Laser-Treated Fabric

Abstract

A laser-treated fabric including a body side and a face side has a plurality of pores located on at least some fibers on at least the body side of the fabric and at least one chemical additive embedded within or anchored to the plurality of pores. The pores have a pore size of from about 1 nm to about 20 μm. Garments including the laser-treated fabric are also described. The fabric in the garment may be laser-treated such that the plurality of pores are located in discrete regions of the fabric. Methods for treating a fabric are also described. The chemical additive in the laser-treated fabrics is more durable than in non-laser-treated fabrics have a chemical additive applied on only the surface of the fabric.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser-treated fabric having a body side and a face side, comprising:
 a plurality of pores located on at least some fibers on at least the body side of the fabric; and   at least one chemical additive embedded within or anchored to the plurality of pores,   wherein the pores have a pore size of from about 1 nm to about 20 μm.   
     
     
         2 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are formed by applying a laser treatment to at least the body side of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the body side of the fabric has an increased surface area as compared to a substantially similar fabric that has not been subjected to a laser treatment. 
     
     
         4 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the body side of the fabric has an enhanced microclimate as compared to a substantially similar fabric that has not been subjected to a laser treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores is located on both the body side and the face side of the fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of pores on both the body side and the face side of the fabric are formed by applying a laser treatment to both the body side and the face side of the fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein the natural fibers comprise cotton, wool, leather, silk or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 7 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise viscose, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, modacrylic, aramid, polybenzimidazole (PBI), polybenzoxazole (PBO), melamine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical additive is cured. 
     
     
         11 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical additive comprises silver, titanium dioxide, zinc peroxide, aerogel, keratin or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical additive is in the form of nanoparticles or microparticles, and the nanoparticles or microparticles are embedded within or anchored to the plurality of pores. 
     
     
         13 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one chemical additive comprises cellulose nano crystals (CNC), cellulose nano filaments (CNF) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has improved properties as compared to a substantially similar fabric that has not been subjected to a laser treatment, wherein the improved properties include one or more of antibacterial properties, odor control properties, ultraviolet (UV) protection, moisture transport properties, antistatic properties, thermal insulation properties, shrink resistance, abrasion resistance, and stain repellant properties. 
     
     
         15 . The laser-treated fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chemical additive in the fabric exhibits improved wash fastness as compared to a chemical additive in a substantially similar fabric that has not been subjected to a laser treatment. 
     
     
         16 . A garment comprising a laser-treated fabric, the laser-treated fabric having a body side and a face side and comprising:
 a plurality of pores located on at least some fibers on at least the body side of the fabric; and   at least one chemical additive embedded within or anchored to the plurality of pores,   wherein the pores have a pore size of from about 1 nm to about 20 μm.   
     
     
         17 . The garment according to  claim 16 , wherein the fabric is laser-treated such that the plurality of pores are located in discrete regions of the fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The garment according to  claim 16 , wherein the garment is a shirt or a jacket and the discrete regions comprise one or more of a shirt collar region, a shirt cuff region or a shirt armpit region. 
     
     
         19 . The garment according to  claim 16 , wherein the garment is pants and the discrete regions comprise one or more of a knee region or a crotch region. 
     
     
         20 . A method for treating a fabric, the fabric having a body side and a face side, the method comprising:
 applying a laser treatment to at least the body side of the fabric to form a plurality of pores on fibers of at least the body side of the fabric; and   applying at least one chemical additive to the fabric such that the at least one chemical additive is embedded within or anchored to the plurality of pores,   wherein the pores have a pore size of from about 1 nm to about 20 μm.