U.S. patent application number 13/699264 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for cooling fabric containing hydrophobic peba.
This patent application is currently assigned to ARKEMA FRANCE. The applicant listed for this patent is Sophie Chhun, Bruno D'Herbecourt, Rene-Paul Eustache. Invention is credited to Sophie Chhun, Bruno D'Herbecourt, Rene-Paul Eustache.
Application Number | 20130133856 13/699264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43304049 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130133856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
D'Herbecourt; Bruno ; et
al. |
May 30, 2013 |
COOLING FABRIC CONTAINING HYDROPHOBIC PEBA
Abstract
A hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA) for the
manufacture of a fabric material capable of cooling after the
material has been brought into contact with an aqueous medium at a
temperature lying in the range from 15.degree. C. to
T.sub.m-20.degree. C., T.sub.m being the melting point of the
fabric material, the aqueous medium comprising at least 85 wt %
water relative to the weight of the aqueous medium, the PEBA
comprising 20 to 80 wt % polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt %
polyether blocks and having a saturated water absorption of less
than 6 wt % according to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight
of PEBA, a cooling fabric comprising such a PEBA and the use of
this fabric in the medical, hygiene, baggage, confection, clothing,
domestic or household equipment, furnishing, carpet, automotive or
industrial fields, especially for industrial filtration,
agricultural and/or building matter.
Inventors: |
D'Herbecourt; Bruno;
(Bernay, FR) ; Eustache; Rene-Paul; (Combon,
FR) ; Chhun; Sophie; (Limeil-Brevannes, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
D'Herbecourt; Bruno
Eustache; Rene-Paul
Chhun; Sophie |
Bernay
Combon
Limeil-Brevannes |
|
FR
FR
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
ARKEMA FRANCE
Colombes Cedex
FR
|
Family ID: |
43304049 |
Appl. No.: |
13/699264 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
May 20, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2011/000305 |
371 Date: |
January 30, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/46 ; 428/221;
442/181; 442/304; 442/324; 442/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01F 6/82 20130101; D03D
15/00 20130101; C08G 2261/126 20130101; D04H 3/009 20130101; Y10T
442/40 20150401; C08L 71/02 20130101; Y10T 428/249921 20150401;
Y10T 442/30 20150401; D02G 3/02 20130101; C08L 77/00 20130101; C08L
67/00 20130101; C08G 69/40 20130101; Y10T 442/60 20150401; C08L
77/06 20130101; Y10T 442/56 20150401; C08L 77/06 20130101; C08L
71/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/46 ; 428/221;
442/181; 442/327; 442/324; 442/304 |
International
Class: |
D02G 3/02 20060101
D02G003/02; D04H 3/009 20060101 D04H003/009; D03D 15/00 20060101
D03D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2010 |
FR |
1053983 |
Claims
1. A fabric material made from a hydrophobic
polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA), said fabric material
capable of cooling after said material has been brought into
contact with an aqueous medium at a temperature lying in the range
from 15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C., T.sub.m being the
melting point of the fabric material, said aqueous medium
comprising at least 85 wt % water relative to the weight of the
aqueous medium, said PEBA comprising 20 to 80 wt % polyamide blocks
and 80 to 20 wt % polyether blocks and having a saturated water
absorption of less than 6 wt % according to the ISO 62 standard
relative to the weight of PEBA.
2. The fabric material as claimed in claim 1, in which said fabric
material is such that it cools to a temperature below the ambient
temperature for at least 15 minutes, preferably for at least 30
minutes, more preferably for at least one hour and even more
preferably for at least two hours, after said contacting operation,
the ambient temperature being in the range from 10 to 80.degree.
C.
3. The fabric material as claimed in claim 1, in which said
material is such that it has accelerated and prolonged properties
of desorbing and evaporating said aqueous medium in the form of
cold gas at a temperature below the ambient temperature, preferably
below 20.degree. C.
4. The fabric material as claimed in claim 1, in which said
material takes the form of a porous membrane, a woven fabric or a
nonwoven fabric.
5. The fabric material as claimed in claim 1, in which said
material comprises fibers and/or filaments and/or particles based
on said PEBA.
6. A method for cooling the skin of a human being, comprising the
application to said skin of a cooling fabric material impregnated
with an aqueous medium, said material comprising at least 10 wt %
of a hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA), said
material having a melting point T.sub.m such that
T.sub.m-20.degree. C. is above the ambient temperature, said PEBA
comprising 20 to 80 wt % of polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt % of
polyether blocks, and having a saturated water absorption of less
than 6 wt % according to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight
of PEBA, and said aqueous medium comprising at least 85 wt % water,
relative to the weight of said aqueous medium, the temperature of
the aqueous medium being in the range from 15.degree. C. to
T.sub.m-20.degree. C.
7. A fabric material characterized in that it comprises a
hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA) comprising
20 to 80 wt % polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt % polyether blocks,
and having a saturated water absorption of less than 6% according
to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight of PEBA.
8. A cooling fabric material comprising a fabric material as
claimed in claim 7, impregnated with an aqueous medium comprising
at least 85 wt % water relative to the weight of said medium, the
temperature of the aqueous medium being in the range from
15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C., T.sub.m being the melting
point of the fabric material, the weight content of hydrophobic
PEBA representing at least 10% of the total weight of the cooling
fabric material.
9. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, in which said PEBA is made as
a compound with at least one filler and/or at least one pigment
and/or at least one additive.
10. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it
comprises synthetic fibers obtained from bioresource raw
materials.
11. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it
further comprises natural fibers, artificial fibers manufactured
from natural raw materials, mineral fibers, metal fibers and/or
synthetic fibers other than hydrophobic PEBA fibers.
12. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it is
manufactured solely from bioresource raw materials.
13. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it
comprises at least one structure chosen from: mixtures of
monofilaments and/or multifilaments comprising hydrophobic PEBA
with other fabric materials; and/or at least one ply of
predominantly hydrophobic fabric material, comprising at least 10%
hydrophobic PEBA, superposed on at least one ply of predominantly
hydrophilic fabric material; and/or sandwich structures based on
said plies; and combinations of these structures.
14. The fabric as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it
constitutes a felt, web, a net, a filter, a film, a gauze, a cloth,
a bandage, a wipe, a ply, a woven, a knit, an article of clothing,
a garment, a pair of tights, support stockings, an article of bed
linen, an article of furniture, a napkin, a package, a curtain, an
interior lining, a functional engineering textile, a geotextile
and/or an agricultural textile.
15. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] One subject of the present invention is a cooling fabric
material comprising synthetic fibers made of a thermoplastic
elastomer polymer.
[0002] In the present description of the invention:
[0003] The term "fabric material" or "fabric" is understood to mean
any material made from fibers or filaments and any material forming
a porous membrane characterized by a length/thickness ratio of at
least 300;
[0004] The term "fiber" is understood to mean any synthetic or
natural material characterized by a length/diameter ratio of at
least 300; and
[0005] The term "filament" is understood to mean any fiber of
infinite length. Found among fabrics are in particular: fibrous
mats (for bandages, filters, felt); rovings (for bandages); yarns
(for stitching, knitting or weaving); nonwovens; webs; nets; knits
(straight, circular, fully-fashioned knits); wovens (traditional,
jacquard, multiple, two-sides, multi-axial, 2.5D, 3D wovens) and
many others.
PRIOR ART
[0006] The synthetic fibers made of thermoplastic polymer currently
used to manufacture cooling fabrics have several drawbacks: they
have a tendency to swell when impregnated with an aqueous medium,
and their cooling capability is neither sufficiently intense nor
durable. It is therefore necessary to modify these fibers or the
fabrics obtained from these fibers so that they acquire a
detectable or sufficient cooling capability. The processes used
consist either in carrying out a chemical treatment of the surface
of the fabric or, more commonly, in adding an absorbent polymer to
the matrix of fibers. This absorbent polymer has the capability of
increasing its volume by absorbing water so as to form a gel that
provides a cooling effect by natural evaporation of the water,
after which the gel resumes its initial volume. The cold produced
is a "wet" cold, providing an uncomfortable or even sticky "wetted"
sensation. Absorbent agents currently used are for example
polyacrylate crystals, especially crosslinked sodium polyacrylate
crystals. In addition, the level of stability of these cooling
agents is not guaranteed. They may be seen to become denatured at
temperatures above 100.degree. C., or even sometimes above
temperatures of around 40 or 60.degree. C. Fabrics containing these
agents must not be machine-washed, but hand-washed, nor can they be
washed with detergents, nor can they be frozen.
[0007] In addition, these current techniques have several
drawbacks. They require at least one additional production step to
treat the surface and/or to add into the bulk an absorbent additive
or polymer.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide cooling
fabric materials having an intense and durable cooling effect,
which have a sufficient level of stability with respect to water
(they do not swell on contact with water) and with respect to
temperature (they may withstand ambient temperature of around
-60.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., preferably -40.degree. C. to
140.degree. C.
[0009] The object of the present invention is in particular to
provide a simple process for manufacturing such fabric materials,
which comprises the fewest possible steps, which does not impair
the dimensional stability nor the flexibility of the fabric
materials, nor their softness, and which preferably used
bioresource raw materials.
[0010] Surprisingly, the applicant has found that the use of a
particular polyether-block-polyamide copolymer makes it possible to
manufacture such fabric materials with a remarkable cooling
capability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] One subject of the present invention is therefore the use of
a hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA) for the
manufacture of a fabric material (having a melting point T.sub.m)
capable of cooling after said material has been brought into
contact with an aqueous medium at a temperature lying in the range
from 15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C., said medium comprising
at least 85 wt % water relative to the weight of the aqueous
medium, preferably at least 90 wt % water and more preferably at
least 95 wt % water relative to the weight of the medium; said PEBA
comprising 20 to 80 wt % polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt %
polyether blocks, preferably 30 to 70 wt % of polyamide blocks and
70 to 30 wt % of polyether blocks, and having a saturated water
absorption of less than 6 wt %, preferably less than 3 wt %,
according to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight of
PEBA.
[0012] Advantageously, said fabric material is such that it cools
to a temperature below the ambient temperature for at least 15
minutes, preferably for at least 30 minutes, more preferably for at
least one hour and even more preferably for at least two hours,
after said contacting operation, the ambient temperature being in
the range from 10 to 80.degree. C., preferably from 10 to
50.degree. C. and even more preferably from 15 to 40.degree. C.
[0013] Advantageously, said material is such that it has
accelerated and prolonged properties of desorbing and evaporating
said aqueous medium in the form of cold gas at a temperature below
the ambient temperature, preferably below 20.degree. C.
[0014] Advantageously, said material takes the form of a porous
membrane, a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric.
[0015] Advantageously, said material comprises fibers and/or
filaments and/or particles based on said PEBA.
[0016] Another subject of the present invention is a method for
cooling the skin of a human being, comprising the application to
said skin of a cooling fabric material impregnated with an aqueous
medium, either naturally (for example by sweat) or by an
intentional addition (for example an addition of water, an active
agent, especially a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or medical agent, a
moisturizing agent, etc.), said material comprising at least 10 wt
%, preferably at least 30 wt %, more preferably at least 50 wt %,
more preferably still at least 80 wt % and ideally 100 wt %, of a
hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA), said
material having a melting point T.sub.m such that
T.sub.m-20.degree. C. is above the ambient temperature, said PEBA
comprising 20 to 80 wt % of polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt % of
polyether blocks, preferably 30 to 70 wt % of polyamide blocks and
70 to 30 wt % of polyether blocks relative to the weight of PEBA,
and having a saturated water absorption of less than 6 wt %,
preferably less than 3 wt %, according to the ISO 62 standard
relative to the weight of PEBA, and said aqueous medium comprising
at least 85 wt % water, preferably at least 90 wt % water, more
preferably at least 95 wt % water, relative to the weight of said
aqueous medium, the temperature of the aqueous medium being in the
range from 15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C.
[0017] Another subject of the present invention is a fabric
material, especially one useful for implementing this cooling
method, characterized in that it comprises a hydrophobic
polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA) comprising 20 to 80 wt %
polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt % polyether blocks, preferably 30
to 70 wt % of polyamide blocks and 70 to 30 wt % of polyether
blocks, relative to the weight of PEBA; and having a saturated
water absorption of less than 6%, preferably less than 3%,
according to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight of
PEBA.
[0018] In particular, another subject of the present invention is a
cooling fabric material comprising a fabric material as defined
above, impregnated with an aqueous medium comprising at least 85 wt
% water, preferably at least 90 wt % water and more preferably at
least 95 wt % water, relative to the aqueous medium weight, the
temperature of the aqueous medium being in the range from
15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C., T.sub.m being the melting
point of the fabric material, the weight content of hydrophobic
PEBA representing at least 10% of the total weight of the cooling
fabric material.
[0019] Advantageously, said PEBA is made as a compound with at
least one filler and/or at least one pigment and/or at least one
additive.
[0020] Advantageously, said fabric comprises synthetic fibers
obtained from bioresource raw materials.
[0021] Advantageously, said fabric further comprises natural
fibers, artificial fibers manufactured from natural raw materials,
mineral fibers, metal fibers and/or synthetic fibers other than
hydrophobic PEBA fibers.
[0022] Advantageously, said fabric is manufactured solely from
bioresource raw materials.
[0023] Advantageously, said fabric comprises at least one structure
chosen from: [0024] mixtures of monofilaments and/or multifilaments
comprising hydrophobic PEBA with other fabric materials; and/or
[0025] at least one ply of predominantly hydrophobic fabric
material, comprising at least 10% hydrophobic PEBA, superposed on
at least one ply of predominantly hydrophilic fabric material;
and/or [0026] sandwich structures based on said plies; and [0027]
combinations of these structures.
[0028] Advantageously, said fabric constitutes a felt, web, a net,
a filter, a film, a gauze, a cloth, a bandage, a wipe, a ply, a
woven, a knit, an article of clothing, a garment, a pair of tights,
stockings, especially support stockings, an article of bed linen,
an article of furniture, a napkin, a package, a curtain, an
interior lining, a functional engineering textile, a geotextile
and/or an agricultural textile.
[0029] Yet another subject of the invention is the use of a fabric
according to the invention in the medical, cosmetic, hygiene,
baggage, confection, clothing, domestic or household equipment,
furnishing, carpet, automotive or industrial fields, especially for
industrial filtration and cooling, ventilation and air-conditioning
systems, agricultural and/or building matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Polyether-block-polyamide copolymers, abbreviated to PEBA,
result from the polycondensation of polyamide blocks having
reactive end groups with polyether blocks having reactive end
groups, such as, inter alia:
[0031] 1) polyamide blocks having diamine chain ends with
polyoxyalkylene blocks having dicarboxylic chain ends;
[0032] 2) polyamide blocks having dicarboxylic chain ends with
polyoxyalkylene blocks having diamine chain ends, obtained by
cyanoethylation and hydrogenation of aliphatic dihydroxylated
.alpha.,.omega.-polyoxyalkylene blocks, called polyetherdiols; and
3) polyamide blocks having dicarboxylic chain ends with
polyetherdiols, the products obtained being, in this particular
case, polyetheresteramides.
[0033] The polyamide blocks having dicarboxylic chain ends result,
for example, from the condensation of polyamide precursors in the
presence of a chain-stopping dicarboxylic acid. The polyamide
blocks having diamine chain ends result, for example, from the
condensation of polyamide precursors in the presence of a
chain-stopping diamine.
[0034] The number-average molecular weight M.sub.n of the polyamide
blocks is between 400 and 20 000 g/mol and preferably between 500
and 10 000 g/mol.
[0035] The polyamide-block-polyether polymers may also comprise
randomly distributed units.
[0036] Advantageously, three types of polyamide block may be
used.
[0037] According to a first type, the polyamide blocks resulting
from the condensation of a dicarboxylic acid, in particular those
having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably those having 6 to 18 carbon
atoms, and of an aliphatic or aromatic diamine, in particular those
having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably those having 6 to 14 carbon
atoms.
[0038] As examples of dicarboxylic acids, mention may be made of
1,4-cyclohexyldicarboxylic acid, butanedioic, adipic, azelaic,
suberic, sebacic, dodecanedicarboxylic and octadecanedicarboxylic
acids, and terephthalic and isophthalic acids, but also dimerized
fatty acids.
[0039] As examples of diamines, mention may be made of
tetra-methylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine,
1,10-decamethylenediamine, dodecamethylenediamine,
trimethylhexamethylenediamine, isomers of
bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (BACM),
bis(3-methyl-4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (BMACM) and
2,2-bis(3-methyl-4-aminocyclohexyl)propane (BMACP) and
para-aminodicyclohexylmethane (PACM) and isophoronediamine (IPDA),
2,6-bis(aminomethyl)norbornane (BAMN) and piperazine (Pip).
[0040] Advantageously, the blocks are advantageously: PA-4,12;
PA-4,14; PA-4,18; PA-6,10; PA-6,12; PA-6,14; PA-6,18; PA-9,12;
PA-10,10; PA-10,12; PA-10,14; and PA-10,18 blocks.
[0041] According to a second type, the polyamide blocks result from
the condensation of one or more .alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic
acids and/or one or more lactams having 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the
presence of a dicarboxylic acid having 4 to 12 carbon atoms or in
the presence of a diamine. As examples of lactams, mention may be
made of caprolactam, enantholactam and lauryllactam. As examples of
.alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic acids, mention may be made of
aminocaproic, 7-aminoheptanoic, 11-aminoundecanoic and
12-aminododecanoic acids.
[0042] Advantageously, the polyamide blocks of the second type are
blocks of nylon-11, nylon-12 or nylon-6.
[0043] According to a third type, the polyamide blocks result from
the condensation of at least one .alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic
acid (or a lactam), at least one diamine and at least one
dicarboxylic acid.
[0044] In this case, the polyamide (PA) blocks are prepared by
polycondensation:
[0045] of one or more aromatic or linear aliphatic diamines having
X carbon atoms;
[0046] of one or more dicarboxylic acids having Y carbon atoms;
and
[0047] of one or more comonomers {Z} chosen from lactams and
.alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic acids having Z carbon atoms and
equimolar mixtures of at least one diamine having X1 carbon atoms
and of at least one dicarboxylic acid having Y1 carbon atoms, X1
and Y1 being different from X, Y respectively;
[0048] said at least one comonomers {Z} being introduced in a
weight proportion ranging up to 50%, preferably up to 20% and even
more advantageously up to 10% relative to all of the polyamide
precursor monomers;
[0049] in the presence of a chain stopper chosen from dicarboxylic
acids.
[0050] Advantageously, a dicarboxylic acid having Y carbon atoms is
used as chain stopper, which is introduced in excess relative to
the stoichiometry of the diamine or diamines.
[0051] According to a variant of this third type, the polyamide
blocks result from the condensation of at least two
.alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic acids or of at least two lactams
having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or of a lactam and an aminocarboxylic
acid not having the same number of carbon atoms possibly in the
presence of a chain stopper. As examples of aliphatic
.alpha.,.omega.-aminocarboxylic acids, mention may be made of
aminocaproic, 7-aminoheptanoic, 11-aminoundecanoic and
12-aminododecanoic acids. As examples of lactams, mention may be
made of caprolactam, enantholactam and lauryllactam. As examples of
aliphatic diamines, mention may be made of hexamethylenediamine,
dodecamethylenediamine and trimethylhexamethylenediamine. As an
example of a cycloaliphatic diacid mention may be made of
1,4-cyclohexyldicarboxylic acid. As examples of aliphatic diacids,
mention may be made of butanedioic, adipic, azelaic, suberic,
sebacic and dodecanedicarboxylic acids, and dimerized fatty acids
(these dimerized fatty acids preferably have a dimer content of at
least 98% and are preferably hydrogenated--they are sold under the
trademark PRIPOL by Unichema or under the trademark EMPOL by
Henkel) and .alpha.,.omega.-polyoxyalkylene diacids. As examples of
aromatic diacids, mention may be made of terephthalic (T) and
isophthalic (I) acids. As examples of cycloaliphatic diamines,
mention may be made of isomers of bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane
(BACM), bis(3-methyl-4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (BMACM),
2,2-bis(3-methyl-4-aminocyclohexyl)propane (BMACP), and
para-aminodicyclohexylmethane (PACM). Other commonly used diamines
may be isophoronediamine (IPDA), 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)norbornane
(BAMN) and piperazine.
[0052] As examples of polyamide blocks of the third type, mention
may be made of the following:
[0053] 6,6/6 in which 6,6 denotes hexamethylenediamine units
condensed with adipic acid and 6 denotes units resulting from the
condensation of caprolactam; and
[0054] 6,6/6,10/11/12 in which 6,6 denotes hexamethylenediamine
condensed with adipic acid, 6,10 denotes hexamethylenediamine
condensed with sebacic acid, 11 denotes units resulting from the
condensation of aminoundecanoic acid and 12 denotes units resulting
from the condensation of lauryllactam.
[0055] The polyether blocks may represent 5 to 85 wt % of the
polyamide-block-polyether copolymer. The molecular weight M.sub.n
of the polyether blocks is between 100 and 6000 g/mol and
preferably between 200 and 3000 g/mol.
[0056] The polyether blocks consist of alkylene oxide units. These
units may for example be ethylene oxide units, propylene oxide
units or tetrahydrofuran units (resulting in polytetramethylene
glycol chains). Thus the following may be used: PEG (polyethylene
glycol) blocks, that is to say those consisting of ethylene oxide
units; PPG (propylene glycol) blocks, that is to say those
consisting of propylene oxide units; PO3G (polytrimethylene glycol)
blocks, that is to say those consisting of polytrimethylene ether
glycol units (such copolymers with polytrimethylene ether blocks
are described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,065); and PTMG
blocks, that is to say those consisting of tetramethylene glycol
units, also called polytetrahydrofuran. The PEBA copolymers may
comprise in their chain several types of polyether, it being
possible for the copolyethers to be blocky or random.
[0057] It is also possible to use blocks obtained by the
oxyethylation of bisphenols, such as for example bisphenol A. The
latter products are described in the patent EP 613 919.
[0058] The polyether blocks may also consist of ethoxylated primary
amines. As examples of ethoxylated primary amines, products of the
following formula may be mentioned:
##STR00001##
in which m and n are between 1 and 20 and x is between 8 and 18.
These products are commercially available under the trademark
NORAMOX.RTM. from CECA and under the brand name GENAMIN.RTM. from
Clariant.
[0059] The polyether soft blocks may comprise polyoxyalkylene
blocks having NH.sub.2 chain ends, such blocks being able to be
obtained by cyanoacetylation of aliphatic dihydroxylated
.alpha.,.omega.-polyoxyalkylene blocks, called polyetherdiols. More
particularly, Jeffamines may be used (for example Jeffamine.RTM.
D400, D2000, ED 2003 and XTJ 542, commercial products from
Huntsman, also described in the patent documents JP 2004346274, JP
2004352794 and EP 1 482 011).
[0060] The polyetherdiol blocks are either used as such and
copolycondensed with polyamide blocks having carboxylic end groups,
or they are aminated so as to be converted into polyetherdiamines
and condensed with polyamide blocks having carboxylic end groups.
The general two-step method of preparing PEBA copolymers having
ester links between the PA blocks and the PE blocks is known and
described, for example, in French patent FR 2 846 332. The general
method of preparing the PEBA copolymers of the invention having
amide links between the PA blocks and the PE blocks is known and
described, for example, in European patent EP 1 482 011. The
polyether blocks may also be mixed with polyamide precursors and a
diacid chain stopper to make polymers with polyamide blocks and
polyether blocks having randomly distributed units (one-step
process).
[0061] Of course, the name PEBA in the present description of the
invention also relates to PEBAX.RTM. polymers sold by Arkema, to
Vestamid.RTM. polymers sold by Evonik.RTM., to Grilamid.RTM.
polymers sold by EMS, to Kellaflex.RTM. polymers sold by DSM or to
any other PEBA from other suppliers.
[0062] The expression "hydrophobic PEBA" in the context of the
invention is understood to mean a PEBA which has at the same time a
saturated water absorption of less than 6 wt %, preferably less
than 3 wt %, according to the ISO 62 standard, relative to the
weight of PEBA and comprises 20 to 80 wt % of polyamide blocks and
80 to 20 wt % of polyether blocks, preferably 30 to 70 wt % of
polyamide blocks and 70 to 30 wt % of polyether blocks.
[0063] Advantageously, the PEBA copolymers have PA-6, PA-11, PA-12,
PA-6,12, PA-6,6/6, PA-10,10 and/or PA-6,14 polyamide (PA) blocks,
preferably PA-II and/or PA-12 polyamide blocks, and PTMG, PPG
and/or PO3G polyether (PE) blocks. The PEBAs based on PE blocks
consisting predominantly of PEG are in the range of hydrophilic
PEBAs. Fabric materials based on hydrophilic PEBAs, i.e. based on
PEBAs that do not meet the criteria of hydrophobic PEBAs defined
above, are not capable of cooling under the conditions of use or
using the method of the present invention, as table 1 below shows,
and may even on the contrary become swollen upon contact with
water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0064] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a web of 80 g/m.sup.2 weight at
three increasing magnifications (1, 2 and 3). The last
magnification shows how, on the surface of the hydrophobic PEBA
(PA-12/PTMG) fibers, water is dispersed as microdroplets with a
size of less than 20 .mu.m, or even less than 10 .mu.m, thereby
resulting in their extremely rapid evaporation thanks to their low
surface tension. This evaporation is caused by direct heat transfer
between these droplets and the ambient air, the hydrophobic PEBA
used according to the invention being a poor heat conductor. It is
in particular the heat transfer from the skin to these droplets, on
the surface of a fabric according to the invention, which gives a
surprising "dry cold" sensation.
[0065] Advantageously, the hydrophobic PEBA is made as a compound
with at least one filler and/or at least one pigment and/or at
least one additive. The polymeric matrix of the PEBA may especially
comprise additives. Said additives may, for example, be reinforcing
fillers, fire retardants, UV protection agents, UV stabilizers,
heat stabilizers, pigments, lubricants, antioxidants,
fluidity-improving agents, casting agents, film-forming agents,
filmifying auxiliaries, gums, semicrystalline polymers,
preservatives and mixtures thereof. Of course, any other type of
additive used in the field of fabrics can also be envisioned.
[0066] The present invention also in particular relates to the use
of said hydrophobic PEBA for manufacturing fabric materials, such
as yarns, fibers, filaments (monofilaments or multifilaments),
films, membranes, porous membranes, woven and nonwoven fabrics. The
present invention also relates to the manufacture and to the use of
hydrophobic PEBA particles that have been melted so that they
adhere to the surface of fabric materials lastingly (wash-resistant
fabrics).
[0067] Advantageously, the weight content of hydrophobic PEBA
represents at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, more preferably
at least 50%, even more preferably at least 80% and ideally 100% of
the total weight of the fabric according to the invention.
[0068] In the present description, the term T.sub.m represents the
melting point of the fabric material. This may for example be in
the range from 100 to 170.degree. C.
[0069] Said PEBA or the thermoplastic matrix compositions based on
said PEBA may be formed into fabric material directly after
polymerization, with no intermediate solidification and remelting
steps. It may also take the form of granules, intended to be
remelted for a subsequent final forming operation, for example for
manufacturing molded fabric articles or for manufacturing yarns,
fibers and/or filaments.
[0070] All melt spinning processes may be used, in particular by
making the composition of the invention pass through spinnerets
having one or more orifices. To manufacture multifilament yams,
spinning or spin-draw or spin-draw-texturing processes, whether
integrated or not and irrespective of the spinning rate, may be
mentioned. The yams may be produced by high-speed spinning, with
spinning rates equal to or greater than 3000 m/min, preferably
equal to or greater than 4000 m/min. Such processes are often
denoted by the following terms: POY (partially oriented yam), FOY
(fully oriented yam), ISD (integrated spin-draw) and HOY (highly
oriented yarn with a spinning rate of greater than 5500 m/min).
These yarns may also be textured, depending on the usage for which
they are intended. The yarns obtained by these processes are most
particularly suitable for producing fabric surfaces, whether woven
or knitted. According to the invention, the PEBA thermoplastic
polymeric matrix may be used for manufacturing monofilamentary or
monofilament yarns, multifilamentary or multifilament yarns,
continuous fibers (on reels) and/or discontinuous (chopped) fibers.
Chopped PEBA fibers are particularly well suited for being mixed
with natural fibers. One process particularly well suited to the
manufacture of PEBA monofilaments and multifilaments is that
described in patent application US 2010/0119804.
[0071] For individual fibers or monofilaments, the linear densities
may range from 1.5 dtex to 100 dtex per filament, the high linear
densities being particularly well suited for industrial
application. Multifilamentary yarns preferably have a linear
density of 6 dtex per filament or less, more preferably 1.5 dtex
per filament or less. To manufacture fibers, the filaments may for
example be combined in the form of a roving or lap, directly after
spinning, or subsequently drawn, textured or crimped and chopped.
The fibers obtained may be used to manufacture nonwovens or staple
fiber yarns. The compositions may also be used to manufacture
flock. The yarns, fibers and/or filaments of the invention may
undergo various treatments, such as for example drawing in a
continuous step, or subsequently, size deposition, oiling,
gelating, texturing, crimping, drawing, fixing or relaxing heat
treatment, throwing, twisting and/or dyeing. In the case of dyeing,
vat dyeing or jet dyeing processes may in particular be mentioned.
The preferred dies are acid dies, metalliferous dies,
nonmetalliferous dies.
[0072] The present invention also relates to fabric articles made
of a PEBA matrix or a thermoplastic composition comprising the PEBA
according to the invention that are obtained by a forming operation
using a process chosen from the group comprising the following:
extrusion processes, such as for the extrusion of sheets and films;
molding processes, such as for compression molding; and injection
processes, such as for injection molding. Films may thus be
obtained by the aforementioned processes using a sheet die. The
films obtained my undergo various treatment steps, such as a
uniaxial or biaxial drawing treatment, a stabilizing heat
treatment, an antistatic treatment or a sizing treatment.
[0073] The fabrics comprising hydrophobic PEBA according to the
invention provide a cold or cooling effect under certain
conditions: the cooling effect is caused after the
hydrophobic-PEBA-based fabric material has been brought into
contact (either by simple contacting or by impregnation, spraying
or even dipping) with an aqueous medium, irrespective of the way in
which the aqueous medium has been added to the fabric material.
[0074] The term "aqueous medium" is understood in the context of
the invention to mean a liquid or a gas, vapor, or even a solid,
said medium comprising at least 85 wt % water, preferably at least
90 wt % water and more preferably at least 95 wt % water relative
to the weight of the medium, and the temperature of the aqueous
medium preferably lies in the 1.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C.
range, preferably the 15.degree. C. to T.sub.m-20.degree. C. range,
T.sub.m being the melting point of a fabric material according to
the invention.
[0075] The aqueous medium may naturally impregnate the fabric or
may come naturally into contact with the fabric material. This is
the case for example of sweat on a garment. The aqueous medium may
also be intentionally added to the fabric by any means, such as
impregnation, dipping or spraying, with the aqueous medium in gas,
vapor or liquid form, or else by any other method of adding liquid,
gas or vapor to a fabric material. This is the case of a medical,
pharmaceutical or cosmetic active agent or of a perfume that may
for example be added to a bandage or a cooling wipe
respectively.
[0076] The term "ambient temperature" is understood in the context
of the invention to mean the temperature of the air or the medium
surrounding the fabric, whether this temperature is controlled
(air-conditioning, cold chamber), programmed (operating temperature
of a process or device) or not controlled (due to the external
geographical and weather conditions). More precisely, the ambient
temperature is understood to mean a temperature lying within the
-60.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. range, preferably the -40.degree.
C. to 140.degree. C. range. The fabric materials according to the
invention comprising at least 50% hydrophobic PEBA are capable of
withstanding these temperatures, the PEBAs retaining all their
properties (especially flexibility and their dimensions) at these
temperatures.
[0077] Preferably, the fabric material according to the invention
is such that it cools to a temperature below the ambient
temperature for at least 15 minutes, preferably for at least 30
minutes, more preferably for at least one hour and even more
preferably for at least two hours, after said contacting, the
ambient temperature being within the 10 to 80.degree. C.,
preferably 10 to 50.degree. C. and more preferably 15 to 40.degree.
C. range.
[0078] Advantageously, said material is such that it has
accelerated and prolonged properties of desorbing and evaporating
said aqueous medium in cold gas form from a temperature below the
ambient temperature, preferably below 20.degree. C.
[0079] The present invention also relates to a fabric or a fabric
article obtained at least partly from hydrophobic PEBA, in the form
of yarns, fibers and/or filaments as defined above. These articles
may be fabrics or fabric surfaces, such as woven, knitted, nonwoven
or matt surfaces.
[0080] Said fabric is advantageously used in the medical, cosmetic,
pharmaceutical hygiene, baggage, confection, clothing, domestic or
household equipment, furnishing, carpet, automotive or industrial
fields, especially for industrial filtration, agricultural and/or
building matter.
[0081] These articles may for example be carpets, furniture
coverings, surface coverings, sofas, curtains, mattresses and
pillows, drinks coolers, pipe cooling sleeves, and medical fabric
materials. The fabric according to the invention advantageously
constitutes a felt, a filter, a film, a gauze, a cloth, a web, a
net, a bandage, especially a bandage for soothing pain or burns, a
ply, a woven, a knit, an article of clothing, a garment, a pair of
tights, stockings, especially support stockings, an article of bed
linen, an article of furniture, a napkin, a package, a curtain, an
interior lining, a functional engineering textile, a geotextile
and/or an agricultural textile.
[0082] The cold effect is particularly surprising on a web, a net,
knitted fabric using monofilaments or multifilaments or on a
perforated film. For example, after these structures have been
immersed in hot water at around 40.degree. C. and then briefly
dried, they produce a cold effect in a few seconds, the surface
temperature of the fabric being lowered to 16.degree. C. in less
than around ten seconds. Immersion in water at the ambient
temperature (for example 20.degree. C.) gives the same results. Hot
water, especially at a temperature above 30.degree. C., provides an
additional surprise effect.
[0083] Advantageously, said fabric comprising PEBA-based fibers,
filaments and/or films has a high specific surface area. It has
been demonstrated that this further increases the rate of
evaporation of an aqueous liquid at the surface of the textile
fabric comprising these fibers and/or filaments according to the
invention. Likewise, the surface of the fibers or filaments may
have a particular structure such as grooves, especially straight,
ellipsoidal, etc. grooves, to increase the rate of evaporation and
therefore the cold effect of the fabric materials according to the
invention.
[0084] These fabrics according to the invention manufactured from
hydrophobic PEBA, preferably predominantly so, (comprising at least
50 wt % PEBA) also have other advantageous properties. They are
light, flexible and soft to the touch; they are resistant to
tearing, cutting, abrasion and pilling
[0085] Advantageously, said fabric further includes: natural
fibers, such as cotton, wool and/or silk fibers; artificial fibers
manufactured from natural raw materials; mineral fibers, such as
carbon, glass, silica and/or magnesium fibers; metal fibers; and/or
synthetic fibers other than PEBA fibers. The synthetic fibers may
especially comprise polyester, polyether, polyetherester, polyamide
or acrylic fibers, or fibers of any other synthetic material
generally used in the fabric sector.
[0086] The fabrics according to the invention may especially
comprise combinations of hydrophobic PEBA with hydrophilic
synthetic fibers (for example hydrophilic PEBA fibers). The latter
act as a moisture transfer agent. The hydrophilic synthetic fibers
absorb the moisture and, on contact with the PEBA, the latter
causes evaporation cooling the fabric. As an example of a structure
that can be used in a garment, the hydrophilic fibers are
predominantly in contact with the skin (for example the inside of a
T-shirt) in order to absorb the moisture and transfer it to the
hydrophobic PEBA fibers that are predominantly on the outside of
the garment, on the ambient medium side. The fabrics according to
the invention may have sandwich structures comprising a ply of
predominantly hydrophilic fibers sandwiched between two plies of
predominantly hydrophobic fibers, comprising at least 10%
hydrophobic PEBA, or, conversely, comprising a ply of predominantly
hydrophobic fibers, comprising at least 10% hydrophobic PEBA,
sandwiched between two plies of predominantly hydrophilic
fibers.
[0087] Here the term "predominantly" means that the ply contains
more than 50 wt % of hydrophobic or hydrophilic fibers, depending
on the case. Unlike a purely hydrophilic fabric which accumulates
water and causes a cold effect only because of the presence of the
water, thereby causing a "moist" cold sensation, the
hydrophobic-PEBA-based fabrics of the invention cause a surprising
dry cold effect. The hydrophobic PEBA evaporates the water more
rapidly, causing an intense cold sensation on the surface of the
fabric and making the wetted effect of the fabric disappear almost
instantaneously.
[0088] Advantageously, said fabric comprises synthetic fibers
obtained from bioresource raw materials. Preferably, the fabric
according to the invention is manufactured solely from bioresource
raw materials.
[0089] The expression "renewable raw materials" or the expression
"bioresource raw materials" is understood to mean materials that
comprise bioresource carbon or renewable carbon. Unlike materials
obtained from fossil materials, materials composed of renewable raw
materials contain .sup.14C. The "renewable carbon content" or
"bioresource carbon content" is determined by applying the ASTM D
6866 (ASTM D 6866-06) and ASTM D 7026 (ASTM D 7026-04) standards.
The first standard describes a test for measuring the
.sup.14C/.sup.12C ratio of a specimen and compares it with the
.sup.14C/.sup.12C ratio of a reference specimen of 100% bioresource
origin in order to give a relative percentage of bioresource carbon
in the specimen. The standard is based on the same concepts as in
carbon 14 dating, but without applying the dating equations. The
ratio thus calculated is called the "pMC" (percent Modern Carbon).
If the material to be analyzed is a mixture of biomaterial and
fossil material (with no radioactive isotope), then the pMC value
obtained is directly correlated with the amount of biomaterial
present in the specimen. The ASTM D 6866 standard provides several
techniques for measuring the content of the .sup.14C isotope, these
being based either on LSC (liquid scintillation counting), i.e.
liquid scintillation spectrometry, or on AMS/IRMS (accelerator mass
spectrometry coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry). The
measuring method preferentially used in the case of the present
invention is mass spectrometry, described in the ASTM D 6866-06
standard (i.e. accelerator mass spectroscopy).
[0090] To give an example, the fabrics of the invention containing
PEBA based on PA-11 are at least partly obtained from bioresource
raw materials and have a bioresource carbon content of at least 1%,
corresponding to a .sup.12C/.sup.14C isotope ratio of
1.2.times.10.sup.-14. Preferably, in the fabrics according to the
invention at least 50% of the total carbon mass is bioresource
carbon mass, corresponding to a .sup.12C/.sup.14C isotope ratio of
at least 0.6.times.10.sup.-12. This content is advantageously
higher, especially up to 100%, corresponding to a .sup.12C/.sup.14C
isotope ratio of 1.2.times.10.sup.-12 in the case of PEBAs having
PA-11 blocks and PE blocks comprising PO3G, PTMG and/or PPG
obtained from renewable raw materials. The fabrics according to the
invention may therefore be made of 100% bioresource carbon or on
the contrary result from a mixture with carbon of fossil
origin.
EXAMPLES
[0091] The examples below illustrate the present invention without
limiting the scope thereof. Unless otherwise indicated, all the
percentages are by weight.
Measuring the Temperature of Various Fabrics
[0092] The fabrics manufactured from PEBA according to the
invention are compared with fabrics based on other materials
normally used in fabrics, namely PES (polyester), PA (polyamide)
and cotton.
[0093] In examples Ex1, Ex2, Ex3, Ex4 and Ex5 according to the
invention and in comparative example Cp2, the PEBA is PA12-PTMG,
i.e. it comprises PA-12 blocks and PTMG blocks. In examples Ex1.1,
Ex2.1 and Ex3.1, the PEBA is PA-11/PTMG. In comparative examples 3,
4 and 5, the PEBA is PA-6/PTMG, PA-12/PEG and PA-6/PEG
respectively. Comparative example Cp1 is polyester, Cp6 is PA-11,
Cp1 is cotton and Cp8 is a PA-6/6,6/12 copolyamide of Platamid.RTM.
H005 trademark.
[0094] The contents (in wt percent) of the PA and PE blocks are
indicated in table 1.
[0095] The temperature measurements were carried out on the fabric
using an infrared gun (Cole-Parmer.RTM.).
[0096] The aqueous medium used in the examples was liquid
water.
[0097] The fabric material was in the form of a light web weighing
80 g/m.sup.2 for all the tests except in the case of example 2.
[0098] Example 2 was a nonwoven consisting of tighter fibers than
those of the web and with a greater weight, making contact with the
aqueous medium more difficult, and with a smaller contact area. The
fabric was less impregnated with the aqueous medium.
[0099] Protocol: with a 23.degree. C. ambient temperature: [0100]
at T0: the fabric material was immersed in water (material/aqueous
medium contact) for 5 seconds; [0101] drying for 5 seconds; and
then [0102] measurement of the surface temperature of the fabric
using the infrared gun, after 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1
hour 30 minutes and then 2 hours, respectively.
[0103] The results are expressed in table 1 below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characterization and measurement of the cold
effect of the fabric Fabric material Temperature of the fabric
material as Saturated Temperature Liquid a function of the time
elapsed from T0 water before (water) (material-liquid contact time)
PA PE absorption (%) contact with Temperature T0 + T0 + T0 + T0 +
T0 + (wt %) (wt %) (ISO 62) the liquid of the liquid 30 s 30 min 1
h 1 h 30 2 h Cp1 polyester 23.degree. C. 30.degree. C. 24.degree.
C. 23.degree. C. 23.degree. C. Ex 1 23 77 1.2 23.degree. C.
30.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 17.degree. C. 17.degree.
C. 19.degree. C. Ex 1.1 23 77 1.2 23.degree. C. 15.degree. C.
15.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 17.degree. C. 18.degree. C. 19.degree.
C. Ex 2 30 70 1.2 23.degree. C. 30.degree. C. 16.degree. C.
16.degree. C. 20.degree. C. 22.degree. C. 22.degree. C. Ex 2.1 37.5
62.5 1.3 23.degree. C. 30.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 16.degree. C.
17.degree. C. 18.degree. C. 19.degree. C. Ex 3 50 50 1.2 23.degree.
C. 30.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 17.degree. C.
18.degree. C. 19.degree. C. Ex 3.1 50 50 1.4 23.degree. C.
30.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 17.degree. C. 18.degree.
C. 19.degree. C. Ex 4 70 30 1.2 23.degree. C. 30.degree. C.
16.degree. C. 16.degree. C. 17.degree. C. 18.degree. C. 20.degree.
C. Ex 5 80 20 1.1 23.degree. C. 30.degree. C. 18.degree. C.
18.degree. C. 18.degree. C. 19.degree. C. 21.degree. C. Cp2 98.5
11.5 1.1 22.degree. C. 23.degree. C. 23.degree. C. Cp3 67 33 6.7
swollen Cp4 50 50 48 swollen Cp5 50 50 120 swollen Cp6 100 0 1
22.degree. C. 23.degree. C. 23.degree. C.
[0104] OBSERVATIONS: Apart from the fabrics according to the
invention, the other fabrics provided no cold effect.
[0105] The fabrics of comparative examples Cp1 to Cp6 were swollen,
were distorted and had a soaked and heavy appearance; after contact
with the liquid, the observed temperature drop of the fabric was
zero (in Cp1) or very small (Cp2 to Cp6).
[0106] Conversely, the hydrophobic-PEBA-based fabrics of the
examples according to the invention, "Ex", cooled and had a cooling
effect lasting for at least 2 hours, had a dry, pleasant and soft
feel, while remaining very light. Their temperature dropped by 5 to
7.degree. C. over at least 1 h 30 relative to the initial
temperature of 23.degree. C., corresponding to the ambient
temperature, even after impregnation with water at a temperature of
30.degree. C.
[0107] On gently shaking a hydrophobic-PEBA-based fabric according
to the invention, for example at T0+1 h 30, it was found that its
temperature dropped again to 16.degree. C. owing to the additional
evaporation produced.
[0108] In table 2 below, the amount of water that had evaporated
over the course of time, for various fabrics (webs) made of cotton
(Cp7), PA-6/6,6/12 copolyamide (Cp8) and hydrophobic PEBA (Ex1),
after they had been wetted and dried according to the same
protocol, was measured (by weighing the fabric). These weight
measurements were carried out on fabrics that remained "static",
that is to say stationary after drying.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Measurement and comparison of water
evaporation on the fabric Weight (g) of the fabric Weight as a
function of the After elapsed time from T0 Before wetting T0 + T0 +
T0 + T0 + Type of fabric wetting (T0) 60 min 120 min 150 min 180
min Cotton Total weight of the fabric (g) 18.55 27.84 26.94 26.14
25.53 24.8 Cp7 Weight of water (g) on the fabric 0 9.29 8.39 7.59
6.99 6.25 Weight of evaporated water (g) 0 0 0.9 1.7 2.31 3.04
Percentage of evaporated water (%) 0 0 9.7 18.3 24.9 32.7 CoPA
Fabric weight (g) 18.1 26.1 25.12 24.1 23.44 22.63 Cp8 Weight of
water (g) on the fabric 0 8 7.02 6 5.34 4.53 Weight of evaporated
water (g) 0 0 0.98 2 2.66 3.47 Percentage of evaporated water (%) 0
0 12.25 25 33.25 43.38 Pebax Fabric weight (g) 17.7 24.48 23.47
22.3 21.5 20.77 Ex1 Weight of water (g) on the fabric 0 6.78 5.77
4.6 3.8 3.07 Weight of evaporated water (g) 0 0 1.01 2.18 2.98 3.71
Percentage of evaporated water (%) 0 0 14.9 32.2 44 54.7
[0109] OBSERVATIONS: The PEBA fabric (Ex1) according to the
invention had accelerated water evaporation properties, the water
taking the form of cold gas at a temperature below 20.degree. C.,
whereas the evaporation of water from a polyamide fabric or a
cotton fabric was much slower.
[0110] The PEBA used in the composition of a fabric according to
the invention had a surprising dry cold effect lasting for several
hours and capable of being intensified and extended through the
effect of movement (for example if it was shaken gently at T0+1
hours) or else through the effect of a further contact with an
aqueous medium, such as liquid water, or the sweat of a sportsman
for example.
[0111] Advantageously, the cooling effect of the fabric according
to the invention is intensified and extended by shaking the fabric
that has previously been brought into contact with an aqueous
medium.
[0112] The behavior of the fabrics according to the invention is
therefore the ideal behavior desirable for engineering fabrics,
especially in the sports field, in particular for sports
clothing.
* * * * *