Polymer fibers, fabrics and equipment with a modified near infrared reflectance signature

Abstract

A modified synthetic polymer filament and multifilament yarn of polyamide or polyester filament containing a carbon black polymer additive, and fabrics from these yarns, are disclosed. These melt spun filaments are especially well-suited for use in garments and equipment where a modified Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) signature is desired. The yarn and fabrics made from this yarn may be advantageously dyed or printed to provide a camouflage fabric for use in desert sand dominated environments, urban environments and multi-terrain environments.

1 . A polymer filament having IR reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of 20% to 65% comprising: about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black; 
 and polymer, wherein the polymer filament further comprises one of a circular, trilobal or diabolo profiled cross-sectional shapes, wherein further the polymer comprises polyamide or polyester of about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the polymer filament has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.    
     
     
         2 . The polymer filament of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamide comprises nylon 6,6 or nylon 6 or combinations thereof, and the polyester comprises polyethylene terephthalate or cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The polymer filament of  claim 1  comprising about 3 to about 8 dpf and about 10 to about 150 ppm carbon black.  
     
     
         4 . The polymer filament of  claim 1  comprising about 0.7 to about 2.9 dpf and about 100 to about 300 ppm carbon black.  
     
     
         5 . The polymer filament of  claim 1  further comprising a dye.  
     
     
         6 . The polymer filament of  claim 5 , wherein the dye comprises Light Tan 492.  
     
     
         7 . The polymer filament of  claim 5 , further comprising a print pattern.  
     
     
         8 . The polymer filament of  claim 7 , wherein the print pattern comprises a light color with low reflectance in the NIR such as the U.S. Army 3-day desert print.  
     
     
         9 . A multifilament yarn comprising the polymer filament of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The multifilament yarn of  claim 9  further comprising a fully drawn yarn (FDY).  
     
     
         11 . The multifilament yarn of  claim 9  further comprising a partially oriented yarn (POY).  
     
     
         12 . A process for making a fully drawn yarn (FDY) comprising: providing a polymer to a melt extruder, the polymer comprising about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black; melting and extruding the polymer through a spinneret plate having a plurality of cross sectionally shaped orifices to form a plurality of filaments; quenching and solidifying the filaments; converging the filaments into at least one yarn; applying a finish to the yarn; forwarding the yarn into at least one draw zone; stretching the filaments by a factor of at least 1.5 to form a drawn yarn; relaxing the drawn yarn; and winding the yarn to form a yarn package, wherein the polymer comprises nylon 6,6, nylon 6 or combinations thereof, or polyethylene terephthalate, cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof, wherein further the FDY comprises about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the FDY has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.  
     
     
         13 . A process for making a partially oriented yarn (POY) comprising: providing a polymer to a melt extruder, the polymer comprising about 10 to less than 500 ppm carbon black; melting and extruding the polymer through a spinneret plate having a plurality of cross sectionally shaped orifices to form a plurality of filaments; quenching and solidifying the filaments; converging the filaments into at least one yarn; applying a finish to the yarn; relaxing the yarn; and winding the yarn to form a yarn package, wherein the polymer comprises nylon 6,6, nylon 6 or combinations thereof, or polyethylene terephthalate, cationic modified polyesters comprising 5-sulfo-isophthalic acid comonomer or combinations thereof, wherein further the POY comprises about 0.7 to about 8 dpf, wherein further the POY has near infra-red reflectance in the range of 600 nm to 900 nm of about 20% to about 65%.  
     
     
         14 . A fabric comprising the polymer filament of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A garment comprising the fabric of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15  comprising a jacket, a rucksack, a ballistic vest or boots.