Multi-component fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of manufacturing thereof

• US 7,160,612 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hills Limited (Hills Steadfast Investments Limited), Outlast Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hills Limited (Hills Steadfast Investments Limited), Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: Haggard, Jeffrey S., Hartmann, Mark H., Magill, Monte C.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, NEWTON O
• Application Number:
  US11/078,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20050208300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 428/370, 428/372, 428/373, 428/374
• US Class Current: 428/370
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/24 with a hollow structure; Spinnerette packs therefor D01D5/38 takes precedence; producing tubes of plastic material B29D; addition of agents forming hollow filaments D01F1/08
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/04 from synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/16 with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/023 the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0366 reinforced, e.g. by fibres, fabrics H05K1/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite
• 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 442/2008 Fabric composed of a fiber or strand which is of specific structural definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]

Abstract

Multi-component fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of manufacturing thereof are described. In one embodiment, a multi-component fiber includes a fiber body formed from a set of elongated members, and at least one of the set of elongated members includes a temperature regulating material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 22° C. to 40° C. The temperature regulating material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature. The multi-component fiber can be formed via a melt spinning process or a solution spinning process and can be used or incorporated in various products where a thermal regulating property is desired. For example, the multi-component fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.

Claims

1. A multi-component fiber, comprising:

a fiber body comprising

a first elongated member comprising a phase change material and a plurality of microcapsules that contain the phase change material, the phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a melting point in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C., and

a second elongated member surrounding the first elongated member.

2. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 50 J/g.

3. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the latent heat of the phase change material is at least 60 J/g.

4. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules have sizes in the range of 0.5 to 10 microns.

5. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises a paraffinic hydrocarbon having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms.

6. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the first elongated member further comprises a polymeric material, and the plurality of microcapsules are dispersed within the polymeric material.

7. The multi-component fiber of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material comprises one of a polyacrylic, a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin.

8. The multi-component fiber of claim 6, wherein the first elongated member comprises from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the phase change material and the plurality of microcapsules.

9. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the second elongated member forms an exterior of the fiber body.

10. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the phase change material and the plurality of microcapsules correspond to a first phase change material and a first plurality of microcapsules, respectively, and the second elongated member comprises a second phase change material and a second plurality of microcapsules that contain the second phase change material, the second phase change material having a latent heat of at least 40 J/g and a melting point in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

11. The multi-component fiber of claim 10, wherein the melting point of the first phase change material and the melting point of the second phase change material are different.

12. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the multi-component fiber is formed via one of a melt spinning process and a solution spinning process.