Radiant Barrier Apparel Composite for Warmth and Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coatings on moisture vapor permeable substrates significantly reduce their permeability, making them unsuitable for apparel and outdoor equipment that require both moisture vapor permeability and thermal insulation, while metallized radiant barriers face challenges with corrosion and heat loss via conduction.
Innovation Solution
A composite structure featuring a metal layer adjacent to an insulating layer, applied via vacuum deposition, with additional organic and inorganic coatings to enhance adhesion, corrosion resistance, and emissivity, maintaining low emissivity and infrared reflectance, and utilizing natural or synthetic fiber insulation to optimize thermal resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional coating methods are used on moisture vapor permeable substrates, then the substrate provides thermal insulation, but the moisture vapor permeability is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the coating system: the metal layer provides thermal reflection and insulation, while the porous polymer layer maintains moisture vapor permeability. This local differentiation of functions resolves the contradiction between thermal insulation and moisture vapor transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite coating structure combining metal layers (for thermal reflection) with porous polymer layers (for moisture vapor permeability). This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of thermal insulation and moisture vapor transmission that neither material could provide alone.
2Temperature
If metal layers are applied to substrates for radiant barrier, then infrared reflectance is improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces porous polymer layers as intermediary protective barriers between the metal radiant barrier layer and the corrosive environment. These polymer layers act as mediators that prevent direct contact between the metal and moisture/oxygen, thereby protecting against corrosion while preserving the metal's infrared reflectance properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where metal layers (for infrared reflectance) are combined with corrosion-resistant polymer layers. This composite material system simultaneously provides both high infrared reflectance and corrosion resistance.
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 composite structure maintains good moisture vapor permeability while providing improved thermal insulation by reducing heat loss through conduction and radiation, with enhanced corrosion resistance and infrared reflectance, thus keeping the wearer warmer and dry.
Implementation Method 1
at least one metal layer, forming a radiant barrier for heat loss via radiation from the human body
Implementation Method 2
at least one insulating layer protecting the said metal layer from heat loss via conduction
Implementation Method 3
applied via vacuum deposition
Data Source
AI summary
Fabrics made for apparel, tents, sleeping bags and the like, in various composites, constructed such that a combination of substrate layers and insulation layers is configured to provide improved thermal insulation. The fabric composites are constructed to form a radiant barrier against heat loss via radiation and via conduction from a body.