KR20200110744A - New yarn and fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide fabrics useful in the manufacture of clothing and other fabric products for use in health care environments such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and the like. The present invention relates essentially to yarns consisting of cotton fibers, hemp fibers, and fibers comprising porous particles, to yarns and fabrics comprising such yarns, and to the use of such garments as medical staff uniforms. Yarns and fabrics can further include one or more metal wires usable as temperature sensors.

Description

New yarn and fabric

The present invention relates to a new combination of fibers in the field of textiles and apparel, in particular in the manufacture of yarns and fabrics made from such yarns.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a major problem worldwide. It has been reported that about 6% of hospitalized patients in Europe suffer from one or more medical-related infections during hospitalization. The prevalence of HAI in long-term care facilities is estimated to be 3.4% (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control; Technical report: Assessment of infection control, hospitalhygiene capacity and training needs in the European Union, 2014). The cost of hospital inpatient infection in Sweden is estimated at 6.5 * 10 ⁹ SEK per year.

The ability of bacteria to survive on the various surfaces of hospitals is a key factor in transmitting bacteria in hospital environments, and textiles are recognized as the second largest cause of HAI. It has been found that various enterococci and staphylococci survive for at least 4 days in hospital fabrics made of pure cotton and for at least one day in cotton/polyester blends. In some cases, the bacteria survived more than 90 days. (Neely and Maley, J Clin Microbiol, Feb 200, 724-726).

Hospital guidelines generally require that clothing used by medical staff be replaced at least once a day and always after contamination. Therefore, a significant amount of energy is required to wash and dry employee uniforms. Frequent washing and drying wears out the fabric and shortens the life of the garment. Using a fabric that is stronger or thicker and thus more wear resistant often requires a compromise between wear resistance and comfort of the garment.

It has been proposed to treat fabrics with silver ions (Ag ⁺ ) or nano-sized silver colloids to achieve antibacterial effects (Lee et al. Journal of Materials Science (2003) 38:2199). However, such fabrics are susceptible to leakage of silver ions into the environment, especially with regard to cleaning, and can have a significant detrimental effect on the environment.

It is known in the art to provide a temperature sensor in health care garments to monitor the use cycle of the garment, in particular that the garment is washed to an appropriate washing temperature after wearing (see, for example, WO2017/099658). Fabrics comprising metallic wires usable as temperature sensors are known (see, for example, WO2005083164).

The present invention recognizes the above problems, and manufactures textile products, in particular, staff uniforms, lapcoats, patient clothing, towels, bed sheets, curtains, etc. for use in medical environments such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. It aims to provide useful fabrics in the manufacture of such fabric products. Such textile products are particularly useful in facilities where infants, particularly premature infants, immunocompromised patients, and sensitive patients such as intensive care unit patients and elderly patients are treated. They could otherwise be seriously affected even as harmless infections.

Fabrics have antibacterial properties, i.e. microbes that contaminate the fabric do not grow or replicate to a meaningful extent, reducing the risk of transmitting the bacteria to other patients, staff, visitors or others. The fabric is also wear-resistant, comfortable to wear, requires less energy for drying, has high tensile strength and good dimensional stability, and does not leak antimicrobial substances into the environment when compared to standard medical uniforms made of cotton and/or polyester.

The yarn can also include one or more metal wires that can be used as temperature sensors.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a yarn essentially comprising cotton or rayon fibers, hemp fibers, and fibers comprising porous particles, and cotton or rayon fibers, hemp fibers, fibers comprising porous particles, and further It relates to a yarn essentially comprising polyester and/or metal wire.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a thread comprising two or more yarns according to the invention.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a fabric comprising at least one yarn according to the invention and/or at least one yarn according to the invention.

The yarn and/or fabric of the present invention may further comprise at least one metal wire usable as a temperature sensor.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a garment made of the fabric according to the invention as a health care staff uniform.

Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Justice

All words and terms used herein are intended to have the meanings given to those skilled in the art. For clarity, several terms are specifically defined below.

A “fibre” is a single filament of a material that can be natural (ie, cotton, linen, wool, hemp) or a material that can be artificial (ie, polyester, metal, nylon, carbon fiber, glass).

A “particle” is a body that extends substantially in three dimensions, ie has a width, length and height. The outer surface of a particle defines the volume of the particle. Porous particles have one or more pores extending from the surface into the interior of the particles. Particles can generally be spherical, cubic or irregular.

"Yarn" is a spun agglomeration of fibers.

"Thread" includes a number of yarns joined together.

Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are given as weight percentages.

The present invention in a first aspect is a yarn comprising a fiber comprising cotton or rayon fiber, hemp fiber, and porous particles and comprising fibers consisting essentially and optionally of polyester and/or metal wire of these three types of fibers It is about.

In one embodiment, the yarn comprises a mixture of fibers comprising 95% or more, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% cotton fibers, hemp fibers, and porous particles.

In one embodiment, the yarn comprises at least 95%, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% of rayon fibers, hemp fibers, and a mixture of fibers comprising porous particles.

In one embodiment, the yarn comprises a mixture of 95% or more, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% cotton or rayon fiber, hemp fiber, fiber comprising porous particles, and metal wire. do.

In one embodiment, the yarn comprises a mixture of fibers comprising 95% or more, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% cotton fibers, polyester fibers, hemp fibers and porous particles.

The yarn comprises a mixture of fibers comprising at least 95%, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% rayon fibers, polyester fibers, hemp fibers and porous particles.

The yarn comprises a mixture of 95% or more, such as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% cotton or rayon fibers, polyester fibers, hemp fibers, fibers comprising porous particles, and metal wires. .

Cotton fiber, rayon fiber, polyester and hemp fiber are well known commodities in the field of yarn and fabric manufacturing and are commercially available from a number of suppliers.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a fast-growing plant that substantially reduces or completely eliminates the need for herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers by covering the ground quickly and inhibiting the growth of weeds and some soil-borne pathogens. It is an environmentally friendly alternative ("Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites", Mohanty et al. (eds) CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2005). Hemp has natural antibacterial properties (Khan et al., BioResources 9 (2), 3642-3659). Hemp has been cultivated for thousands of years for a variety of uses, including textiles and clothing.

Rayon is a fiber made of cellulose and can be made into various types, types, and grades that may be included in the present invention. Rayon was first developed in the early 20th century and was mainly used for industrial purposes. Further developments and improvements in manufacturing techniques have resulted in a wide range of fibers with improved properties. Lyocell, sold under the trade name Tencel®, was developed in the 1990s (D JCole,'A new cellulosic fiber-Tencel', Advances in Fiber Science, The Textile Institute, 1992). Viscose and lyocell are preferred embodiments of rayon in the present invention. The lyocell can be purchased, for example, from Lenzing AG, Austria.

Metal wires or metal wires which may optionally be included in the yarn, yarn or fabric according to the present invention are preferably useful as sensors such as temperature sensors. It is known that the electrical resistance of metal wires can vary with temperature and can be used in temperature sensors. Metal wires may be made of a single metal or alloy including, but not limited to, FeCrAl, NiCr, NiFe, CuNi, and CuMn. Such metal alloy wires are available from Sandik AB (Sandviken, Sweden) under the trade name Kanthal®. Metal wires can also be used in thermocouples, two wires of dissimilar metals bonded at one or two points, to measure temperature. Suitable metal wires are available, for example, from Sandvik AB (Sandviken, Sweden) under the trade name EXERA™. The metal wire(s) are preferably coated with an insulating material such as a polymer prior to being incorporated into the yarn or fabric.

Fibers comprising porous particles used in the present invention are also known in the art and can be made in a variety of ways. For example, it is known in the art from WO9842909 to introduce UV blocking particles into a fabric. A method of permanently bonding particles such as zeolite to cellulosic and synthetic fibers is disclosed in US5538783. Other methods are disclosed in WO03/000979 and WO03/105996.

Preferably, the porous particles have the ability to adsorb and/or absorb water. The pore structure of the particles increases the surface area of the fabric and promotes rapid evaporation of water.

In one example, the porous particles are 1-1000 μm in width and/or length and/or height, such as 10-500 μm or 50-250 μm. In one example, the width, length and height of the particles are within a size of 1 to 2 times each other.

In one example, the porous particles have a specific surface area of 500 m ² /g, 750 m ² /g, 1000 m ² /g or more.

In one example, the porous particles include char or activated carbon particles. Activated carbon is a form of carbon engineered to have small, bulky pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.

In one example, the porous particles include zeolite. Zeolite is an aluminum silicate mineral composed of aluminum, silicon and oxygen. Zeolites form naturally in certain geological environments and can be obtained from some volcanic rocks. Zeolites can also be prepared synthetically, and natural and synthetic zeolites are commercially available from various suppliers.

In other examples, the porous particles include silica gel, graphite and/or aluminum oxide.

In one example, the fibers comprising porous particles are polyester fibers, cotton fibers, rayon fibers or nylon fibers.

In one example, the yarn according to the invention consists essentially of fibers comprising 20% cotton, 55% hemp, and 25% porous particles.

In one example, the yarn according to the invention consists essentially of 20% cotton, 35% hemp, fibers comprising 25% porous particles, and 20% polyester.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a yarn comprising two or more yarns according to the invention, and optionally one or more metal wires.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a fabric comprising at least one yarn or yarn according to the invention.

In one example, the fabric according to the invention comprises a first yarn or yarn according to the invention as warp yarn and a second yarn or yarn according to the invention as weft yarn.

In one example, the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 700 N warp and/or weft. This can be measured using the international standard ISO 13934-1.

In one example, the fabric has a warp and/or weft tear strength of at least 30 N. This can be measured using the international standard ISO 13937-1.

In one example, the fabric has a dimensional stability of ± 1%. It can be measured using the international standard BS EN ISO 26330-1A.

In one example, fabrics have improved drying times over fabrics made from pure cotton, pure polyester, or polyester/cotton mixtures. This can be measured, for example, using the AATCC standard 199-2013. In one example, the fabric has a drying time of less than 25 minutes as measured using AATCC standard 199-2013. In one example, the fabric has a drying time of less than 24, 23 or 22 minutes as measured using AATCC standard 199-2013. In one example, the fabric has a drying time of about 21 minutes as measured using AATCC standard 199-2013.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a fabric according to the invention in the manufacture of a textile product for use in a health care environment. These products include school uniforms, lab coats, patient clothing, towels, bed linen and drapes.

Medical settings include hospitals, long-term care facilities, neonatal care facilities and intensive care facilities.

In a preferred embodiment, the yarns, yarns and fabrics according to the invention do not contain any additional compounds, agents or substances with antimicrobial activity. These additional substances can leak from the product according to the invention and cause environmental damage. In particular, the yarns, yarns and fabrics according to the present invention do not contain silver, copper or zinc in metal or salt form.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. The examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is the scope of the appended claims. All documents cited herein as prior art are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Example

Yarns and yarns were made according to the invention and used as warp yarns and weft yarns in the manufacture of woven fabrics according to the invention. The warp yarn included fibers comprising 35% hemp, 20% polyester, 20% cotton, and 25% porous particles. The weft yarn contained fibers comprising 55% hemp, 20% cotton and 25% porous particles.

The properties of the fabric were tested according to the Swedish standard (SIS-CEN/TS 14237:2016) for textiles for human, medical and social welfare facilities, a reference standard established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The dimensional change was tested according to BS EN ISO 26330-1A and was found to be between -0.5% and -1.0% within a tolerance of ± 3.0% according to the Swedish standard.

The tensile strength was tested according to ISO 13934-1 and found to be ~700 N (warp) and ~425 N (weft), which is much higher than the 400 N requirement set by the Swedish standard.

Tear strength was tested according to ISO 13937-1 and found to be greater than 30 N (> 30 N) (warp) and greater than 20 N (> 20 N) (weft).

The antibacterial properties of fabrics were determined by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Standard 100- for the evaluation of antimicrobial finishes on textile materials using the test organism Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538). Tested using 2012. A control sample consisting of 100% cotton was used.

1 mL of inoculums containing ~ 1.1 * 10 ⁵ cfu/mL Staphylococcus aureus were applied to 8 fabric samples and control samples, respectively. After 24 hours, the number of cfu per sample was calculated and found to be less than 100 (<100) on average for the fabric sample and 4.4 * 10 ⁶ for the control sample. Therefore, the fabric exhibits excellent antibacterial properties.

Drying time reflects the energy required to dry the fabric and was measured using the AATCC standard 199-2013. Moisture absorption time was measured using AATCC standard 79. Two fabrics according to the invention were tested and exhibited a moisture absorption time of 6-8 seconds, a moisture retention rate of 96-99% and an average drying time of 21 minutes (21.2 and 21.4, respectively). Thus, fabrics have improved drying times compared to fabrics made from pure cotton, pure polyester, or polyester/cotton blends.

The comfort of the garment made of the fabric may be evaluated by providing a questionnaire survey on questions related to the comfort of the garment to the apparel user compared to existing clothes. The survey results indicate that the garment made of the fabric according to the present invention is comfortable, more comfortable, or even more comfortable compared to conventional clothing.

Claims (15)

Cotton or rayon fibers; Hemp fiber; And a yarn consisting essentially of fibers comprising porous particles. Cotton or rayon fibers; Hemp fiber; Fibers containing porous particles; And yarns consisting essentially of polyester and/or one or more metal wires. The yarn according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber including porous particles is made of polyester, cotton, rayon, or nylon. The yarn according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the porous particles are capable of adsorbing water. The yarn according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the porous particles are selected from the group consisting of charcoal, activated carbon, zeolite, silica gel, graphite, and aluminum oxide. 6. Yarn according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 5, consisting essentially of fibers comprising 20% cotton or rayon, 55% hemp, and 25% porous particles. The yarn according to any one of claims 2 to 5, consisting essentially of 20% cotton or rayon, 35% hemp, fiber comprising 25% porous particles, and 20% polyester. A yarn comprising two or more yarns according to claim 1 and optionally one or more metal wires. A fabric comprising one or more yarns according to claim 1 and/or one or more yarns according to claim 8. The method of claim 8, comprising the first yarn or yarn according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as warp yarn, and the second yarn or yarn according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as weft yarn. Fabric made. The fabric according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the warp and/or weft have a tensile strength of 700 N or more. The fabric according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the warp yarn and/or weft yarn has a tear strength of 30 N or more. 13. The fabric according to any one of claims 9 to 12, having a dimensional stability of ±1%. 14. The fabric of any of claims 9-13, having a drying time of less than 25 minutes measured using AATCC standard 199-2013. Use of a fabric according to any one of claims 9 to 14 in the manufacture of textile products for use in a medical environment.