Segmented Composite Fibers for Soft, Wear-Resistant Water-Repellent Textiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibers used in clothing textiles suffer from shiny phenomena due to prolonged wear and friction, leading to surface deterioration and impaired tactile sensation and flexibility, while existing solutions either harden the texture or compromise durability.
Innovation Solution
A composite fiber structure with segments A and B, where segment B has a smaller cross-sectional area and is formed in a side-by-side or eccentric core-sheath type, combined with a multifilament structure having filaments B with smaller diameters, to create fine voids and complex irregularities, enhancing flexibility and water-repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fibers with high rigidity and large fineness are adopted for woven fabrics to enhance durability, then wear resistance is improved, but tactile sensation and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber is divided into two segments: segment A (larger cross-sectional area) providing durability and segment B (smaller cross-sectional area) providing flexibility. This segmentation allows the single fiber to simultaneously deliver both high wear resistance and soft tactile sensation, resolving the contradiction between durability and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber combines two different polymer materials with distinct properties: a first polymer for segment A offering strength and durability, and a second polymer for segment B offering flexibility and softness. This composite structure enables the fiber to exhibit both high durability and excellent tactile comfort, overcoming the trade-off between these properties.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If smoothing agents such as silicone and polyethylene wax are added in post-processing to inhibit shiny phenomenon, then surface quality is improved, but texture hardening and durability deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber structure itself serves to prevent the shiny phenomenon through its irregular cross-sectional shape and segmented design. The surface irregularities created by segments A and B naturally scatter light and maintain matte appearance even after prolonged wear, eliminating the need for external smoothing agents and thus preserving durability and texture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental geometric parameters of the fiber cross-section, creating an irregular shape with segments of different areas. This parameter change inherently provides light-scattering properties that prevent shiny phenomenon, replacing the need for chemical smoothing agents and avoiding their associated durability issues.
3Reliability
If a low melting point polymer is disposed inside polyester fiber to absorb frictional heat, then fiber deformation is inhibited, but interfacial peeling occurs and tactile sensation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing a low melting point polymer inside the fiber (core structure), this invention inverts the approach by creating surface-level segments with different properties. Segment B with smaller cross-sectional area is positioned at the periphery, providing both deformation resistance through structural complexity and maintaining good tactile sensation through appropriate material selection and surface geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fiber cross-section are assigned different properties: segment A (larger area) provides structural stability and deformation resistance, while segment B (smaller area) at the periphery contributes to tactile sensation and flexibility. This local differentiation of properties allows the fiber to simultaneously achieve deformation resistance and comfortable tactile sensation without interfacial peeling issues.
4Reliability
If warp and weft are densely crossed and strongly restrained in woven fabrics, then wear resistance is improved, but tactile sensation and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The use of segmented fibers with irregular cross-sections introduces micro-movements and flexibility at the fiber level, even within densely woven structures. The different segments can move independently, allowing the fabric to maintain wear resistance through tight weaving while preserving tactile comfort through fiber-level flexibility and movement.
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 fiber structure inhibits shiny phenomena by reducing flat areas caused by friction and wear, maintains flexibility and tactile sensation, and exhibits high water-repellency when subjected to water repellent finish.
Implementation Method 1
frictional heat generated by abrasion with a floor or the like is absorbed by an endothermic action due to melting of the low melting point polymer in a core part before the polyester melts
Implementation Method 2
frictional heat generated by abrasion with a floor or the like is absorbed by an endothermic action due to melting of the low melting point polymer in a core part before the polyester melts
Implementation Method 3
endothermic action due to melting of the low melting point polymer
Implementation Method 4
exhibits high water-repellent performance when subjected to water repellent finish
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
In order to provide a fiber, a woven or knitted fabric, and a fiber product suitable for a textile for clothing, which have flexibility with a smooth tactile sensation and a feeling of resilient, inhibit deterioration in surface quality caused by friction/wear or the like with other materials, and further exhibit high water-repellent performance when subjected to water repellent finish by precisely controlling cross-sectional arrangement in a composite fiber and fiber arrangement in a multifilament, the present invention provides: a composite fiber in which two types of segments A and B are present in a fiber transverse section, the segment B has a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the segment A, and is formed of two types of polymers combined in a side-by-side type or an eccentric core-sheath type; a multifilament composed of two types of filaments A and B, in which one or more of the filaments B are present between any two of the filaments A in the multifilament, and the filament B has a smaller fiber diameter than a fiber diameter of the filament A and is formed of two types of polymers combined in a side-by-side type or an eccentric core-sheath type; and a woven or knitted fabric subjected to water repellent finish, including a multifilament composed of two types of filaments A and B, in which one or more of the filaments B are present between any two of the filaments A in the multifilament, the filament B has a smaller fiber diameter than a fiber diameter of the filament A and is formed of two types of polymers combined in a side-by-side type or an eccentric core-sheath type, and a sliding angle of water drop is 1 to 20 degrees.