MODIFICATION OF TEXTILE IN SELECTED AREA

Abstract

A laminate for use in a process for strengthening a selected area of a raw textile or manufactured textile product to enhance properties and performance. The process comprising the steps of applying a laminate trimmed to match the selected. area, then placed on the textile and heated in a hot press. The laminate can be comprised of a polymer film and a nonsolvent adhesive. The polymer film can be tailored from a blend of hard acrylic and tough poly-urethane to adjust for rigidity and strength. The adhesive can he a hot melt or pressure sensitive types as well as any type that provides a secure adhesion.

Claims

1. A laminate for use in a process for strengthening a select area of a textile, wherein the laminate is trimmed to match the size and shape of at least one selected area of the textile, wherein the laminate is laid on the corresponding selected area of the textile in a heat press set at 130 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds, and wherein the laminate can be a polymer film laminated to a nonsolvent adhesive.

2. The laminate according to claim 1, wherein the polymer film can be chosen from a blend of acrylic and polyurethane to adjust the rigidity and strength of the textile.

3. The laminate according to claim 1. wherein the polymer film has at least one printable surface for branding.

4. The laminate according to claim 1. wherein the adhesive can be a thermal adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or any type that provides a secure adhesion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a polyurethane film and adhesive individually laminated to a fabric according to the invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a film and adhesive pre-laminated and then applied to a fabric in accordance with the invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows selected area strengthening of laminated film on a fabric in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below

[0028] The present invention comprises a selected area strengthening (“SAS”) process using a film and an adhesive for treatment of textiles or fabrics to enhance properties and performance. Fabric samples were treated with the process and then tested for tensile, tear and abrasion strength. The film and adhesive used in the process were applied either individually, without lamination or were pre-laminated prior to being applied to the samples. The results were compared to the as-received conditions of the samples to establish the effectiveness of the invented process.

[0029] The testing standards applied are listed below in Table 2. The values of peel strength of a polyurethane film are reported as the tensile breaking load of laminated polyurethane film on an SAS treated film.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Properties (unit) Testing Standards Tensile Strength ASTM D5034 Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test) Tear Strength ASTM D2261 Standard Test Method for Tearing Strength of Fabrics by the Tongue (Single Rip) Procedure (Constant-Rate-of-Extension Tensile Testing Machine) Abrasion ASTM D4966 (Martindale) Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of (12 kPa/320 Cw sandpaper) Textile Fabrics (Martindale Abrasion Tester Method) Abrasion (Taber) ASTM D3389 (1000 g/CS10 cycle) Standard Test Method for Coated Fabrics Abrasion Resistance (Rotary Platform Abrader) Peeling strength AATCC 136 (ASTM D2724) Bond Strength of Bonded and Laminated Fabrics

EXAMPLE 1

Individual Film and Thermal Adhesive

[0030] A sheet of 0.03 mm thick polyurethane (PU) film 100 was layered to a sheet of 0.7 mm thick thermal adhesive 102 and were cut to size. The polyurethane/thermal adhesive layup 106 was placed on a sample fabric of 210D weight, of nylon, polyester and elastane blend as shown in FIG. 3. The polyurethane 100/thermal adhesive 102/textile 104 layup was placed in a garment hot press and heated to 130° C. for 30 seconds to laminate the layup (see FIG. 1). Test results comparing as-received and SAS laminated samples are shown below in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Properties of Polyurethane Film Laminated to 210D Blended 210D 75% Nylon-15% Polyester-10% Elastane As-Received SAS Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength 33.7 80.5   46.1 102.5 Tear Strength 6 7.6    7.2  10.9 Abrasion (Martindale, 30 350 12 kPa/320 Cw sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 1000 5000  1000 g/CS10 cycle) Peel Strength, lbf — —  13+ 15+ 

[0031] The tensile and tear strength show slight improvement after the lamination while the abrasion strength shows several folds increase. The peel strength is reported as the force when the film ruptured and is comparable to that for the film tensile strength. The peel strength indicated that the adhesion of film was as strong as the film itself.

EXAMPLE 2

Laminated Polyurethane Film and Thermal Adhesive on Polyester Fabric

[0032] A 0.03 mm thick polyurethane film 100 was roller laminated to a 0.12 mm thick hot melt adhesive (HMA) 108 to form a laminate 110 of PU/HMA. This laminate was cut to shape and laid on top of various weights and types of textile in a garment hot press set at 130° C. for 30 seconds (see FIG. 2). Thermal laminated film/adhesive/textile sheets were examined, and results are presented below in Tables 4 and 5, in which the test results from as-received textiles are included for comparison.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Film on 300D Polyester As-Received SAS 300D Polyester Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile strength, lbf 329 241 342+  234+ Tear strength, lbf 15.3 12.8 11+  8+ Abrasion (Martindale, 40 900 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 2000 5000 1 Kg/CS10) cycles Peel strength, lbf — — 17+  17+

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Film on 600D Polyester As-Received SAS 600D Polyester Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile strength, lbf 242 281 271+  345+  Tear strength, lbf 22.5 25.7 16+ 17+ Abrasion (Martindale, 110 1150 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 1000 5000 1 Kg/H18) cycles Peel strength, lbf — — 22+ 22+

[0033] Fabrics treated with roller pre-laminated PU film/MA showed improve tensile and tear strength. The abrasion resistance of fabric treated with PU/HMA laminate showed several orders of increase. The peel strength of PU/HMA laminate on fabric was very close to the tensile strength of PU film. This indicates the adhesion of laminate was as strong as the PU film.

EXAMPLE 3

Laminated Polyurethane Film and Thermal Adhesive on Nylon Fabrics

[0034] A 0.03 mm thick polyurethane film was roller laminated to a 0.12 mm thick hot melt adhesive (HMA) to form a laminate of PU/HMA. This laminate was cut to shape and laid on top of various weights of nylon-based textile and placed in a garment hot press set at 130° C. for 30 seconds. Thermal laminated film/adhesive/textile sheets were examined, and results are presented below in Tables 6 to 9, in which the test results from as-received textiles are included for comparison.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Film on 70D Nylon As-Received SAS 70D Nylon Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength, lbf 88.8 70.4 76.4+   63.2+ Tear Strength, lbf 4.2 4 5.8+ 5+ Abrasion (Martindale, 10 250 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 17 100 1 Kg/H18) cycles Peel Strength, lbf — — 6+   5+

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Film on 210D Nylon As-Received SAS 210D Nylon Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength, lbf 232.6 183.9 243+ 197+  Tear Strength, lbf 16.3 12.6  9+ 64+ Abrasion (Martindale, 65 290 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 50 3500 1 Kg/H18) cycles Peel Strength, lbf — —  14+ 12+

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Adhesive Film on 500D Nylon As-Received SAS 500D Nylon Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength, lbf 224.4 147.2 313+  285+  Tear Strength, lbf 24.5 24 13+ 11+ Abrasion (Martindale, 65 620 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 100 4000 1 Kg/H18) cycles Peel Strength, lbf — — 24+ 19+

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Adhesive Film on 1000D Nylon As-Received SAS 1000D Nylon Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength, lbf 458.5 395.9  452+ 394+  Tear Strength, lbf 43.7 38.8  26+ 22+ Abrasion (Martindale, 100 1650 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 300 3500 1 Kg/H18) cycles Peel Strength, lbf — 16+  — 13+

[0035] Fabrics treated with roller pre-laminated PU film/HMA showed improved tensile and tear strength. In the case of tensile strength for the lightweight 70D Nylon, it reduced slightly albeit the values are within the test variation ranges. The abrasion resistance of fabric treated with PU/HMA laminate showed several orders of increase. The peel strength of PU/HMA laminate on fabric was very close to the tensile strength of PU film. This indicates the adhesion of laminate was as strong as the PU film.

[0036] Example 4

Laminated Polyurethane Film/Hot Melt Adhesive on Nylon/Polyester Blended Fabric

[0037] A 0.03 mm thick polyurethane film was roller laminated to a 0.12 mm thick hot melt adhesive (HMA) to form a laminate of PU/HMA. This laminate was cut to shape and laid on top of a nylon/polyester based blend textile in a garment hot press set at 130° C. for 30 seconds. Thermal laminated film/adhesive/textile sheets were examined, and results are presented blow in Table 10, in which the test results from as-received textiles are included for comparison.

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Laminated Polyurethane/Hot Melt Adhesive Film on 300D Blend 300D 75% Nylon-15% Polyester-10% Elastane As-Received SAS Warp Weft Warp Weft Tensile Strength, lbf 132 143.2 149.9  148.6  Tear Strength, lbf 5.7 9.8 5.7 8 Abrasion (Martindale, 10 250 12 kPa/320 grit sandpaper) Abrasion (Taber, 1000 5000 1 Kg/CS10) cycles Peel Strength, lbf — — 13+   15+

[0038] Fabrics treated with roller pre-laminated PU film/HMA show improved tensile and tear strength. The abrasion resistance of fabric treated with PU/HMA laminate showed several orders of increase. The peel strength of PU/HMA laminate on fabric was very close to the tensile strength of PU film. This indicates the adhesion of laminate was as strong as the PU film.

[0039] The flexibility of lamination performance enhancing film and the choice of adhesive at the critical area allows textile application to increase its expected service life and maintain the aesthetic appeal. The film and adhesive can be applied in pre-laminated manner to ensure a better adhesion. Applying the film without pre-laminated adhesive though provides the flexibility to select film and adhesive to meet the application demands,

[0040] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.