DUAL ACTION HEAT MANAGEMENT TREATMENT FORMULATIONS FOR TEXTILES

Abstract

Thermoregulating aqueous textile coating formulation or precursor thereof including at least one hydro-functional polymer as well as at least one encapsulated functional phase change material.

Claims

1. Thermoregulating aqueous textile coating formulation or precursor thereof comprising at least one hydro-functional polymer as well as at least one encapsulated functional phase change material.

2. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one hydro-functional polymer is in the range of 0.1-20% by weight, or 0.2-10% by weight, or in the range of 0.25-5% by weight or 0.3-2% by weight; and/or wherein the concentration of the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material is in the range of 1-40% by weight, or in the range of 2-30% by weight or 5-25% by weight; and/or wherein the weight percent ratio between the hydro-functional polymer and the encapsulated functional phase change material is in the range of 1:2-1:50, or in the range of 1:4-1:45 or in the range of 1:5-1:40.

3. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein it consists of the following components: (A) 0.1-20% by weight, or 0.25-5% by weight of at least one hydro-functional polymer; (B) 1-40% by weight, or 2-30% by weight of at least one encapsulated functional phase change material; (C) 0-30% by weight, or 0.1-25% by weight of further additives different from (A), (B) and (D); (D) 40-90% by weight, or 55-85% by weight of solvent, including water wherein the components (A)-(D) sum up to 100% by weight of the coating formulation or precursor thereof.

4. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein component (C) is present in the formulation in a proportion in the range of 0.1-30% by weight, or in the range of 0.1-25% by weight or 0.1-20% by weight, in particular in case of a precursor coating formulation; and/or wherein the further additives of component (C) are selected from the group consisting of: defoamers, including those selected as silicone-based defoamers, or a mixture thereof; softeners, including those selected as polysiloxane based softener emulsions, or a mixture thereof; metal salts, including those selected as NaCl, further ionic strengths modifiers (alkali or earth alkali salts), or mixtures thereof; binders, including acrylate-based binders, or a mixture thereof; colourants; surfactants, rheology modifiers including thickeners; antioxidants, buffers (pH regulation), antimicrobial formulations, natural oil emulsions, probiotic formulations or mixtures thereof.

5. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hydro-functional polymer is a PPG/PEG block-copolymer (I) or a mixture thereof: ##STR00002## wherein the average value of x is in the range of 27-63, or in the range of 37-45; the average value of y is in the range of y is in the range of 6-11, wherein the value of y in the left and in the right structural moiety as represented above can be different but within that range; R and R are selected, independently from each other, from the group consisting of: hydrogen, saturated or at least partly unsaturated linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon chain with 1-18 carbon atoms, in which one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of: nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur; and wherein the PPG/PEG block-copolymer (I) has a DSC-melting point (peak value) according to DIN ISO 11357 in the range of 15-37 C., wherein the average value of x can be in the range of 38-42, or in the range of 39-41.

6. Coating formulation according to claim 5, wherein the average value of y is in the range of 7-10, or in the range of 8-9, and wherein the values of y in the left and in the right structural moiety as represented above can be the same, or x is 41 and y is 9 and/or wherein R and R are selected, independently from each other, from the group consisting of: hydrogen, saturated or at least partly unsaturated linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon chain with 1-6 carbon atoms, including those selected from the group: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 3-methylbut-2-yl, 2-methylbut-2-yl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, at least one of R and R can be selected not to be hydrogen and/or wherein R and R are selected, independently from each other, from the group consisting of: hydrogen, n-butyl, wherein R can be selected to be n-butyl and R can be selected to be hydrogen and/or wherein the PPG/PEG block-copolymer (I) has a DSC-melting point according to DIN ISO 11357 in the range of 20-35 C., or in the range of 25-33 C., and/or wherein the onset in of the peak in the DSC is below 0 C. and/or wherein the end of the peak in the DSC is below 50 C., or below 45 C.; and/or wherein the full width at half height of the peak is smaller than 20 C., or smaller than 15 C.; and/or wherein the peak in the DSC is bimodal or monomodal.

7. Formulation according to claim 5, wherein the total average molecular weight of the PPG/PEG block-copolymer (I) is in the range of 2500-3200 Da, or in the range of 2750-3000 Da, and if R is selected to be n-butyl and R is selected to be hydrogen, the average molecular weight can be in the range of 2750-2950 Da, and if RR and selected to be n-butyl the average molecular weight can be in the range of 2800-3000 Da, and/or wherein PPG/PEG block-copolymer (I) is present in the formulation in unencapsulated form, and/or wherein the viscosity of the formulation as to be used for printing application has a viscosity between 12,000 and 20,000 centipoises (cPs).

8. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material is a microencapsulated functional polymeric phase change material, and/or wherein the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material is a functional polymeric phase change material with at least one crystallizable section, including those comprising a backbone and side chains, wherein the side chains can form a crystallizable section, and/or wherein the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material is a functional polymeric phase change material with a molecular weight of at least 500 Daltons, or at least 2000 Daltons, wherein the weight of crystallizable sections can make up at least 20%, or at least 50%, or at least 70% of the total weight of the functional polymeric phase change material.

9. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material has a single-phase change temperature or multiple such temperatures, wherein it can have at least one phase change temperature in the range between 10 C. and 100 C., or in the range of 10 C. and 60 C. and/or a phase change enthalpy of at least 25 J/g.

10. Coating formulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one encapsulated functional phase change material is selected from the group consisting of: paraffinic, vinylic, glycolic, olefinic, acrylate, methacrylate, including systems based on at least one of (longchain) polyacrylate or polymethacrylate, (longchain) alkyl vinyl ester, (longchain) vinyl ether, (longchain) alkyl olefins.

11. Method of using a formulation according to claim 1 for the coating of fibers and/or textiles, wherein the fibers and/or textiles can be based on cotton, hemp, flax, lyocell, rayon, jute, wool, polyester, polyamide, modacrylic, olefinic, acrylic, or a mixture and/or blend thereof, to impart a thermoregulating effect.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the textiles are cotton or cotton-based textiles, including those with thread count higher than 250 and 70 singles yarn count, and wherein the formulation can be applied by (patterned) printing, including (roll) screen printing, wherein the viscosity of the formulation as to be used for printing application can have a viscosity between 12,000 and 20,000 centipoises (cPs), wherein the coverage area of the printing can be in the range of 70-80% of the full area, wherein the dry add on (DAO) of the formulation can be in the range of 5-30 g/m.sup.2, or 10-20 g/m.sup.2, wherein before treatment with the formulation the textiles can be treated with a softener formulation and/or cationic fixer formulation, including those based on quaternary polyamine systems.

13. Method for treatment of cotton or cotton-based textiles with a formulation according to claim 1, including impart a thermoregulating effect.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein subsequent to the treatment with the formulation the textiles are subjected to at least one of the following post-treatments after drying: padding, sanforization, compacting, calendaring, decatizing, raising, emerizing, condensation of crosslinkers or self-crosslinking polymers.

15. Cotton or cotton based, including woven textile treated with a formulation according to claim 1, including woven bed textile with at least 50% or at least 75% coverage area of saif formulation on cotton woven fabrics including those with thread count higher than 250 and 70 singles yarn count.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,

[0079] FIG. 1 shows the measured surface temperature ( F.) of treated test sample compared to the untreated control sample through time (seconds);

[0080] FIG. 2 shows the surface temperature difference ( F.) between treated test sample vs the untreated control samples. A positive (+) temperature difference indicates the surface of the Control Sample was warmer than the surface of the Test sample. A negative () temperature difference indicates that the surface of the Control Sample was colder than the surface of the Test Sample;

[0081] FIG. 3 shows IR thermal images of the triplicate Treated test sample immediately following water contact with the surface (upper images) and also following absorption of the water (lower images);

[0082] FIG. 4 shows IR thermal images of the triplicate untreated Control sample immediately following water contact with the surface (upper images) and also following absorption of the water (lower images).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0083] The dual action cooling effect treatment formulation was applied by printing application onto cotton woven fabrics and characterized through Surface Temperature Measurement of Filled Textile Finished Products after wetting to perceive the effectiveness of the dual cooling effect.

EXAMPLE

[0084] The fabric used in the working examples was a 400TC Cotton Woven Satin.

[0085] In order to ensure a successful implementation of a printing application of the proposed formulation, it is beneficial to adhere to a set of defined parameters. One important parameter is the viscosity of the printing paste, which should achieve a viscosity between 12,000 and 20,000 centipoise (cPs). It should however be noted that not all products exhibit such high viscosities. In such instances, the use of a thickener can be required.

[0086] The formulation as used for printing was as follows: [0087] 99% by weight Dual Action Cooling Product (precursor) [0088] 1% by weight Thickener (e.g. in the form of the commercially available product HeiQ Operator CTT)

[0089] The Dual Action Cooling Precursor Product is composed as given in the Table below:

TABLE-US-00001 Components % w/w A Hydro-functional polymer 0.4% B Encapsulated functional phase change material 13.6% C Precursor auxiliary components 19.7% D Water 66.3% Total 100%

[0090] The preparation of the printing paste: [0091] 1. Properly stir the Dual Action Cooling Product in a vessel with a mechanical mixer. The product should be mixed at mild agitation. Too high speed is not recommended. [0092] 2. Slowly add the required amount of Thickener and mix very well. [0093] 3. Check viscosity (target 12,000 and 20,000 centipoises (cPs)).

[0094] The prepared printing paste is then placed on a rotary screen printing roll that comes into contact with the cotton fabric. This roll has a specific artwork pattern, a specific mesh and consequently a specific printed coverage area.

[0095] Mesh count refers to the number of polyester threads crossing each other per square inch on a screen; with higher counts providing finer detail and lower counts accommodating thicker inks or rougher surfaces. The mesh will contribute to the amount of product that will pass onto the fabric surface.

[0096] Coverage Area is the area covered with the printing. Briefly, it is the area treated with the Dual Action Cooling Product.

[0097] Furthermore, inside the roller there is a rod, whose weight influences the pressure applied to the roller against the fabric, facilitating the passage of product onto the fabric.

[0098] In this case, the Mesh was 60 and the Coverage Area 80-85%.

[0099] The amount applied to the fabric is calculated using the Wet Add-On (WAO) or the Dry Add-On (DAO). The Wet Add-On is the subtraction between the weight of the wet treated fabric in a given area and the weight of the wet untreated fabric in that given area. The same applies to the DAO but with fabrics dried.

[0100] The DAO obtained was between 10-20 gsm.

[0101] After the printing application, the fabric was subjected to a padding bath with a softener to improve the handfeel. Finally, to ensure its dimensional stability, fabric was submitted to Sanforization.

[0102] The recipe for the printing application can be adjusted to suit different requirements. For instance, instead of submitting the fabric to a second step to a padding bath with softener to improve the handfeel, a softener can be introduced into the printing recipe.

[0103] An example: [0104] 79% Dual Action Cooling Product [0105] 20% Softener [0106] 1% Thickener

[0107] The test involved a comparison of the surface temperature of two samples measured with an infra-red thermometer (FLIR). A volume of warm water was applied the test sample and to the control sample respectively while the temperature was measured at the locations where the water was delivered. Testing was stopped after the temperature of both the samples reached a stable level. Water was applied to 3 different locations on each sample and the surface temperature data recorded as an average of the 3 locations on each sample (FIG. 1). The ambient laboratory conditions during both sample conditioning (24 hours prior to testing) and testing were air temperature 205 C. Relative humidity 655% R.H. The first peak in FIG. 2 indicates the instantaneous cooling effect provided by the PCM thermo-polymer incorporated on cotton fabric. The second, more prolonged peak, indicates the evaporative cooling effect of the hydro-functional polymer that provides an ongoing cooling effect.

[0108] Additionally, IR thermal images of both samples were taken at the moment of initial water contact on the surface and also following water drop absorption.

[0109] It can be observed from comparing FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that after water drop absorption, the temperature of the treated fabric sample is lower than the Control fabric sample.

[0110] The dual action cooling effect treatment formulation was applied by printing application onto cotton woven bed-sheet fabrics and were characterized in a sleep study in comparison to untreated control samples. The study showed that, compared to the untreated control fabrics, the data for treated fabrics indicated improved sleep quality; improved mood and wellbeing; and improved symptoms of sweating during sleep.