Semi-absorbent, semi-resistant, breathable fabric

Abstract

A semi-absorbent, semi-resistant, breathable fabric includes a single-layer having a first, hydrophilic side that absorbs water, and a second, hydrophobic side; wherein the first, hydrophilic side of the single-layer fabric quickly spreads out a liquid that is absorbed laterally to a wider area such that the absorbed liquid does not seep or pass through to the second, hydrophobic side of the single-layer fabric under gravitational force. A method of making a semi-absorbent, semi-resistant, breathable fabric includes: subjecting a first side of a single-layer fabric to a hydrophilic amino functional polysiloxane softener; treating a second opposite side of the fabric with a fluorocarbon compound under low pressure such that the fluorocarbon compound penetrates no more than half of the fabric thickness; and drying and curing the fabric, preferably at a temperature of about 145° C. to 155° C. for about three minutes to about five minutes.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of fabricating a semi-absorbent, semi-resistant, breathable single layer of fabric, comprising the steps of:
 (a) subjecting a first side of a single layer of fabric to hydrophilic amino functional polysiloxane softener to impart hydrophilicity to the first side;   (b) treating a second, opposite side of the fabric with a fluorocarbon compound to impart hydrophobicity to the second side, the treatment being performed under low pressure such that the fluorocarbon compound does not penetrate more than 50% of the thickness of the single layer of fabric; and   (c) drying and curing the fabric to obtain the semi-absorbent, semi-resistant, breathable fabric.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further includes the preliminary steps for preparation of the single layer of fabric, comprising the steps of singeing, de-sizing, washing and processing through a conventional bleaching route, and mercerizing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the single layer of fabric is woven from weft yarns and warp yarns, each of which has a uniform absorbency along its length, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties being imparted to the single layer of fabric after the fabric has been woven. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step (c) comprises drying and curing the fabric at a temperature of between 145° C. and 155° C. for a duration of about three minutes to five minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste consisting of an acrylic cross linking polymer; urea; a handle modifier and softener; a synthetic thickening agent; a fixing agent; an antifoaming agent; a liquor ammonia; and water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste comprising 10% by weight of an acrylic cross linking polymer; 3% by weight of urea; 2% by weight of a handle modifier and softener; 1.8% by weight of a synthetic thickening agent; 0.5% by weight of a fixing agent; 0.5% by weight of an antifoaming agent; 1% by weight of a liquor ammonia; and 81.2% by weight of water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio of fluorocarbon emulsion to the paste is 25:75 by weight. 
     
     
         16 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising knitting the single layer of fabric as a preliminary step. 
     
     
         30 . A method of fabricating a semi-absorbent, semi-resistant fabric, comprising the steps of:
 (a) weaving from weft yarns and warp yarns a single-layer fabric, each of which yarns has a uniform absorbency along its length; and   (b) imparting hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties to first and second opposite sides of the single-layer fabric after the fabric has been woven by,
 (i) subjecting the first side to hydrophilic amino functional polysiloxane softener to impart hydrophilicity to the first side, 
 (ii) treating the second side with a fluorocarbon compound to impart hydrophobicity to the second side, and 
 (iii) drying and curing the single-layer fabric to obtain the semi-absorbent, semi-resistant fabric. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said step (b)(ii) is performed under low pressure such that the fluorocarbon compound does not penetrate more than 50% of the thickness of the single-layer fabric. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said step (c) comprises drying and curing the fabric at a temperature of between 145° C. and 155° C. for a duration of about three minutes to five minutes. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste consisting of an acrylic cross linking polymer; urea; a handle modifier and softener; a synthetic thickening agent; a fixing agent; an antifoaming agent; a liquor ammonia; and water. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste comprising 10% by weight of an acrylic cross linking polymer; 3% by weight of urea; 2% by weight of a handle modifier and softener; 1.8% by weight of a synthetic thickening agent; 0.5% by weight of a fixing agent; 0.5% by weight of an antifoaming agent; 1% by weight of a liquor ammonia; and 81.2% by weight of water. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the ratio of fluorocarbon emulsion to the paste is 25:75 by weight. 
     
     
         36 . A method of fabricating a semi-absorbent, semi-resistant fabric, comprising the steps of:
 (a) weaving from weft yarns and warp yarns a single-layer fabric,
 (i) such that the single-layer fabric has first and second opposite sides, wherein each side has a respective depth, with the combined depths defining the thickness of the single-layer fabric, and 
 (ii) such that each yarn extends on and defines part of the first side and extends on and defines part of the second side of the single-layer fabric; and 
   (b) imparting hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties to the first and second opposite sides of the single-layer fabric after the fabric has been woven such that a gradient exists with respect to water absorbency properties in a direction along the thickness of the single-layer fabric by,
 (i) subjecting the first side to hydrophilic amino functional polysiloxane softener to impart hydrophilicity to the first side, 
 (ii) treating the second side with a fluorocarbon compound to impart hydrophobicity to the second side, and 
 (iii) drying and curing the single-layer fabric to obtain the semi-absorbent, semi-resistant fabric. 
   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step (b)(ii) is performed under low pressure such that the fluorocarbon compound does not penetrate more than 50% of the thickness of the single-layer fabric. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step (c) comprises drying and curing the fabric at a temperature of between 145° C. and 155° C. for a duration of about three minutes to five minutes. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste consisting of an acrylic cross linking polymer; urea; a handle modifier and softener; a synthetic thickening agent; a fixing agent; an antifoaming agent; a liquor ammonia; and water. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the fluorocarbon compound comprises: (i) a fluorocarbon emulsion, and (ii) a paste comprising 10% by weight of an acrylic cross linking polymer; 3% by weight of urea; 2% by weight of a handle modifier and softener; 1.8% by weight of a synthetic thickening agent; 0.5% by weight of a fixing agent; 0.5% by weight of an antifoaming agent; 1% by weight of a liquor ammonia; and 81.2% by weight of water. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the ratio of fluorocarbon emulsion to the paste is 25:75 by weight.