical metal nanoparticles appear to adhere to fibrous articles by Van der Waals forces. Because they are nonionic, spherical nanoparticles are not easily removed by solvents, water, surfactants, and soaps and remain after several washings, sometimes up to 50 or more washings. Nonetheless, they readily detach from fibrous articles when contacted by microbes and then kill or denature the microbes. Coral-shaped nanoparticles can be used in conjunction with spherical nanoparticles to assist in affixing the spherical nanoparticles and/or by themselves or in combination with spherical particles to kill or denature microbes.