Process to coat textile materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current textile materials for protective clothing lack a balance between high filtration capacity for both polar and non-polar toxic molecules, mechanical resistance, and breathability, often requiring heavy amounts of activated carbon that compromise weight and comfort, and existing methods for integrating activated carbon with textiles either reduce filtration efficiency or provide inadequate mechanical resistance.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the application of activated carbon in powder form combined with a sol-gel material, using an aqueous solvent and organosilica precursors, without polycarboxylic acid or catalysts, to create a flexible, breathable, and water-repellent textile with enhanced filtration properties for polar and non-polar toxic gases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If activated carbon is impregnated into textile in large quantities to improve filtration capacity, then filtration efficiency improves, but garment weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidgarment weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the porous structure of activated carbon particles to provide high filtration capacity with minimal quantity. The porous material traps toxic molecules effectively while maintaining low weight, resolving the contradiction between filtration efficiency and garment weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material by bonding activated carbon particles to textile fibers through a polyurethane matrix. This composite structure integrates the filtration capability of activated carbon with the mechanical properties of textile, achieving effective filtration without excessive weight addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If activated carbon is bonded to fabric to improve filtration, then filtration capacity improves, but mechanical resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration capacityVSAvoidmechanical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bonding mechanism from direct mechanical attachment to chemical bonding through polyurethane formation. The isocyanate groups react with hydroxyl groups on textile surfaces and carboxylic acid groups on activated carbon, creating strong covalent bonds that maintain mechanical resistance while ensuring filtration capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces polyurethane as an intermediary bonding agent between activated carbon particles and textile fibers. This intermediary material provides strong adhesion through chemical bonding while maintaining the structural integrity and mechanical resistance of the fabric.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If textile is made waterproof to protect against liquid toxins, then protection against liquid threats improves, but breathability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against liquid toxinsVSAvoidbreathability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different properties to different parts of the protective textile system. The outer layer maintains natural textile porosity for breathability, while activated carbon particles provide localized water-repellent properties through their surface characteristics, achieving both breathability and liquid toxin protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the porous structure of activated carbon particles to create a water-repellent effect while maintaining breathability. The porous structure allows water vapor transmission for comfort while repelling liquid toxins, resolving the contradiction between waterproofing and breathability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous 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 textile material effectively filters polar and non-polar toxic gases while maintaining mechanical resistance and breathability, offering improved performance over existing solutions in terms of weight, comfort, and filtration efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The invention relates to a coated textile and a process for its preparation... coated textiles having gas barrier properties... effectively filters polar and non-polar toxic gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

it is necessary to have a water-repellent fabric, either hydrophobic or both hydro- and oleophobic... The resulting textile material effectively filters polar and non-polar toxic gases while maintaining mechanical resistance and breathability, offering improved performance over existing solutions in terms of weight, comfort, and filtration efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobe: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3565925B1Process to coat textile materials
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 EUROPROTECT FRANCE
  • EP3565925B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3565925B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3565925B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for coating a textile material, said method comprising the following steps: a) incorporating activated carbon in powder form into a coating composition comprising an aqueous solvent and at least one organosilicon precursor, wherein the organosilicon precursor represents from 5 to 50% by volume relative to the whole of the aqueous solvent and organosilicon precursor, b) impregnating the textile material with the coating composition by means of padding and c) drying the impregnated textile material, characterised in that the coating composition contains no polycarboxylic acid or catalyst.