Functional composite garment materials

Abstract

Composite materials for use in garments or footwear, and a process for manufacture, and use thereof. Composite materials may have one or more functional properties including water repellency, antimicrobial function, insulation, moisture wicking, directional moisture transfer, body heat reflection, exterior heat reflection, body heat redistribution through conduction, as well as prevention of body heat loss through heat conduction.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A heat reflective composite comprising:
 a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;   a second substrate having a first surface and a second surface;   the second substrate arranged such that the first surface of the second substrate is oriented toward the second surface of the first substrate of the first substrate;   an infrared reflective material deposited on at least one surface of the second substrate; and   wherein a coating is applied to at least one surface of the first substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the coating applied to the first substrate comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         4 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the first substrate is deposited with a further infrared reflective material. 
     
     
         5 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the infrared-reflective material comprises at least one material selected from the following group: aluminum, gold, silver, zinc, tin, lead, copper, AgGe, CuZn, CuSn, CuAg, CuAgSn, metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the composite further comprises a moisture vapor permeable, substantially liquid impermeable, non-porous material. 
     
     
         7 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein a protective coating is at least one of; applied to the infrared-reflective material, and formed on the infrared-reflective material. 
     
     
         8 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein infrared-reflective material includes an aluminium oxide protective coating. 
     
     
         9 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is coated with a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         10 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the composite further comprises an insulation layer disposed adjacent to the infrared-reflective material, and the insulation layer comprises at least one gap to expose a portion of the infrared-reflective material. 
     
     
         11 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is a non-woven material. 
     
     
         12 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 2 , wherein the infrared-reflective material is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate. 
     
     
         13 . A heat reflective composite comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a moisture vapor permeable material;   an insulating layer positioned adjacent to the first substrate, the insulating layer comprising an open-structured textile such that the substrate is exposed through gaps in the textile; and   a reflective layer comprised of an infrared-reflective metallic material deposited on the coating layer.   
     
     
         14 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein a second coating layer comprising a functional material is deposited on the insulating layer such that it covers the insulating layer and surfaces of the infrared-reflective metallic material exposed through the gaps. 
     
     
         15 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein the infrared-reflective metallic material has an emissivity between 0.018 and 0.057 and comprises one or more of a metal, metal alloy, or metal oxide, gold, silver, zinc, tin, lead, copper, AgGe, CuZn, CuSn, CuAg, CuAgSn, or any alloy, oxide, or combination of these materials. 
     
     
         16 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein a second substrate is positioned adjacent the insulating layer. 
     
     
         17 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 14 , wherein portions of the surface of the second substrate are exposed though the gaps of the insulating layer. 
     
     
         18 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein the reflective layer comprises a protective coating. 
     
     
         19 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 18 , wherein the protective coating is a metal oxide coating. 
     
     
         20 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein the first substrate further comprises a functional coating applied thereto. 
     
     
         21 . The heat reflective composite of  claim 13 , wherein the insulation layer is a spacer fabric.