FABRIC MADE FROM THE KNITTING OF HYDROPHOBIC YARN IN ONE SIDE AND HYDROPHILIC YARN IN THE OTHER SIDE AND ITS MANUFACTURING PROCESS THEREOF

Field of Invention

Textile industry relating to knitted fabric having duo function which are water preventive on the outer side and water absorbent on the inner side and its manufacturing process thereof

Background of the Invention

The production of water repellent fabric is treated by dipping it in water repellent bath and a fabric having water repellent effect on both sides is provided. However, the wearers experience discomfort because the fabric cannot absorb sweat during the day. This results in the remaining of sweat on their skin and the wearer feels sticky. Therefore, it is unsuitable to make garment of skin contact with this fabric.

Schoeller is a company in Switzerland who created the duo function in one piece of fabric. It can prevent water on the outer side and can effectively absorb sweat on the inner side. This can be achieved by printing the water repellent agent on one side which does not contact skin and controlling the printing pressure to. prevent water repellent from penetrating to the other side. Then it is treated with hydrophilic agent to get good absorbency on the other side.

However, the fabric produced by printing is hard and rigid, and some water repellent agent penetrates from the outer side to the inner side. It caused uneven water absorption, that is, the inner side cannot effectively absorb sweat. The sweat is not frilly absorbed on this printed fabric. Also, the water repellent agent used in the printing technology is formed as a thin film coating on the fabric. This results in poor ventilation and the wearer feels uncomfortable.

Therefore, this invention aims to provide fabric having duo function which are water preventive on the outer side and water absorbent on the inner side by means of using suitable yam and designing knitting structures instead of applying conventional printing technology. The present fabric comprises mixed knitting with hydrophobic yam on the outer side and hydrophilic yam on the inner side. When the inner side of the fabric absorbs water, it will distribute water on the inner side and will not allow water to penetrate to the outer side. Therefore, there will be no water mark appearing on the fabric and the fabric can provide good ventilation which could not be achieved by the above conventional printing technology.

Summary of the Invention

Knitted fabric according to this invention is controlled so that the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam and at least the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is folly knitted with hydrophilic yam. When the inner side of the fabric absorbs water, it will distribute water on the inner side and will not allow water to penetrate to the outer side. Therefore, there will be no water mark appearing on the outer side and the fabric can overcome the hard and rigid surface and provide good ventilation which makes the wearer feels comfortable. Fabric according to claim 2 comprises 2-Iayer knitted yam of which the outermost layer is folly knitted with hydrophobic yam and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is folly knitted with hydrophilic yam. Light weight clothes can be obtained since the clothes is manufactured from 2-layer knitted yam which makes the wearer feels relaxed and more comfortable. Fabric according to claim 3 comprises 3-layer knitted yam of which the outermost layer is folly knitted with hydrophobic yam, the middle layer is folly or partially knitted with hydrophobic yam, and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is folly knitted with hydrophilic yam. Therefore, water absorbability can be improved and water mark can be prevented from appearing on the outer side more efficiently. Fabric according to claim 4 comprises 3-layer knitted yam of which the outermost layer is folly knitted with hydrophobic yam, and the middle layer and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, are fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. Therefore, water and sweat absorbability can be further improved and the wearer will feel more comfortable.

Fabric according to claim 5 is knitted in form of cutting pieces ready for apparels tailoring. Therefore, the tailoring time can be reduced.

Fabric according to claim 6 is proceeded through baking, dyeing, and treating with chemicals to enhance hydrophilic efficiency. Therefore, the water and sweat absorbability can be further improved and the wearer will feel more comfortable.

Fabric according to claim 7 is manufactured by knitting with circular knitting machine. Therefore, fabric having more flexibility can be obtained.

Manufacturing process of fabric according to claim 8 comprises a. Knitting step with circular knitting machine, where the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam and at least the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is fully knitted with hydrophilic yam; b. Fabric baking step prior to dyeing of the fabric, where the knitted fabric from the first step is proceeded through dried or wet baking at temperature from 120 to 200 degree Celsius for 30 seconds to 5 minutes; c. Fabric dyeing step, where the fabric is dyed at temperature in the range from 60 to 135 degree Celsius for 20 to 60 minutes; and d. Finishing step, where the dyed fabric is treated with dry or wet process with chemicals in order to enhance hydrophilic efficiency, and the fabric is then baked at temperature from 120 to 170 degree Celsius for 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Therefore, a simple and less complicated manufacturing process for fabric which is water preventive on the outer side and water absorbent on the inner side can be obtained since some excessive process, especially water repellent agent printing process, can be eliminated.

Detailed Description of the Invention

This invention discloses fabric comprising at least 2 layers of knitted yam. The outermost layer, which can be seen from the outside when the clothes are worn, is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam. That is, only hydrophobic yam is used for fully knitting the outermost layer. And at least the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin and cannot be seen when the clothes are worn, is fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. That is, only hydrophilic yam is used for fully knitting the innermost layer. Both the hydrophobic yam and the hydrophilic yam can be natural and/or synthetic and/or semi-synthetic yam in form of spun yam and/or filament.

When the inner side of. the fabric absorbs water, it will distribute water on the inner side and will not allow water to penetrate to the outer side. Therefore, there will be no water mark appearing on the outer side and the fabric can overcome the hard and rigid surface and provide good ventilation which makes the wearers feel comfortable.

The fabric of this invention comprising at least 2 layers of knitted yam preferably comprises 2 layers or 3 layers of knitted yam. In case of fabric having 2 layers of knitting yam, the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. Light weight clothes can be obtained since the clothes is manufactured from 2-layer knitted yam which makes the wearer feels relaxed and more comfortable.

In case of fabric having 3 layers of knitted yam, the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam, the middle layer is fully or partially knitted with hydrophobic yam, and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. Therefore, water absorbability can be improved and water mark can be prevented from appearing on the outer side more efficiently.

In another case of fabric having 3 layers of knitted yam, the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam, and the middle layer and the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, are fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. Therefore, water and sweat absorbability can be further improved and the wearer will feel more comfortable.

The fabric according to this invention is knitted in form of cutting pieces ready for apparels tailoring. Therefore, the tailoring time can be reduced. Moreover, the fabric is proceeded through baking, dyeing, and treating with chemicals to enhance hydrophilic efficiency. Therefore, the water and sweat absorbability can be further improved and the wearer will feel more comfortable.

Furthermore, the fabric is manufactured by knitting with circular knitting machine which is a knitting machine and is widely known in the knitting industry. Manufacturing process of the fabric according to this invention comprises 4 steps as described below. a. Firstly, knitting step with circular knitting machine, where the outermost layer is fully knitted with hydrophobic yam and at least the innermost layer, which is in contact with the wearer’s skin, is fully knitted with hydrophilic yam. The fabric obtained from the knitting step will be controlled to have between 80 and

500 g/m ² of weight.

The test has revealed that when the fabric is tested for efficiency under the Sweat- Stained Tendency standard of KAKEN Japan, the inner side can absorb water within 1 minute and the water does not penetrate to the outer side after absorption, and the fabric gets at least 3 ^rd grade when the change in color tone is tested with grayscale.

In addition, the knitted fabric may be in the form of textile fabrics or cutting pieces ready for apparels tailoring. b. Fabric baking step prior to dyeing of the fabric, where the knitted fabric from the first step is proceeded through dried or wet baking at temperature from 120 to 200 degree Celsius for 30 seconds to 5 minutes in order to increase the durability of hydrophobic yam against washing. c. Fabric dyeing step, where the fabric is dyed at temperature in the range from 60 to 135 degree Celsius for 20 to 60 minutes. d. Finishing step, where the dyed fabric is treated with dry or wet process with chemicals, such as polyester resin, polyurethane, hydrophilic silicone, or polyethylene wax etc., in order to enhance hydrophilic efficiency, and the fabric is then baked at temperature from 120 to 170 degree Celsius for 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Therefore, a simple and less complicated manufacturing process for fabric which is water preventive on the outer side and water absorbent on the inner side can be obtained since some excessive process, especially water repellent agent printing process, can be eliminated. The best method of this invention

As disclosed in the detailed description of the invention above.