Silicone Elastomer Fiber Coating for Dyeable Water-Repellent Textiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural fibers, such as cellulosic and animal fibers, face challenges with durability, wrinkle resistance, and dyeability due to their hygroscopicity and water absorbability, which are inferior to synthetic fibers, and existing modifications often result in inadequate adhesion of water-repellent coatings or hinder dyeing processes.
Innovation Solution
A modified fiber is produced by attaching a silicone elastomer film with a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether main component to the natural fibers, which provides mechanical adhesion and maintains hygroscopicity, allowing for easy dyeing and improved durability by preventing chemical bonding with the fiber's functional groups, thus enhancing dyeability and physical properties like strength and wrinkle resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water-repellent coating is applied to natural fiber to improve durability and wrinkle resistance, then the coating adhesion is insufficient and the coating is peeled off during washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a silane coupling agent as an intermediary substance between the natural fiber and the water-repellent coating. The silane coupling agent contains both hydrophilic groups that bond with the fiber surface and hydrophobic groups that bond with the coating, creating a strong chemical bridge that prevents coating peeling during washing while maintaining water-repellent properties
2Reliability
If an intermediate coating layer is added to improve coating adhesion, then the adhesion is improved but the production process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the intermediate coating layer and the water-repellent coating into a single integrated coating composition containing both the water-repellent resin and silane coupling agent. This merged approach maintains the adhesion benefits of an intermediate layer while simplifying the production process by reducing the number of separate coating steps
3Reliability
If functional groups in natural fiber are used for covalent bonding with coating, then adhesion is improved but the fiber cannot be dyed afterward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using silane coupling agents that concentrate the chemical bonding function at the fiber-coating interface while leaving the bulk fiber properties unchanged. The silane groups form covalent bonds with specific surface functional groups locally, while the rest of the fiber retains its natural dyeing capabilities
4Strength
If natural fiber is modified to improve strength and wrinkle resistance, then the inherent hygroscopicity may be deteriorated but this is unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by carefully controlling the silane coupling agent composition and treatment conditions to achieve the desired balance. By adjusting the silane to fiber ratio, moisture content, and heating parameters, the modification achieves strength improvement while preserving the hygroscopicity parameter within acceptable ranges for natural fibers
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 modified fibers exhibit excellent durability, dyeability, and physical properties comparable to synthetic fibers while maintaining high hygroscopicity and water absorbability, enabling rapid production of fashion-compatible textile products and reducing unsold stock.
Implementation Method 1
the silane coupling agent, forms a covalent bond with a functional group on the surface of the natural fiber
Implementation Method 2
a polysiloxane resin such as dimethylpolysiloxane and a fluorine compound such as a polytetrafluoroethylene resin are adsorbed in this order to the wool fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A modified fiber and a method for producing the same. The modified fiber is obtained by modifying a fiber material containing at least one of a cellulosic fiber and an animal fiber. In the modified fiber, a film of a silicone elastomer is attached to at least a portion of a surface of the fiber material, the silicone elastomer contains a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether having 12 to 15 carbon atoms as a main component and has a siloxane skeleton, and the surface has a surface tension of 30 to 70 mN/m.