US2015354097A1PendingUtilityA1

Fiber blends with improved moisture management properties

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Assignee: OPTIMER PERFORMANCE FIBERS INCPriority: Dec 10, 2013Filed: Nov 4, 2014Published: Dec 10, 2015
Est. expiryDec 10, 2033(~7.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ashwinkumar Jaju
D10B 2331/04D10B 2201/02D02G 3/441Y10T428/249921D02G 3/04D10B 2501/00D10B 2401/02D01F 6/62
37
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Claims

Abstract

Fiber blends having hydrophobic fibers of both multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers of a single composition are disclosed. Yarns, fabrics, garments, and linens comprising the fiber blends with improved moisture management properties are also disclosed. Fabrics formed from the fiber blends have a water release rate at least about 10% greater than a comparative fabric that is compositionally identical but whose hydrophobic fibers are not both of multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A fiber blend, comprising:
 about 0% by weight to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of a hydrophilic component comprising at least one hydrophilic fiber; and   about 85% by weight to about 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of a hydrophobic component comprising:
 first synthetic hydrophobic fibers having a first composition; and 
 one or more optional second synthetic hydrophobic fibers having a second composition; 
   wherein at least a portion of said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers have multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers; and   wherein said first composition is different than said second composition.   
     
     
         2 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hydrophilic fibers are cellulose, cellulose derivative, wool, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hydrophilic fiber is cotton or rayon.   
     
     
         4 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers are fibers selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polylactide, nylon, polyacrylonitrile, polybenzimidazole, aramid, fluoropolymer, and copolymers thereof.   
     
     
         5 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said at least one second synthetic hydrophobic fibers are present.   
     
     
         6 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said at least one second synthetic hydrophobic fibers are present and said at least one second synthetic hydrophobic fibers are fibers selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polylactide, nylon, polyacrylonitrile, polybenzimidazole, aramid, fluoropolymer, and copolymers thereof.   
     
     
         7 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers are fibers selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon, and modacrylic.   
     
     
         8 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said at least one second synthetic hydrophobic fibers are present and said at least one second synthetic hydrophobic fibers are fibers selected fibers selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon, and modacrylic.   
     
     
         9 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hydrophobic component is a single color.   
     
     
         10 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a portion of said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprise:   a first group of fibers having the same staple length and multiple deniers; and   a second group of fibers having the same denier and multiple staple lengths;   wherein a fiber in said first group may be a fiber in said second group.   
     
     
         11 . A fiber blend of  claim 10 ,
 wherein said first group of fibers and said second group of fibers are substantially the same color.   
     
     
         12 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a portion of said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprises:   a first group of fibers having a first staple length and a first denier; and   a second group of fibers having a second staple length and a second denier;   wherein said first staple length is different than said second staple length; and   wherein said first denier is different than said second denier.   
     
     
         13 . A fiber blend of  claim 12 ,
 wherein said first group of fibers and said second group of fibers are substantially the same color.   
     
     
         14 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hydrophilic component is present at a level of about 10% by weight to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend; and   wherein said hydrophobic component is present at a level of about 85% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend.   
     
     
         15 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprises:   about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a first denier;   about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a second denier;   wherein said first denier is different from said second denier; and   about 0% by weight to about 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of at least one fiber having an additional denier different than said first denier, second denier, and any said additional deniers, if present.   
     
     
         16 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprise:   about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a first staple length;   about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a second staple length;   wherein said first staple length is different from said second staple length; and   about 0% by weight to about 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of at least one fiber having an additional staple length different than said first staple length, second staple length, and any said additional staple lengths, if present.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprise:   about 20 weight % to about 80 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a first denier;   about 20 weight % to about 80 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a second denier; and   about 0 weight % to about 60 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of at least one fiber having an additional denier different than said first denier, second denier, and any said additional deniers, if present.   
     
     
         20 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers comprise:   about 20 weight % to about 80 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a first staple length;   about 20 weight % to about 80 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of a fiber having a second staple length; and   about 0 weight % to about 60 weight %, based on the total weight of the first synthetic hydrophobic fibers, of at least one fiber having an additional staple length different than said first staple length, second staple length, and any said additional staple lengths, if present.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A fiber blend of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said fiber blend is substantially intimately blended.   
     
     
         23 . A fiber blend, comprising:
 about 0% by weight to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of cotton fibers; and   about 85% by weight to about 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of polyethyleneterephthalate fibers;   wherein at least a portion of said polyester fibers have multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.   
     
     
         24 . A fiber blend, comprising:
 about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of cotton fibers;   about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of modacrylic fibers;   about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of nylon fibers;   wherein at least a portion of said modacrylic fibers, at least a portion of said nylon fibers, or at least a portion of both of said modacrylic fibers and said nylon fibers have multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.   
     
     
         25 . A yarn, comprising the fiber blend of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A yarn of  claim 25 ,
 wherein said yarn is a spun yarn.   
     
     
         27 . A yarn of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 at least one antistatic fiber.   
     
     
         28 . A fabric, comprising the yarn of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         29 . A fabric of  claim 28 ,
 wherein said fabric meets the requirement for flame resistance, as set forth in American Society for Testing and Materials Standard Performance Specification ASTM F1506.   
     
     
         30 . A fabric of  claim 28 ,
 wherein said fabric has a water release rate at least about 10% greater than a comparative fabric, as said fabric dries from 20% by weight water to 1% by weight water, when tested in accordance with a modified version of the provisional AATCC Gravimetric Drying Test Method (AATCC/MM TS-05); and   wherein said comparative fabric is compositionally identical to said fabric and whose hydrophobic fibers are not both of multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.   
     
     
         31 . A fabric of  claim 28 ,
 wherein said fabric has a water release rate at least about 10% greater than a comparative fabric, as said fabric is dried from a condition of wet (padded) to less than 1% by weight water, when tested in accordance with a modified version of the provisional AATCC Gravimetric Drying Test Method (AATCC/MM TS-05); and   wherein said comparative fabric is compositionally identical to said fabric and whose hydrophobic fibers are not both of multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.   
     
     
         32 . A fabric of  claim 28 ,
 wherein said fabric has a drying time at least 10% faster than a comparative fabric from 20% by weight water to 1% by weight water in a controlled environment of 70° F. and 55% relative humidity (+/−5% relative humidity), when tested in accordance with a modified version of the provisional AATCC Gravimetric Drying Test Method (AATCC/ASTM MM TS-05); and   wherein said comparative fabric is compositionally identical to said fabric and whose hydrophobic fibers are not both of multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.   
     
     
         33 . A garment, comprising the fabric of  claim 28 . 
     
     
         34 . A linen, comprising the fabric of  claim 28 . 
     
     
         35 . A method of improving the moisture management properties of a fiber blend, comprising:
 intimately blending:   about 0% by weight to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of a hydrophilic component comprising at least one hydrophilic fiber; and   about 85% by weight to about 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the fiber blend, of a hydrophobic component comprising:
 first synthetic hydrophobic fibers having a first composition; and 
 one or more optional second synthetic hydrophobic fibers having a second composition; 
   wherein at least a portion of said first synthetic hydrophobic fibers have multiple staple lengths and multiple deniers.

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