METAL-COATED FIBER

• US 20090181592A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. (CHA Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. (CHA Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dugan, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/301
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/449 Yarns or threads with antibacterial properties filaments containing agents inhibiting growth of microorganisms D01F1/103
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4334 Polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/435 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43828 sheath-core
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43832 side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43912 fibres with noncircular cross-sections
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/83 with metals; with metal-generating compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls; Reduction of metal compounds on textiles
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2902 Channel shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2907 with coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2915 including textile, cloth or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2931 Fibers or filaments nonconcentric [e.g., side-by-side or eccentric, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/294 including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2965 : Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2967 : Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2969 : Polyamide, polyimide or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 : Surface characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3146 : Strand material is composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 : Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/444 : Strand is a monofilament composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/609 : Cross-sectional configuration of strand or fiber material is specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/637 : Including strand or fiber material which is a monofilament composed of two or more polymeric materials in physically distinct relationship [e.g., sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-sea, fibrils-in-matrix, etc.] or composed of physical blend of chemically different polymeric materials or a physical blend of a polymeric material and a filler material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/638 : Side-by-side multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 : Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

A multicomponent fiber having a metal phobic component and a metal philic component that allows for the selective distribution of metal across the surface of the fiber is disclosed. The inventive multicomponent fibers may be used in fabrics and other products manufactured therefrom for economically imparting at least one of an antistatic quality, antimicrobial and antifungal efficacy, and ultraviolet and/or electromagnetic radiation shielding.

Claims

1. A multicomponent fiber having an outer surface and comprising a first fiber component that is metal philic and at least one further fiber component that is metal phobic, wherein the first fiber component comprises about 0.5% to about 85% of the total area of the outer surface of the fiber and the at least one further fiber component comprises the remaining area of the outer surface of the fiber, and wherein the fiber further comprises a metal component coated on the outer surface of the fiber substantially only on the portion of the surface comprising the first fiber component.

2. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the first fiber component comprises about 0.5% to about 49% of the total area of the outer surface of the fiber.

3. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the metal component is selected from the group consisting of elemental metal;

a salt comprising the metal;

a metal oxide;

a matrix particle comprising the metal;

a coating medium comprising at least one of elemental metal, salt comprising the metal, a metal oxide, and matrix particle comprising the metal;

a precursor to a metallization operation; and

combinations thereof.

4. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the metal component is any electrically conductive metal.

5. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the metal component is any antimicrobial metal.

6. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1 the metal component comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, nickel, gold, platinum, copper, aluminum, iron, iron compounds, palladium, tin, zinc, and any combination thereof.

7. The multicomponent fiber of claim 6, wherein the metal component comprises silver.

8. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the multicomponent fiber has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of pie-wedge, side-by-side, and combinations thereof.

9. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the at least one further fiber component comprises a polyester.

10. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the at least one further fiber component is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.

11. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the first fiber component comprises a polyamide.

12. The multicomponent fiber of claim 1, wherein the first fiber component is nylon 6.

13. The multicomponent fiber of claim 10, wherein the at least one further fiber component is polyethylene terephthalate.

14. A fabric comprising the multicomponent fiber of claim 1.

15. The fabric of claim 14, wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a knitted fabric, and any combination thereof.

16. A product of manufacture comprising the multicomponent fiber of claim 1.

17. The product of manufacture of claim 16 comprising an electrically conductive article of clothing.