Carbon-Black Polyamide Woven Fabric for Warm Windproof Downwear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional down jackets have a hard texture, are bulky, and lack design and sunlight-absorption properties, resulting in inadequate windbreak and heat retention performance.

Innovation Solution

A polyamide woven fabric incorporating 20% or more by mass of polyamide carbon black pigmented yarn with specific fineness and carbon black content, combined with an undyed yarn, to create a lightweight, heat-retaining, and windbreak-effective fabric with a chambray tone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shell fabrics with high density are used, then windbreak performance is improved, but the fabric becomes hard and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindbreak performanceVSAvoidfabric softness and thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the yarn fineness parameter to achieve high-density weaving with fine yarns (5-55 dtex total fineness, 0.5-2.2 dtex monofilament fineness), allowing high windbreak performance without hard texture. The cover factor is optimized to 1000-2500 to balance density and softness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite yarn structure by combining carbon black pigment (1-5% by mass) with polyamide fiber, integrating multiple functions (sunlight absorption, color, and mechanical properties) into a single material system that achieves both performance and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If polyamide pigmented fiber with large fineness is used, then yarn strength is improved, but the woven fabric becomes hard and cannot achieve high density

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn strengthVSAvoidwindbreak performance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the fineness parameter to a specific range (5-55 dtex total, 0.5-2.2 dtex per filament) that balances strength and weaveability. This intermediate fineness range allows the yarn to be both strong enough for durability and fine enough for high-density weaving achieving cover factor 1000-2500.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality characteristics to different aspects of the yarn: sufficient strength for structural integrity, but fine fineness for high-density weaving capability, and controlled carbon black content (1-5%) for localized sunlight absorption without compromising other properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional plain dyeing or printing is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but design property and color variety are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedyeing process simplicityVSAvoidcolor design property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates carbon black pigment directly into the polyamide fiber during manufacturing, performing the pigmentation action in advance before weaving. This preliminary pigmentation enables rich color design and sunlight absorption while maintaining simple conventional weaving and finishing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite pigmented yarn by integrating carbon black (1-5% by mass) with polyamide fiber, combining the functional properties of both materials to achieve sunlight absorption, color design versatility, and maintained ease of manufacture through standard textile processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Temperature

If conventional down jackets are used, then basic warmth is provided, but sunlight absorption is insufficient for adequate heat retention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasic warmth retentionVSAvoidsunlight absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical properties of the fabric by incorporating carbon black pigment (1-5% by mass), which fundamentally alters sunlight absorption characteristics. The dark pigmented yarn absorbs solar radiation effectively, converting it to thermal energy and raising the temperature of the down jacket by 13°C or more, significantly enhancing heat retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite pigmented yarn system combining carbon black with polyamide fiber, integrating solar energy absorption capability into the fabric structure itself, enabling the down jacket to actively convert sunlight to heat and significantly improve temperature retention beyond conventional materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 resulting fabric provides a light, warm, and windbreak-effective down product with enhanced sunlight absorption, achieving a temperature increase of 13° C or more when exposed to pseudo-sunlight, while maintaining a comfortable and stylish appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a pigmented yarn that comprises carbon black in a proportion of 1 to 5% by mass... the down product which has a light feeling and has a heat retaining performance due to sunlight absorption... achieving a temperature increase of 13° C or more when exposed to pseudo-sunlight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotothermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9732449B2Polyamide woven fabric and down product using same
Publication Date: 2017.08.15 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC

AI summary

A polyamide woven fabric and has a light feeling and a chambray tone hue, as well as heat retaining properties due to sunlight absorption, and wind breaking properties. The polyamide woven fabric is a woven fabric including 20% or more by mass of a polyamide carbon black pigmented yarn that includes carbon black in a proportion of 1 to 5% by mass. The woven fabric has a total fineness of 5 to 55 dtex and a monofilament fineness of 0.5 to 2.2 dtex; and has a cover factor of 1000 to 2500. A down product incorporating the polyamide woven fabric is a product finished by stuffing downs into shell fabrics of this woven fabric in an amount of 100 to 500 grams per square meter of the shell fabrics, and then sewing together the shell fabrics.