Polymer fibers, fabrics and equipment with a modified near infrared reflectance signature
AssigneeInvista North America S.A R.L.
InventorKevin Frankel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modified synthetic polymer filament and multifilament yarn of polyamide or polyester filament containing a carbon black polymer additive, and fabrics from these yarns, are disclosed. These melt spun filaments are especially well-suited for use in garments and equipment where a modified Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) signature is desired. The yarn and fabrics made from this yarn may be advantageously dyed or printed to provide a camouflage fabric for use in desert sand dominated environments, urban environments and multi-terrain environments.
Claims16
A polymer filament having IR reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of 20% to 65% comprising:
- about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black;
- and polymer, wherein the polymer filament further comprises one of a circular, trilobal or diabolo profiled cross-sectional shapes, wherein further the polymer comprises polyamide or polyester of about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the polymer filament has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.
A process for making a fully drawn yarn (FDY) comprising:
- providing a polymer to a melt extruder, the polymer comprising about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black;
- melting and extruding the polymer through a spinneret plate having a plurality of cross sectionally shaped orifices to form a plurality of filaments;
- quenching and solidifying the filaments;
- converging the filaments into at least one yarn;
- applying a finish to the yarn;
- forwarding the yarn into at least one draw zone;
- stretching the filaments by a factor of at least 1.5 to form a drawn yarn;
- relaxing the drawn yarn;
- and winding the yarn to form a yarn package, wherein the polymer comprises nylon 6,6, nylon 6 or combinations thereof, or polyethylene terephthalate, cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof, wherein further the FDY comprises about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the FDY has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.
A process for making a partially oriented yarn (POY) comprising:
- providing a polymer to a melt extruder, the polymer comprising about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black;
- melting and extruding the polymer through a spinneret plate having a plurality of cross sectionally shaped orifices to form a plurality of filaments;
- quenching and solidifying the filaments;
- converging the filaments into at least one yarn;
- applying a finish to the yarn;
- relaxing the yarn;
- and winding the yarn to form a yarn package, wherein the polymer comprises nylon 6,6, nylon 6 or combinations thereof, or polyethylene terephthalate, cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof, wherein further the POY comprises about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the POY has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.