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

• US 8,679,627 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Outlast Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Outlast Technologies, Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartmann, Mark, Haggard, Jeffrey S., Magill, Monte Christopher, Brang, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, JILL M
• Application Number:
  US12/652,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20100196707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. 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 polymer base material;

a dispersing polymeric material; and

a raw functional polymeric phase change material dispersed in the dispersing polymeric material, the raw functional polymeric phase change material forming domains within the dispersing polymeric material and having a latent heat of at least 5 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 100°

C., wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature;

wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material dispersed in the dispersing polymeric material forms a plurality of island members and the polymer base material forms at least one sea member surrounding each of the island members.

2. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the dispersing polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyolefin and cellulosic polymers.

3. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, anhydride, amine, epoxide, isocyanate or silane functionality.

4. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a combination of two or more functional groups.

5. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a linear or branched polymer.

6. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a block copolymer formed from polar and non-polar blocks.

7. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a blend of two or more functional polymeric phase change materials.

8. The multi-component fiber of claim 1, wherein the multi-component fiber comprises a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the elongated members being fire resistant.

9. The multi-component fiber of claim 1 wherein the multi-component fiber comprises a plurality of elongated members, at least one of the elongated members comprising a fire retardant.

10. A fiber, comprising:

a body portion, the body portion comprising,

a dispersing polymeric material; and

a raw functional polymeric phase change material dispersed in the dispersing polymeric material, the raw functional polymeric phase change material forming a plurality of island members within the dispersing polymeric material, and the dispersing polymeric material forming at least one sea member surrounding each of the island members, the dispersing polymeric material having a latent heat of at least 5 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 100°

C., wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.

11. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the dispersing polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyolefin and cellulosic polymers.

12. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, anhydride, amine, epoxide, isocyanate or silane functionality.

13. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a combination of two or more functional groups.

14. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a linear or branched polymer.

15. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a block copolymer comprising polar and non-polar blocks.

16. The fiber of claim 10, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a blend of two or more functional polymeric phase change materials.

17. A fabric, comprising:

a plurality of fiber bodies, wherein between 20-50% of the plurality of fiber bodies comprise a first fiber material and wherein between 50-80% of the plurality of fiber bodies comprise a second fiber material, the first fiber material comprising;

a polymeric base material;

a raw functional polymeric phase change material dispersed in the polymeric base material, the raw functional polymeric phase change material forming a plurality of island members and the polymeric base material forming at least one sea member surrounding each of the island members, the raw functional polymeric phase change material having a latent heat of at least 5 J/g and a transition temperature in the range of 0°

C. to 100°

C., wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature; and

wherein the second fiber material comprises a fire resistant material.

18. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material is bound to the polymeric base material via crosslinking.

19. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material is bound to the polymeric base material via entanglement.

20. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material is bound to the polymeric base material via hydrogen bonding.

21. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the polymer base material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyolefin and cellulosic polymers.

22. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, anhydride, amine, epoxide, isocyanate or silane functionality.

23. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a combination of two or more functional groups.

24. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a linear polymer.

25. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a branched polymer.

26. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a block copolymer comprising polar and non-polar blocks.

27. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material includes a blend of two or more functional polymeric phase change materials.

28. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the raw functional polymeric phase change material is blended with a non-functional polymeric phase change material.

29. The fabric of claim 17, further comprising a dispersing polymeric material, wherein the dispersing polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of linear polymers, branched polymers, homopolymers, copolymers or a mixture thereof.

30. The fabric of claim 17, further comprising a dispersing polymeric material, wherein the dispersing polymeric material has at least one functionality.

31. The fabric of claim 17, further comprising a dispersing polymeric material, wherein the dispersing polymeric material is the same material as the polymer base material.