Cellulosic fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of forming thereof

• US 7,244,497 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Outlast Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartmann, Mark Henry, Worley, James Brice
• Primary Examiner(s): Salvatore; Lynda
• Application Number:
  US10/638,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20040126555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 428/357, 428/373, 428/374, 428/393, 428/402, 428/402.2, 428/402.21, 428/401
• US Class Current: 428/373
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 2/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/02 from cellulose, cellulose derivatives, or proteins
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/04 from synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4258 Regenerated cellulose series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43828 sheath-core
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4383 sea-island
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43832 side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/54 by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving in combination with needling D04H1/485
• 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: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249938 Composite or conjugate fiber [e.g., fiber contains more than one chemically different material in monofilament or multifilament form, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249947 Polymeric fiber
• 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 428/2965 Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 Physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• 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 442/64 : Islands-in-sea multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/641 : Sheath-core multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/642 : Strand or fiber material is a blend of polymeric material and a filler material

Abstract

Cellulosic fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of forming such cellulosic fibers are described. In one embodiment, a cellulosic fiber includes a fiber body formed of an elongated member. The elongated member includes a cellulosic material and a temperature regulating material dispersed within the cellulosic material. The temperature regulating material includes a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of −5° C. to 125° C. The cellulosic fiber can be formed via a solution spinning process and can be used in various products where thermal regulating properties are desired. For example, the cellulosic fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.

Claims

1. A cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties, comprising:

a fiber body formed of an elongated member, the elongated member including a blend of a cellulosic material and a non-encapsulated phase change material, the non-encapsulated phase change material forming a plurality of domains dispersed within the cellulosic material, the non-encapsulated phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 15°

C. to 45°

C., the non-encapsulated phase change material providing thermal regulation based on at least one of melting and crystallization of the non-encapsulated phase change material at the transition temperature.

2. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic material includes one of cellulose and cellulose acetate.

3. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the transition temperature of the non-encapsulated phase change material is in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

4. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the non-encapsulated phase change material includes a paraffinic hydrocarbon having 16 to 22 carbon atoms.

5. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the non-encapsulated phase change material includes one of a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene oxide, a polytetramethylene glycol, and a polyester.

6. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the domains are substantially uniformly dispersed within the cellulosic material.

7. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the elongated member includes from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the non-encapsulated phase change material.

8. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber body is formed of a plurality of elongated members, the plurality of elongated members including the elongated member.

9. The cellulosic fiber of claim 8, wherein the plurality of elongated members are arranged in one of an island-in-sea configuration, a segmented-pie configuration, a core-sheath configuration, a side-by-side configuration, and a striped configuration.

10. The cellulosic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber body is between 0.1 and 100 denier.

11. A cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties, comprising:

a first elongated member, the first elongated member including a first cellulosic material and a temperature regulating material dispersed within the first cellulosic material, the temperature regulating material including a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 50°

C.; and

a second elongated member coupled to the first elongated member, the second elongated member including a second cellulosic material.

12. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first cellulosic material and the second cellulosic material includes cellulose.

13. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first cellulosic material and the second cellulosic material includes cellulose acetate.

14. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

15. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the phase change material includes a paraffinic hydrocarbon having 13 to 28 carbon atoms.

16. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the phase change material is a solid/solid phase change material.

17. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the phase change material is a polymeric phase change material.

18. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the temperature regulating material further includes a plurality of microcapsules that contain the phase change material.

19. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the first elongated member includes from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the temperature regulating material.

20. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the temperature regulating material is a first temperature regulating material, the phase change material is a first phase change material, the second elongated member further includes a second temperature regulating material dispersed within the second cellulosic material, and the second temperature regulating material includes a second phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 50°

C.

21. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the first elongated member is positioned within and surrounded by the second elongated member.

22. The cellulosic fiber of claim 11, wherein the first elongated member substantially extends through a length of the cellulosic fiber, and the second elongated member surrounds the first elongated member and forms an exterior of the cellulosic fiber.

23. A cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties, comprising:

a core member, the core member including a core polymeric material and a phase change material dispersed within the core polymeric material, the phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 15°

C. to 45°

C.; and

a sheath member surrounding the core member and forming an exterior of the cellulosic fiber, the sheath member including a sheath cellulosic material.

24. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

25. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the phase change material is a polymeric phase change material.

26. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the phase change material includes one of a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene oxide, a polytetramethylene glycol, and a polyester.

27. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the core polymeric material is a core cellulosic material, and the phase change material is dispersed within the core cellulosic material.

28. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein the core member is formed from a blend of the core cellulosic material and the phase change material.

29. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein at least one of the core cellulosic material and the sheath cellulosic material includes cellulose.

30. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein at least one of the core cellulosic material and the sheath cellulosic material includes cellulose acetate.

31. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein the core cellulosic material and the sheath cellulosic material are different.

32. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein the core member further includes a containment structure that contains the phase change material, and the containment structure is dispersed within the core cellulosic material.

33. The cellulosic fiber of claim 32, wherein the containment structure includes a plurality of microcapsules having diameters in the range of 0.5 to 3 microns.

34. The cellulosic fiber of claim 27, wherein the core member includes from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the phase change material.

35. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the core member is concentrically positioned within the sheath member.

36. The cellulosic fiber of claim 23, wherein the core member is eccentrically positioned within the sheath member.

37. A cellulosic fiber having enhanced reversible thermal properties, comprising:

a plurality of island members, at least one island member of the plurality of island members including a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of 15°

C. to 45°

C.; and

a sea member surrounding each of the plurality of island members and forming an exterior of the cellulosic fiber, the sea member including a sea cellulosic material.

38. The cellulosic fiber of claim 37, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

39. The cellulosic fiber of claim 38, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is in the range of 22°

C. to 28°

C.

40. The cellulosic fiber of claim 37, wherein the phase change material is a polymeric phase change material having a melting temperature in the range of 22°

C. to 40°

C.

41. The cellulosic fiber of claim 37, wherein the at least one island member further includes an island cellulosic material, and the phase change material is dispersed within the island cellulosic material.

42. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein the at least one island member is formed from a blend of the island cellulosics material and the phase change material.

43. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein at least one of the island cellulosic material and the sea cellulosic material includes cellulose.

44. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein at least one of the island cellulosic material and the cellulosics material includes cellulose acetate.

45. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein the island cellulosic material and the sea cellulosic material are different.

46. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein the at least one island member further includes a plurality of microcapsules that contain the phase change material, and the plurality of microcapsules are dispersed within the island cellulosic material.

47. The cellulosic fiber of claim 41, wherein the at least one island member includes from 10 percent to 30 percent by weight of the phase change material.

48. The cellulosic fiber of claim 47, wherein the at least one island member includes from 15 percent to 25 percent by weight of the phase change material.

49. The cellulosic fiber of claim 37, wherein the phase change material is an island phase change material, the sea member further includes a sea phase change material dispersed within the sea cellulosic material, and the sea phase change material has a transition temperature in the range of 15°

C. to 45°

C.

50. The cellulosic fiber of claim 49, wherein the island phase change material and the sea phase change material are different.

51. The cellulosic fiber of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of island members substantially extends through a length of the cellulosic fiber.