Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Functional Staple Fiber

Abstract

A method for fabricating functional staple fiber is disclosed. A non-woven fabric substrate is provided. A metal layer or a metal oxide layer is sputtered on the surface of the non-woven fabric to obtain a complex fabric. The complex fabric is carded and becomes a plurality of functional staple fibers. An apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fabricating functional staple fiber, comprising the steps of:
 providing a non-woven fabric substrate;   sputtering at least one metal layer or at least one metal oxide layer on the non-woven fabric substrate to obtain a complex fabric; and   carding the complex fabric to transform the complex fabric into a plurality of functional staple fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of blending the functional staple fibers with a plurality of base fibers for obtaining a functional yarn. 
     
     
         3 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the functional staple fibers is less than 500 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the metal layer is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Fe, Zn, Ni, Ti, Al, Au, Pd, Ge, Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ga, In, Sn, TI, Pb, Bi, and the combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the metal oxide layer is selected from the group consisting of oxide of Ag, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Fe, Zn, Ni, Ti, Al, Au, Pd, Ge, Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ga, In, Sn, TI, Pb, Bi, and the combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the least one metal layer or the least one metal oxide layer is sputtered on a single surface of the non-woven fabric substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the least one metal layer or the least one metal oxide layer is sputtered on opposite surfaces of the non-woven fabric substrate. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber, comprising:
 a conveying device for conveying a non-woven fabric substrate;   a sputtering device for sputtering at least one metal layer or at least one metal oxide layer on the non-woven fabric substrate to obtain a complex fabric; and   a carding device for carding the complex fabric to transform the complex fabric into a plurality of functional staple fibers.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , further comprising a blending device for blending the functional staple fibers with a plurality of base fibers to obtain a functional yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the functional staple fibers is less than 500 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , wherein a material of the metal layer is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Fe, Zn, Ni, Ti, Al, Au, Pd, Ge, Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ga, In, Sn, TI, Pb, Bi, and the combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , wherein a material of the metal oxide layer is selected from the group consisting of oxide of Ag, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Fe, Zn, Ni, Ti, Al, Au, Pd, Ge, Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ga, In, Sn, TI, Pb, Bi, and the combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , wherein the least one metal layer or the least one metal oxide layer is sputtered on a single surface of the non-woven fabric substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for fabricating functional staple fiber of  claim 8 , wherein the least one metal layer or the least one metal oxide layer is sputtered on opposite surfaces of the non-woven fabric substrate.