Lightweight cooling fabric and articles made therefrom

Abstract

A lightweight knit fabric, has a knit structure prepared from at least 80 wt % of one or more yarns having a hydrophobic surface containing less than 1 part hydroxyl group per 10 million parts of (co)polymer forming the one or more yarns, and articles prepared therefrom, which provide efficient moisture transport and cooling effects on a subject in contact therewith.

1 . A lightweight knit fabric, comprising a knit structure prepared from at least 80 wt % of one or more yarns having a hydrophobic surface containing less than 1 part hydroxyl groups per 10 million parts of (co)polymer forming the one or more yarns. 
     
     
         2 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more yarns is a yarn prepared from at least 70 wt % linear low density polyolefin. 
     
     
         3 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the yarn is linear low density polyethylene, optionally containing up to 30 wt % of one or more α-olefin comonomers. 
     
     
         4 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more α-olefin comonomers is at least one member selected from the group consisting of propylene, n-butene, n-hexane, and n-octene. 
     
     
         5 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more γ-olefin comonomers is present in an amount of 10 to 30 wt %, based on total yarn weight. 
     
     
         6 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the linear low density polyolefin has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more. 
     
     
         7 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more yams has no surface hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         8 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the knit fabric is made using a linear stitch or a jersey stitch. 
     
     
         9 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a fabric weight of 10 ounces per square yard (OPSY). 
     
     
         10 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises up to 4 wt % of an elastomeric yarn. 
     
     
         11 . The lightweight knit fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the linear low density polyolefin is linear low density polyethylene, optionally containing up to 30 wt % of one or more α-olefin comonomers. 
     
     
         12 . An article prepared from the lightweight knit fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the article is a garment. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the garment is a member selected from the group consisting of shirts, undergarments, socks, leggings, and tights. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the garment is a shirt. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the shirt is a short-sleeved shirt. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the shirt is a long-sleeved shirt. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the article is a member selected from bed sheets, pillowcases, and bandages.