Field of the Invention

The invention relates to .textile nanocomposite comprising a textile supporting layer, on which at least one layer of polymeric nanofibres is arranged, firmly connected with it.

Background of the Invention

Textile composites with applied layer of polymeric nanofibres are intended for various applications, where they often meet contradictory requirements. Those, which are intended for the manufacture of clothings have to be permeable for water vapor produced by human sweat and thus vapor-permeable and at the same time windproof and waterproof. Similar requirements are on material for manufacture of tents, sleeping bags or filters. These requirements are met by layering of various textile materials in combination with layers of nanofibres, eventually also with various surface finishes. Such a treatment may be performed on the outer surface, for example as disclosed in CZ 24446 111 , as well as on the inner surface of the supporting textile layer with which the layer of polymeric nanofibres is firmly attached. The object of this solution is to prevent the mutual shift of polymeric nanofibres layer and the adjacent textile layer. As long as area connection using any type of adhesive providing a firm connection of the supporting textile layer and a polymeric nanofibres layer arranged on it is used as a fixation mean, such an area connection of both layers alter porosity/vapor-permeability of the emergent textile nanocomposite. Moreover, a mutual movement of nanofibres occurs in the polymeric nanofibres layer, which results in their mutual displacement in their arrangement causing a distortion of even surface arrangement of the nanofibres. This creates places with various nanofibre density and thus with various properties in the field of permeability of vapor, windresistance and water impermeability on the entire surface, and the textile nanocomposite does not perform its required functions. The same thing happens when the surface of the polymeric nanofibre layer is provided with hydrophobic substance or composition.

It is further apparent from the state of the art that polymer nanofibre layers produced using electrostatic spinning through a string, roller, belt, nozzle or eventually using centrifugal spinning, are of layered structure and thus the particular fibres are chaotically layered through one another. Thanks to this, the polymeric nanofibre layer is inherently inhomogeneous and consists of several layers, which move in relation to one another in case of being loaded. To ensure the desired properties it is necessary for these nanofibres and layers formed by them to be fixed together.

The utility model UV 27368 discloses a supporting textile layer and a polymeric nanofibre layer firmly connected to it, wherein the connection of these layers is realized so that on the side of the polymeric nanofibre layer reversed from the supporting textile layer a mesh/grid is printed in a shape of at least one polymer, wherein this mesh/grid is carried out as regular or irregular. Shapes of the polymer may be points and/or line segments and/or fibres and/or stripes and/or lines and/or geometric shapes and/or alphanumeric symbols, wherein this polymer may be polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl acetat, polyacrylate and silicone. In the present solution is the polymeric nanofibre layer provided with a set of point polymer units, between which the polymeric nanofibre layer is freely accessible, point unit prevent the nanofibres from mutual displacement. A drawback of this solution is that the firm connection of the supporting textile layer with polymeric nanofibre layer on their surface using suitable adhesive worsens the porosity/vapor-permeability of the textile nanocomposite, and mainly the mere application of the point units from the polymer onto the polymeric nanofibre layer does not fix the particular nanofibres and layers formed by them, because the point units are applied only on the surface of the polymeric nanofibre layer and this layer is not penetrated spatially in its cross-section.

The invention FR 2846201 discloses a waterproof, fireproof composite textile layer, which is thermostable and consists of S5 base fibres, a layer comprising a membrane impermeable for liquid but permeable for water vapor. The third layer is discontinuous layer of adhesive, which is arranged between the first and the second layer and serves for fixing the first layer to the second layer. It is therefore apparent from the solution that the fragments of adhesive do not penetrate the membrane layer, see drawings for FR 2846201. The layers are only fixed on their surface, which is right and desirable in case of considered and applied membranes. In case of using nanofibre layers/membranes, the fixation of nanofibres and their layers would not occur, therefore it would not be possible to use the product for the intended uses because of the fragments not penetrating the nanofibre layer spatially/in section, fn case of nanofibre composite, a break-up and delamination would occur.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the invention is to present a textile composite, which comprises a layer of polymeric nanofibres firmly connected to the supporting textile layer by means of fragments, which at the same time penetrate the polymeric nanofibre layer and thus prevent the mutual movement of nanofibres and layers created thereof.

The above described drawbacks are eliminated by a textile nanocomposie comprising a supporting textile layer, on which at least one layer of polymeric nanofibres is arranged, which is firmly connected to it, characterized in that the supporting textile layer and the polymeric nanofibre layer are connected together on their surface, wherein their connection is formed by spatially arranged fragments of at least one polymer, where these fragments are connected with the supporting textile layer and penetrate the polymeric nanofibre layer. .

Fragments arranged in this way connect the polymeric nanofibre layer to the supporting textile layer as well as they fix together the nanofibres and the layers created from them in the intersection of the fragments through the nanofibre layer and thus prevent their mutual displacement on the surface and in the area/section.

To avoid mechanical damage of the polymeric nanofibers layer it is preferrable when a cover textile layer (lining), which is connected to these fragments, clings onto these fragments penetrating the polymeric nanofibre layer.

For greater variability of the utility properties of the resulting product it is preferable when the polymeric nanofibres layer consists of several layers, which may be made using different types of material, wherein the used polymer may be polyurethane, polyvinylacetate, polyethylen vinylacetate, polyacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride or silicone. The particular layers of polymeric nanofibres may be provided with various compositions to meet the required properties. For example, with biologically active compound against undesirable microorganisms or with perfume, eventually with hydrophobic or hydrophilic compound, as necessary.

Description of the Drawings Arrangement of the textile composite according to the present invention will be further described by means of attached drawings, where fig. 1 illustrates an arrangement of the textile nanocomposite, fig. 2 illustrates a detail of penetration of particular fragments through the layer of polymeric nanofibres and the fig. 3 illustrates a layer of polymeric nanofibres, through which a suitable polymer or a mixture of fragments is extruded using a process of lamination, which in dispersed arrangement may take a shape of scattered points, line sections or grids.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the example of the embodiment, a textile nanocomposite is described, of which the overall arrangement is illustrated in the fig. 1 , fig. 2 and fig. 3.

Textile nanocomposite according to the present invention comprises a supporting textile layer1 and a layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 arranged on it. The supporting textile layer 1 and the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 are connected together on their surface by means of scattered fragments 3 of at least one polymer or melt binder from the group of polyurethane, polyvinylacetate, polyethylen vinyl acetate, polyacrylate or silicone, or eventually mixtures thereof, which penetrate the layer 2_of polymeric nanofibres 5. Fragments 3 arranged in this way penetrate the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 towards the supporting textile layer 1 and thus fix the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 to the supporting textile layer 1, as well as they fix together the nanofibres_5 and thus prevent their mutual displacement. Using the process of lamination by means of pressure rollers under pressure of 1-10 bar, which are cooled or heated as necessary, through the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 onto the supporting textile layer 1 a suitable polymer is extruded, which is chosen from the group of polyuretane, polivinylacetate, polyethylen vinyl acetate, polyacrylate or silicone or eventually mixtures thereof, in a scattered arrangement in an amount of 0,5-30 g/m ² forming scattered points, line sections, curved lines or grids 6, which results in penetration of the binder through the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres and thus fixing the particular nanofibres 5 on the surface and in the area section. The layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 is in such arrangement accessible and thus permeable for vapor. A cover textile layer 4 is attached from the other side to the fragments 3 penetrating the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5, which are firmly fixed with the supporting textile layer 1. This cover textile layer 4 is fixed with the ends of fragments 3, or eventually with the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5, which does not penetrate the layer. The cover textile layer 4 forms a lining and prevents mechanical damage of the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 arranged between the fragments 3. It is possible to repeatedly wash the textile composite arranged in this way without damaging the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 or without distorting their utility properties. In such an arranged textile composite intended for making of clothing, it is possible to choose various types of fabric for the supporting layer and the cover textile layer 4, either woven, non-woven or knitted, made of natural or synthetic fibres or combinations thereof. I tis therefore preferred for the supporting textile layer1 to consist of material with high hydrostatic resistance or provided with impregnation. The layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 may consist of several layers 2 of polymeric nanofibres made from one type of polymer, or the particular layers 2 of polymeric nanofibres may consists of various types of polymers Particular layers 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 may be treated with various substances in order to obtain the required properties. For example, with biologically active substance against undesirable microorganisms, or with perfume, or eventually with hydrophobic or hydrophilic substance, as needed.

Production of textile composite according to the present invention is characterized in following steps:

• Layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 is spun using electrostatic or centrifugal spinning.

• Layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 is together with the supporting textile layer 1 transferred into a lamination machine, where the binder fragments 3 are applied directly onto the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 or eventually on the supporting textile layer 1 in an amount of 0,5-30g/m2 by means of application device.

• In another step, the connection of the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 clinging to the supporting textile layer 1 occurs by means of pressure rollers under the pressure of 1 -10 bar, which are cooled or heated as required, which results in penetration of the binder through the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres and thus fixing the particular nanofibres in the surface as well as in the area/section. The two-layer textile composite formed in this way comprising a supporting textile layer with a fixed layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5, which are fixed on the surface and in the area/section by means of fragments 3 is rolled on a tube and sandwiched with a spacer textile or non-textile layer 7 preventing the two-layer laminate from adhering of its layers during the period of setting and fixating of the applied fragments 3.

• in the final step, when the two-layer textile composite is provided with a cover layer (lining), a spacer layer 7 is removed from the two-layer composite and the binder fragments are applied using an application device directly onto the two-layer textile composite on the surface of the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 reversed from the supporting textile layer 1_, eventually on the cover layer 4 (lining). In the final step, the connection of the two-layer laminate with the cover layer by means of pressure rollers under the pressure of 1-10 bar occurs and thus results in formation of three-layer laminate. Here, the polymer fragments 3 are applied only on the surface of the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5 or on the surface of the cover layer 4 and does not penetrate the layer 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5.

It is possible to leave out entirely a part of the production of the three-layer textile composite or to implement it into the production proces of the two-layer textile composite.

If required, before the fixation of the supporting textile layer 1 and the cover layer 4, fragments 3 or layers 2 of polymeric nanofibres 5, the particular layers may be provided with various compositions to obtain required properties. For example, using biologically active compound against the undesirable microorganisms or with perfume, or eventually using hydrophobic or hydrophilic compound as required.

Industrial Applicability

Textile nanocomposite is intended for use in production of clothes, tents, sleeping bags or filters. List of Reference Numbers

1 supporting textile layer

2 layer of polymeric nanofibres

3 fragments

4 cover textile layer

5 nanofibres

6 scattered points, line sections, grid of polymer

7 distance textile or non-textile layer