Fabrics Containing Conformable Low Density Fluoropolymer Fiber Blends

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273134-A1
Application number	US-201615070568-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Fabrics containing hydrophilic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers and at least one non-ePTFE fiber are provided. The fabric provides a combination of high breathability and controlled moisture management. In exemplary embodiments, the fabric may be a woven, knit, or fleece fabric. The fabrics contain at least 15% ePTFE fibers based on the final fabric. The hydrophilic ePTFE fibers in the fabrics may be used to control moisture such as water vapor, liquid water, or sweat within the fabric by storing the moisture within the hydrophilic ePTFE fiber network. Also, little to none of the moisture remains on the outside of the hydrophilic ePTFE fibers, making the fabric feel dry even where there is moisture therein. A polymer membrane and/or a textile may be laminated to the fabric to produce a laminated article.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fabric comprising:
a plurality of hydrophilic, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene fibers (ePTFE) fibers having a density less than about 1.2 g/cm 3 ; and a plurality of non-ePTFE fibers.

2 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprises at least 15% by weight ePTFE fibers.

3 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio greater than 1.

4 . The fabric of claim 3 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have a substantially rectangular cross sectional configuration.

5 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio of about 1.

6 . The fabric of claim 5 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have a substantially round configuration.

7 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have incorporated therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and a high index of refraction material.

8 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have therein an insulative material.

9 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said fabric is selected from a woven fabric and a knit fabric.

10 . The fabric of claim 1 , further comprising a textile affixed to at least one side of said fabric.

11 . The fabric of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer membrane affixed to at least one side of said fabric.

12 . The fabric of claim 1 , wherein said non-ePTFE fibers are selected from the group consisting of rayon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, wool, silk, aramid, polyamide, acrylic, olefin, spandex and combinations thereof.

13 . A woven fabric comprising:
a plurality of warp and weft fibers, at least one of said warp fibers, at least one of said weft fibers, or at least one of said warp and said weft fibers comprising at least one hydrophilic, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fiber having a density less than about 1.2 g/cm 3 ; and a plurality of non-PTFE fibers.

14 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said fabric comprises at least 15% by weight ePTFE fibers.

15 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio greater than 1.

16 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio of about 1.

17 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have incorporated therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and high index of refraction material.

18 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have therein an insulative material.

19 . The fabric of claim 13 , wherein said non-ePTFE fibers are selected from the group consisting of rayon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, wool, silk, aramid, polyamide, acrylic, olefin, spandex and combinations thereof.

20 . A knit fabric comprising:
a plurality of hydrophilic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers having a density less than about 1.2 g/cm 3 and a plurality of non-ePTFE fibers in a knit configuration.

21 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said fabric comprises at least 15% by weight ePTFE fibers.

22 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have therein an insulative material.

23 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio greater than 1.

24 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio of about 1.

25 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have incorporated therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and high index of refraction material.

26 . The fabric of claim 20 , wherein said non-ePTFE fibers are selected from the group consisting of rayon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, wool, silk, aramid, polyamide, acrylic, olefin, spandex and combinations thereof.

27 . An article comprising:
hydrophilic ePTFE fibers; and non-ePTFE fibers, wherein said hydrophilic ePTFE fibers and said non-ePTFE fibers are formed into a fabric.

28 . The article of claim 27 , wherein said non-ePTFE fibers are selected from the group consisting of rayon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, wool, silk, aramid, polyamide, acrylic, olefin, spandex and combinations thereof.

29 . The fabric of claim 27 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have incorporated therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and high index of refraction material.

30 . The article of claim 27 , wherein said fabric comprises at least 15% by weight ePTFE fibers.

31 . The fabric of claim 27 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have therein an insulative material.

32 . The fabric of claim 27 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio greater than 1.

33 . The fabric of claim 27 , wherein said ePTFE fibers have an aspect ratio of about 1.

34 . A fabric comprising:
a plurality of conformable hydrophilic fluoropolymer fibers having a density less than about 1.2 g/cm 3 ; and a plurality of other non-fluoropolymer fibers.

Assignees

• Gore & Ass

Inventors

• Minor David J
• Clough Norman E
• Minor Raymond B

Classifications

• D10B2401/022

  hydrophylic · CPC title

• B32B2262/14

  Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials · CPC title

• D01D5/247

  Discontinuous hollow structure or microporous structure · CPC title

• B32B2262/062

  Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton · CPC title

• A41D31/00

  Materials specially adapted for outerwear · CPC title