Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
STRETCHABLE COMPOSITE FABRIC AND CLOTH PRODUCTS THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a stretchable
composite fabric and cloth products thereof. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a
stretchable composite fabric which is a woven or knitted
fabric comprising a stretchable and high water-absorbent
and self-elongative yarn (1), a non-stretchable, low
water-absorbent and low self-elongative yarn (2) and a
stretchable, low water-absorbent and low self-elongative
yarn (3), and capable of, when wetted with water,
generating a rough (or rugged or concave and convex)
pattern due to difference in water-absorption and self-
elongation among the yarns from which the fabric is
constituted, and removing, when dried, the rugged pattern
from the fabric, and cloth products thereof.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
It is known that various proposals have been made to
utilize stretchable woven or knitted fabrics in uses of
sports wear and under wear, as described in, for example,
Japanese Unexamined Pa.t.ent Publication No. 3-174043
(Patent Reference 1);..
When the stretchable woven or knitted fabrics
comprising synthetic fibers and/or national fibers are
used in the use of clothes, for example, the sports wear
and under wear, however, a problem that when sweated,
from the skin, the cloth adheres to the skin so as to
create unpleasantness, occurred. To solve the problem,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-147657
(Patent Reference 2) provided a woven fabric having a
double ply weave structure and a rough (or rugged or
concave and convex) pattern formed on the back surface of
the fabric. In this case, however, as the woven fabric
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has the rough (or rugged or concave and convex) pattern
formed on the surface, a cloth prepared from the woven
fabric is provided with unnecessary rugged pattern on the
cloth surface in usual condition (non-wetted (non-
sweated) condition), and thus has an undesired
appearance.
Also, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 3-213518 (Patent Reference 3) and
No. 10-77544 (Patent Reference 4) provided woven fabrics
capable of self-controlling the air permeability thereof.
The cloth prepared from this woven fabric can always
provide good comfort by such a mechanism that when
sweated and the temperature of the inside of the cloth
increases, the air permeability of the woven fabric from
which the cloth is formed increases so that moisture
stored in the cloth is discharged to the outside of the
cloth, and when the sweat stops, the cloth is dried and
the temperature of the inside of the cloth decreases, the
air permeability of the woven fabric from which the cloth
is formed decreases so that the warmth-keeping property
of the cloth increases.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2002-266249 (Patent Reference 5) provided a double
ply-structured woven or knitted fabric containing a
water-absorbing agent.
In the above-mentioned conventional woven or knitted
fabrics for clothes, however, the problem that when
sweated, the cloth creates an unpleasantness, has not yet
fully solved.
[Patent Reference 1] JP-3-174043-A
[Patent Reference 2] JP-2003-147657-A
[Patent Reference 3] JP-3-213518-A
[Patent Reference 4J JP-10-77544-A
[Patent Reference 5] JP-2002-266249-A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a
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stretchable composite fabric comprising a yarn capable of
self-elongating upon wetting with and absorbing water and
shrinking upon drying and exhibiting, as a whole, a
stretchability, and a cloth product thereof.
The above-mentioned object can be attained by the
stretchable composite fabric of the present invention.
The stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention is a woven or knitted fabric comprising at
least three types of yarns (1), (2), and (3) different
from each other,
wherein
the yarn (1) is a stretchable, high water-
absorbent and high self-elongative yarn, comprising
stretchable fibers having relatively high self-elongation
upon absorbing water, and an elongation at break of 200%
or more;
the yarn (2) is a non-stretchable, low water-
absorbent and low self-elongative yarn comprising
substantially non-stretchable fibers having relatively
low self-elongation upon absorbing water;
the yarn (3) is a stretchable, low water-
absorbent and low self-elongative yarn, comprising
stretchable fibers having a relatively low self-
elongation upon absorbing water, and an elongation at
break of 30% or more;
the yarn (1) has a self-elongation of 5% or
more upon absorbing water and the yarn (2) and (3) have
an self-elongation less than 5% upon absorbing water,
determined in such a manner that each type of yarn
selected from the yarns (1), (2) and (3) is wound around
a hank frame having a frame girth of 1.125m under a load
of 0.88 mN/d tex, to provide a hank with a winding number
of 10, the hank yarn is removed from the hank frame and
left to stand in the air atmosphere having a temperature
of 20°C and a relative humidity of 65% for 24 hours to
condition the hank yarn, the resultant dried hank yarn is
subjected to a measurement of the dry length (Ld, mm)
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thereof under a load of 0.0080 mN/d tex, immersed in
water at a water temperature of 20°C for 5 minutes, and
then taken up from water, the resultant water-wetted hank
yarn is subjected to a measurement of the wet length (LW,
mm) thereof under a load of 0.0088 mN/d tex, and the
self-elongation of the yarn is calculated in accordance
with the following equation:
Self elongation (%) of yarn upon absorbing water
- [ (Lw - Ld) / (Ld) ] x 100;
from the yarn (1) and the yarn (2), a
stretchable, water-absorbent, and self-elongative
composite yarn (A) is formed, and the yarn (3) is
contained in a stretchable, non-water-absorbent and non-
self-elongative yarn (B) having substantially no self
elongation; and
the woven or knitted fabric has a ratio L1/L2
of 0.9 or less, determined in such a manner that the
woven or knitted fabric is subjected to a dimension
stabilization in the air atmosphere having a temperature
of 20°C and a relative humidity of 65%; then from the
dimension-stabilized woven or knitted fabric, a specimen
of the composite yarn (A) having a length of 30 cm is
picked up; and average lengthes L1 and L2 of the
yarns (1) and (2) contained in the specimen of the
composite yarn (A) are measured under a load of
0.0088 mN/d tex, then the ratio of Ll to L2 is
calculated.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has a woven fabric structure, and in the warp
yarn group and/or weft yarn group of the woven fabric
structure, the stretchable, water-absorbent, and self-
elongative composite yarn (A) and the stretchable, non-
water absorbent and non-self-elongative yarn (B) are
alternately arranged with every one yarn or every two or
more yarns.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
N
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preferably the yarns of one group of the warp and weft
yarn groups are formed from the composite yarn (A) and
the yarn (B), and the yarns of the other group are formed
from at least one type of yarns different from the
composite yarn (A) and the yarn (B).
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
the different yarn, from the composite yarn (A) and the
yarn (B), is preferably selected from yarns formed from a
plurality of individual fibers having a flat cross-
sectional profile and yarns formed from a plurality of
individual fine fibers having a thickness of 1.5 d tex or
less.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has a mufti-ply structure having two or more
plies, in which the mufti-ply structure at least one ply
comprises the composite yarn (A) in a content of 20% by
mass or more, based on the total mass of the ply and
another at least one ply comprises the yarn (B) in a
content of 20% by mass or more, based on the total mass
of the another ply.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
preferably, the fibers from which the stretchable, high
water-absorbent and self-elongative yarn (1) contained in
the composite yarn (A) is constituted, are selected from
polyetherester fibers formed from polyetherester
elastomers comprising hard segments formed from
polybutylene terephthalate blocks and soft segments
formed from polyoxyethyleneglycol blocks.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
preferably, the fibers, from which the non-stretchable,
low water-absorbent and low self-elongative yarn (2)
contained in the composite yarn (A) is constituted, are
selected from polyester fibers.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
preferably the fibers, from which the yarn (2) is
constituted, have an individual fiber thickness of
1.5 d tex or less.
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In the composite fabric of the present invention,
preferably, the stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-
self-elongative yarn (B) is a composite yarn comprising
another yarn (4) in addition to the stretchable, low
water-absorbent and low self-elongative yarn (3), the
yarn (3) has an elongation at break of 200% or more, the
yarn (4) comprises fibers having substantially no self-
elongation upon absorbing water and no stretchability,
and the ratio L3/L4 of the average length L3 of the
yarn (3) to the average length L4 of the yarn (4) in the
composite yarn (B), is 0.9 or less, determined by the
same manner of measurement as that applied to the
composite yarn (A).
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
preferably, the fibers from which the yarn (3) having the
elongation at break of 200% or more is constituted, are
selected from polyetherester fibers formed from
polyetherester elastomers comprising hard segments formed
from polybutylene terephthalate blocks and soft segments
formed from polytetramethyleneoxide glycol blocks.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
the fibers from which the yarn (4) is constituted are
preferably selected from polyester fibers.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has a ruggedness change of 100 or more,
determined by a measurement such that a plurality of
specimens having dimensions of 5 cm x 2 cm are prepared
from the composite fabric, arid left to stand in air
atmosphere at a temperature of 20°C at a relative humidity
of 65% for 24 hours to provide a plurality of dried
specimens; separately a plurality of specimens having
dimensions of 5 cm x 2 cm are prepared from the composite
fabric, immersed in water at a temperature of 20°C for
5 minutes, taken up from water, and subjected to a water
removement by interposing each specimen between a pair of
filter paper sheets, and applying a pressure of 490 N/mZ
v
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to the interposed specimen for one minute to remove water
remaining between fibers in the specimens and provide a
plurality of wetted specimens; an average largest
thickness Dw of the wetted specimens and an average
largest thickness Dd of the dried specimens are measured,
and the roughness change of the composite fabric is
calculated in accordance with the following equation:
Roughness change (%) - [(Dw - Dd)/(Dd)] x 100
In the composite fabric of the present invention
having a woven fabric structure, the woven fabric
preferably has a cover factor of 2500 or more.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has at least one surface applied with a water-
repellent treatment.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has an air permeability of 50 ml/cm2~s or less,
determined in accordance with JIS L 1096 - 1998, 6.27,
method A (Fragir type method), in the air atmosphere at a
temperature of 20°C at a relative humidity of 650.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably has a hydraulic pressure resistance of
100 mmH20 or more, determined in accordance with JIS
L 1092 - 1998, 4(1.1) (low hydrostatic static pressure
method) in the air atmosphere at a temperature of 20°C at
a relative humidity of 65%.
The cloth material of the present invention
comprises the above-mentioned stretchable composite
fabric of the present invention and is capable of
generating a rugged pattern on at least one surface of
the cloth material when wetted with water.
The clothing of the present invention has at least
one portion selected from armhole, side, breast, back and
shoulder portions and formed from the above-mentioned
cloth material of the present invention.
The clothing of the present invention is preferably
selected from under wear.
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The cloth of the present invention is preferably
selected from sports wear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 is an explanatory bird's eye view of an
embodiment of the stretchable composite fabric of the
present invention upon drying,
Fig. 2 is an explanatory bird's eye view of the
stretchable compo site fabric shown in Fig. 1 upon wetting
with and absorbin g water,
Fig. 3 shows an explanatory cross-sectional profile
of another embodiment
of the stretchable
composite fabric
of the present in vention upon drying,
Fig. 4 shows an explanatory cross-sectional profile
of the stretchabl e composite fabric shown in Fig. 3 upon
wetting with, and absorbing, water,
Fig. 5 is an explanatory front view of an embodiment
of the cloth cont aining the stretchable composite fabric
of the present in vention,
Fig. 6 is an explanatory front view of another
embodiment of the cloth containing the stretchable
composite fabric of the present invention,
Fig. 7 is an explanatory front view of still another
embodiment of the cloth containing the stretchable
composite fabric of the present invention,
Fig. 8 is an explanatory lack view of still another
embodiment of the cloth containing the stretchable
composite fabric of the present invention,
Fig. 9 is an explanatory front view of still another
embodiment of the cloth containing the stretchable
composite fabric of the present invention,
Fig. 10 show s a woven fabric structure of an
embodiment of the stretchable composite fabric of the
present invention having a weft backed weave structure,
and
Fig. 11 shows a woven fabric structure of another
embodiment of the stretchable composite fabric of the
f
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present invention having a weft backed weave structure.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention is a woven or knitted fabric comprising at
least three types of yearns (1), (2) and (3) different in
self elongation upon absorbing water and/or
stretchability from each other.
The yarn (1) is a stretchable, high water-absorbent
and high self-elongative yarn comprising stretchable
fibers having a relatively high self elongation upon
absorbing water, the yarn (1) exhibiting an elongation at
break of 2000 or more;
the yarn (2) is a non-stretchable, low water-
absorbent and low self elongative yarn comprising
substantially no stretchable fibers having a relatively
low self elongation upon absorbing water; and
the yarn (3) is a stretchable, low water-
absorbent and low self elongative yarn comprising
stretchable fibers having relatively low self elongation
upon absorbing water, the yarn (3) exhibiting an
elongation at break of 30% or more.
The self elongations upon absorbing water of the
yarns (1), (2) and (3) are determined as follows.
Each of the yarns (1), (2) and (3) is wound around a
hank frame having a frame girth of 1.125m under a load of
0.88 mN/d tex, to provide a hank with a winding number of
10; the hank yarn is removed from the hank frame and left
to stand in the air atmosphere having a temperature of
20°C and a relative humidity of 65% for 24 hours to
condition the hank yarn; the resultant dried hank yarn is
subjected to a measurement of the dry length (Ld, mm)
thereof under a load of 0.008 mN/d tex, then is immersed
in water at a water temperature of 20°C for 5 minutes, and
taken up from water; the resultant water-wetted hank yarn
is subjected to a measurement of the wet length (Lw, mm)
thereof under a load of 0.0088 mN/d tex; and the self
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elongation of the yarn is calculated in accordance with
the following equation:
Self elongation (%) of yarn upon absorbing water
- [(Lw - Ld)/(Ld)] x 100. The yarn (1) has a self
elongation upon absorbing water of 5% or more, and the
yarns (2) and (3) each exhibit a self elongation upon
absorbing water of less than 5%.
The stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention comprises a stretchable, water-absorbent and
self-elongative composite yarn (A) formed from the
yarns (1) and (2) and a stretchable, non-water absorbent
and non-self elongative yarn (B) containing the yarn (3)
and exhibiting substantially no self elongation.
The woven or knitted fabric for the present
invention must have a ratio L1/L2 of 0.9 or less
determined in a manner such that the woven or knitted
fabric is subjected to a dimensioned stabilization in the
air atmosphere having a temperature of 20°C and a relative
humidity of 65%; from.the dimension-stabilized woven or
knitted fabric, a specimen of the composite yarn (A)
having a length of 30 cm is picked up; and the average
lengthes L1 and L2 of the yarns (1) and (2) contained in
the specimen of the composite yarn (A) are measured under
a load of 0.0088 mN/d tex and the ratio of L1 to 12 is
calculated.
The composite fabric of the present invention having
the above-mentioned constitution exhibits a
stretchability in at least one directions of warp and
weft directions or at least one direction of course and
wale directions and further exhibits a performance such
that when the fabric is wetted with water, at least the
yarn (1) absorbs water and self elongates to cause the
form and appearance of the composite fabric to be
changed, and when the water-wetted fabric is dried, at
least the water-absorbed and self-elongated yarn (1)
desorbs water and self-shrunk to cause the form and
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appearance of the fabric to return to the original form
and appearance.
The yarn (1) usable for the present invention is
constituted from fibers having high self elongation upon
absorbing water and a stretchability. The self
elongation of the yarn (1) upon absorbing water is 5% or
more, preferably 6% or more, still more preferably 8 to
30%. The fibers from which the yarn (1) is formed
include, for example, polyetherester fibers formed from
polyetherester elastomers comprising hard segments formed
from polybutylene terephtalate and soft segments formed
from polyoxyethylene glycol; polyester-mixed resin fibers
formed from mixtures of polyester resins with at least
one resin selected from polyacrylate metal salt polymers,
polyacrylic acid polymers and copolymers thereof,
polymethacrylic acid polymers and copolymers thereof,
polyvinyl alcohol polymers and copolymers thereof,
polyacrylamide polymers and copolymers thereof and
polyoxyethylene polymers; and polyester fibers in which
5-sulfoisophthalic acid component is copolymerized.
Among them, the polyetherester fibers formed from
polyetherester elastomers comprising polybutylene
phthalate, as hard segments, and polyoxyethylene glycol
as soft segments, have not only a high self elongation
upon absorbing water but also a high stretchability, and
thus are preferably utilized as a component for
constituting a stretchable composite fibers in which the
high elasticity of the polyetherester fibers is utilized.
The polybutylene terephtalate from which the hard
segments of the polyetherester elastomers preferably
contain butylene terephthalate units in a content of at
least 70 molar %. The content of the butylene
terephthalate units is more preferably 80 molar % or
more, still more preferably 90 molar % or more. The
principal acid component of the butylene terephthalate
structure is terephthalic acid. In this butylene
terephthalate structure, a small amount of another
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dicarboxylic acid may be copolymerized. Also, the glycol
component comprises, as a principal ingredient,
tetramethylene glycol and, as an optional
copolymerization ingredient, another glycol compound.
The dicarboxylic acids other than terephthalic acid
include aromatic and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, for
example, naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, isophthalic
acid, diphenyl dicarboxylic acids, diphenyloxyethane
dicarboxylic acids, (3-hydroxyethoxybenzoic acid, p-
hydroxybenzoic acid, adipic acid sebacic acid, and 1,4-
cyclohexane dicaboxylic acid. Also, polycarboxylic acids
having tri- or more functionality, for example,
trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid are optionally
employed as copolymerization ingredients, if they
substantially do not counteract attainment of the object
of the present invention.
Also, the diol compounds other than tetramethylene
glycol include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic
diol compounds, for example, trimethylene glycol,
ethylene glycol, cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol and neopentyl
glycol. Further, polyol compounds having tri- or more
functionality, for example, glycerol, trimethylolpropane
and pentaerythritol, are optionally employed as
copolymerization ingredient, if they substantially do not
counteract attainment of the object of the present
invention.
The above-mentioned polyoxyethylene glycol
preferably has a number average molecular weight in the
range of from 400 to 8,000, more preferably from 1,000 to
6, 000.
The above-mentioned polyetherester elastomer can be
produced, for example, by subjecting a material
comprising dimethyl terephthalate, tetramethylene glycol
and polyoxyethylene glycol to a transesterification
reaction in the presence of a transesterification
catalyst, to prepare (cu-hydroxybutyl)terephthalate and/or
oligomers thereof, then subjecting the
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transesterification product to a melt poly-condensation
reaction in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst
and a stabilizing agent at an increased temperature under
a reduced pressure.
The ratio in mass of the hard segments to the soft
segments are preferably in the range of from 30/70 to
70/30.
Where the polyetherester elastomer comprises, as a
copolymerization component, a metal salt of an organic
sulfonic acid, for example, 5-sodium sulfoisophthalic
acid, the resultant fibers exhibiting a further enhanced
self elongative property upon absorbing water can be
obtained.
The polyetherester fibers can be produced by melt-
extruding the polyetherester elastomer through a
conventional melt-spinneret, taking up the extruded
filaments at a taking-up speed of 300 to 1200 m/minute,
preferably 400 to 980 m/minute, and winding-up the taken-
up filaments at a winding draft rate of 1.0 to 1.2 times,
preferably 1.0 to 1.1 times, the above-mentioned taking-
up speed.
There are no specific limitations to the total
thickness, the individual fiber thickness and the number
of filaments per yarn, of the water-absorbent and self-
elongative yarn (1). In view of hand and producibility,
the yarn (1) preferably has a total thickness of 30 to
300 d tex, an individual fiber thickness of 0.6 to
100 d tex and a number of filament per yarn of 1 to 10.
The fibers from which the non-stretchable, low
water-absorbent, low self-elongative yarn (2), the
yarn (2) forming, together with the above-mentioned
yarn (1), the composite yarn (A), include, for example,
natural fibers, for example, cotton and hemp fibers
cellulose chemical fibers, for example, rayon and
cellulose acetate fibers; and synthetic fibers, for
example, polyester fibers, for example, polyethylene
terephthalate and polytrimethylene terephthalate fibers,
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polyamide fibers, polyacrylnitrile fibers and
polypropylene fibers. Among these fibers, the
conventional polyester fibers are preferably employed for
the yarn (2). When the low water-absorbent, and low
self-elongative yarn (2) has a individual fiber thickness
of 1.5 d tex or less (more preferably 1.0 d tex or less,
still more preferably 0.1 to 0.8 d tex, and the number of
the fibers per yarn is 30 or more, more preferably 50 to
300, the resultant composite yarn (A) exhibits an
increased water absorption and thus has an increased self
elongation upon absorbing water, and therefore, the
composite fabric of the present invention comprising the
composite yarn (A) exhibits an enhanced ease in
generation of change in appearance and form of the fabric
due to water absorption and wetting.
In the composite yarn (A), the yarns (1) and (2)
from which the composite yarn (A) is constituted, must
have a specific difference in yarn length, as shown
below.
A woven or knitted fabric containing the composite
yarn (A) comprising the above-mentioned yarn (1) and (2)
is dimension-stabilized in the air atmosphere having a
temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 650; a
specimen of the composite yarn (A) having a length of
30 cm is picked up from the dimension-stabilized
composite fabric; an average lengths L1 and L2 of
yarns (1) and (2) contained in the specimen of the
composite yarn (A) are measured under a load of
0.0088 mN/d tex; and the ratio of L1 to L2 is calculated.
The ratio L1/L2 must be 0.9 or less.
Preferably, the ratio L1/L2 is 0.9 to 0.2, and more
preferably 0.8 to 0.3. When the ratio Ll/L2 is more than
0.9, the resultant composite yarn (A) exhibits an
insufficient stretchability. Also, if the ratio L1/L2 is
less than 0.3, the resultant composite yarn (A) may
exhibit too low a change in form and appearance of the
composite yarn (A) when water-absorbed and wetted.
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There is no specific limitation to the method of
producing the composite yarn (A). For example, a
composite yarn having a core-in-sheath structure is
formed by stretching (drafting) a yarn (1) at a desired
elongation rate (for example, 1.1 to 5.0); combining a
yarn (2) with the stretched yarn (1) so as to form a
core-iri-sheath structure in which the core is formed from
the stretched yarn (1) and the sheath is formed from the
yarn (2) surrounding the core yarn (1); optionally
lightly twisting the resultant composite yarn, and then
releasing the stretch of the yarn (1) in the composite
yarn to allow the yarn (1) to elastically shrink. In the
resultant composite yarn (A), the yarn (2) has a longer
yarn length than that of the shrunk yarn (1), and thus
the fibers from which the yarn (2) is constituted are
folded and surround around the yarn (1) to form a sheath
part of the composite yarn. Therefore, the resultant
composite yarn appears as a bulky yarn. The yarn (1) is
selected from mufti-filament yarns and staple fiber-spun
yarns, preferably the mufti-filament yarns. The yarn (2)
is selected from mufti-filament yarns and staple fiber-
spun yarns, preferably the mufti-filament yarns. The
mufti-filament yarn (2) may be processed with a texturing
treatment, for example, a false twist-texturing
' 25 treatment.
In the composite yarn (A), there is no specific
limitation to the numbers of the yarn (1) and the
yarn (2), while the ratio of the number of the yarn (1)
to that of the yarn (2) is preferably 1:1, and the ratio
in mass of the yarn (1) to that of the yarn (2) is
preferably 10:90 to 70:30, more preferably 15:85 to .
50:50.
In the production procedure of the composite
yarn (A), the stretch ratio of the yarn (1) is preferably
controlled to 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.2 to 5Ø
The combination procedure of the stretched yarn (1)
with the yarn (2) may be carried out in accordance with a
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doubling (paralleling) method, air-jet type interlace
yarn combining method, Taslan air jet type yarn combining
method, covering type yarn combining method and composite
false twist texturing type yarn combining method. The
covering type yarn combining method in which the yarn (2)
are wound around the stretched yarn (1) is preferably
employed. In this method, the resultant composite yarn
exhibits a clear core-in-sheath structure.
The yarn (B) usable for the present invention
comprises, as an indispensable component, a yarn (3)
having a stretchability and a low self elongation upon
absorbing water. The yarn (3) is constituted from
stretchable, low water-absorbent and low self-elongative
fibers and exhibits an elongation at break of 30% or
more.
In the composite fabric of the present invention,
the yarn (3) usable for the yarn (B) is formed from
stretchable fibers having a relatively low self-
elongation of 5% or less upon absorbing water and
exhibits an elongation at break of 300 or more. The
fibers from which the above-mentioned stretchable, low
water-absorbent and low self elongative yarn (3) is
formed, may be selected from stretchable polyetherester
fibers, stretchable polyurethane fibers, stretchable
side-by-side type-conjugated polyester fibers,
stretchable polytrimethylene terephthalate fibers, and
false twist-textured filaments.
The stretchable polyetherester fibers are preferably
selected from polyetherester elastomer fibers which
comprise hard segments comprising polybutylene
terephthalate and soft segments comprising
polytetramethyleneoxide glycol, and are available under,
for example, the trademark REXE by TEIJIN FIBERS C0. The
elastomer fibers can be produced by the same method as
that of producing the polyetherester fibers usable for
the yarn (1), except that the polyoxyethylene glycol used
as a material for forming the soft segments is replaced
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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by polytetramethyleneoxide glycol. To impart a low air
permeability and/or a high water repellency to a target
composite fabric, the individual fiber thickness of
yarn (3) is preferably controlled to 1.5 d tex or less,
more preferably 1.0 d tex or less, still more preferably
0.1 to 0.8 d tex. Also the number of the fibers or
filaments per yarn of the yarn (3) is preferably
controlled to 30 or more, more preferably 50 to 300.
The yarn (B) may consist of the yarn (3) only or may
be a composite yarn comprising the yarn (3) and a
yarn (4) different from the yarn (3). When the yarn (B)
is the composite yarn, the yarn (4) may be formed from
non-stretchable, low water-absorbent and low self
elongative fibers and has a self elongation of 5% or less
upon absorbing water.
When the composite yarn (B) is subjected to a
measurement of the average yarn lengthes L3 and L4 of the
yarn (3) and the yarn (4) in the same manner as that
applied to the composite yarn (B), the ratio of L3 to L4
(L3/L4) is preferably 0.9 or less, more preferably 0.9 to
0.2, still more preferably 0.8 to 0.5. The non-
stretchable, low water-absorbent and low self elongative
yarns usable for the yarn (4) contained in the yarn (B)
may comprise at least one type of fibers, for example,
non-stretchable polyester fibers, polyamide fibers,
polyacrylic fibers, polypropylene fibers, cellulose
chemical fibers and natural fibers which are also usable
for forming the yarn (2).
The combination of the yarn (3) with yarn (4) to
provide the composite yarn (B) is carried out so as to
allow the resultant composite yarn (B) to exhibit a
sufficient stretchability. For example, the combination
of the yarn (3) with the yarn (4) may be carried out in
the same method as that of combining the yarn (1) with
the yarn (2) to form the composite yarn (A). In this
case, the yarn (3) is arranged in a stretched form in a
core position and the yarn (4) is combined with the
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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stretched yarn (3) so as to form a sheath surrounding
around the stretched yarn (3), the combination of the
yarn (3) with the yarn (4) is subjected to a desired
yarn-processing procedure, for example, an air jet
interlace treatment, or a covering type yarn-combining
procedure or a composite false twist texturing procedure,
and thereafter, the resultant composite yarn is released
from the stretch of the yarn (3), to allow the stretched
yarn (3) to elastically return to the original form. In
this yarn combination, the yarn (3) is arranged in a core
position, and the fiber of the yarn (3) in the sheath
part extend outward and are bent or curved to cause the
resultant composite yarn (B) to exhibit a bulky composite
yarn appearance.
There is no specific limitation to the total
thickness of the composite yarn (B). The total thickness
can be appropriately established in response to the
desired structure of the target woven or knitted fabric,
for example, 30 to 300 d tex. There are no specific
limitations to the individual fiber thickness and the
number of fibers or filaments per yarn of the yarn (4).
To impart a low permeability and/or a high water
repellency to the target woven or knitted fabric, the
yarn (4) preferably has an individual fiber thickness of
1.5 d tex or less, more preferably 1.0 d tex or less,
still more preferably 0.1 to 0.8 d tex, and a number of
fibers or filament per yarn of 30 or more, more
preferably 50 to 300. There is no limitation to the
cross-sectional profile of the fibers from which the
yarn (3) and yarn (4) are constituted. The cross-
sectional profile may be circular or irregular.
The stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention may have a woven fabric structure or a knitted
fabric structure.
In the case where the stretchable composite fabric
of the present invention has a woven fabric structure, in
the warp yarn group and/or the weft yarn group of woven
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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fabric structure, the stretchable, water-absorbent and
self-elongative composite yarn (A) and the stretchable,
non-water-absorbent and non-self-elongative yarn (B) may
be alternately arranged with every one yarn or every two
or more yarns, preferably 2 to 800 yarns, more preferably
5 to 500 yarns, still more preferably 10 to 100 yarns.
In the case where the stretchable composite fabric
of the present invention has a knitted fabric structure,
in the course yarn group and/or the wale yarn group in
the kitted fabric structure, the stretchable yarn (A)
having a self-elongation upon absorbing water and the
stretchable yarn (B) having non-self elongation upon
absorbing water may be alternately arranged with every
one yarn or every a plurality of yarns.
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention, the alternate arrangement of the composite
yarn (A) and the yarn (B) may be regularly or irregularly
made and preferably regularly.
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention having the woven fabric structure, optionally
only one yarn group selected from the warp yarn group and
the weft yarn group in the woven fabric structure is
constituted from the composite yarn (A) and the yarn (B),
and the other yarn group is constituted from at least one
type of yarn different from the composite yarn (A) and
the yarn (B).
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention having the knitted fabric structure, optionally
only one yarn group selected from the course yarn group
and the wale yarn group is constituted from the composite
yarn (A) and the yarn (B), and the other yarn group is
constituted from at least one type of yarn different from
the composite yarn (A) and the yarn (B).
The yarn different from the composite yarn (A) and
the yarn (B) preferably selected from yarns comprising a
plurality of individual fibers having a flat cross-
sectional profile and yarns comprising a plurality of
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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individual fibers having a fine thickness of 1.5 d tex or
less. These different types of yarns are very flexible.
The flexible fibers preferably have a flat cross-
sectional profile having a ratio of major axis to minor
axis of 1.2 or more, more preferably 2 to 5. The fine
thickness fibers preferably have a thickness of 1.5 d tex
or less, as mentioned above, more preferably 0.1 to
1.3 d tex. There is no further limitation to the
different types of fibers as long as the above-mentioned
requirements are satisfied. The different types of
fibers may be selected from natural fibers, for example,
cotton and hemp fibers, cellulose chemical fibers, for
example, rayon and cellulose acetate fibers and synthetic
fibers, for example, polyester fibers, typically
polyethylene terephthalate and polytrimethylene
terephthalate fibers, and polyamide, polyacrylonitrile
and polypropylene fibers.
Fig. 1 is an explanatory bird's eye view of an
embodiment of the stretchable composite fabric of the
present invention in the dry state, and Fig. 2 is an
explanatory bird's eye view of the fabric of Fig. 1 in
the water-wetted state.
In the composite fabric 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
the warp yarn group comprises regions 2 constituted from
a plurality of composite yarns (4) and regions 3
constituted from a plurality of yarn (B), and the
regions 2 and the region 3 are alternately formed with
each other. The warp yarns in the regions 2 and the
regions 3, are the same as each other and constituted
from stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-self-
elongative yarns. In Fig. 1, the regions (2) the
fabric 1 in dry state have a thickness of d1.
When the composite fabric 1 of Fig. 1 is wetted with
water, the dimensions and form (appearance) of the
regions 3 comprising, as weft yarns, yarns (B)
substantially do not change, because all the warp and
weft yarns in the regions 3 are non-water absorbent and
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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non-self-elongative, as shown in Fig. 2. In the
regions 2 containing, as weft yarns, the composite yarns
(A), however, when wetted with water, the yarns (1)
contained in the composite yarns (A) absorb water and
self elongate. Also, the yarns (2) combined with the
yarn (1) in the composite yarns (A) are in a bending form
or spirally wound around the yarns (1), and thus the
yarns (2) are apparently elongate together with the
water-absorbed and self-elongated yarns (1) in the
longitudinal direction of the composite yarn (A), to
cause the dimension of the regions (2) in the weft yarn
direction to increase and the regions (2) to be
corrugated in a rough (or rugged or concave and convex)
pattern. In this case, a height difference d2 between a
highest point 4 and a lowest point 5 of the regions 2,
namely a thickness of the regions 2 is larger than D1.
The rough pattern of the regions 2 generated in the
wetted state disappeares after drying and the region 2
becomes flat.
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention, there are no specific limitations to the type
and the number of plies of the woven fabric structure.
The woven fabric structure includes plain, twill and
satine weave structures but is not limited to the above-
mentioned structures. The composite fabric include
single ply fabrics and two or more ply fabrics.
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention when the yarn length of the composite yarn (A)
contained in the composite fabric in the air atmosphere
at a temperature of 20°C at a relative humidity (RH) of
65% is represented by LA, and the length of the yarn (B)
in the composite fabric under the above-mentioned
conditions is represented by LB, the difference between
LA and LB is preferably as small as possible, and the
ratio LA/LB is preferably in the range between 0.9 and
1.1. If the ratio LA/LB is less than 0.9, or more than
1.1, a rough pattern may be generated on the surface of
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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the composite fabric even when dried and thus the
resultant composite fabric has an unsatisfactory
appearance.
The lengths of the yarns are determined by the
following measurement.
A sample of a composite woven fabric is left to
stand in the air atmosphere at a temperature of 20°C at a
relative humidity (RH) of 65% for 24 hours, then from the
dimension-stabilized fabric, specimen pieces (n = 5)
having dimensions of 30 cm x 30 cm are provided by
cutting, a piece of composite yarn (A) and a piece of
yarn (B) are picked up from each specimen piece and the
length LA in mm of the piece of the composite yarn (A)
and the length LB in mm of the piece of the yarn (B) are
measured. During the measurement, each piece of the
yarns are tensioned under a load of 0.0088 mN/d tex
(1 mg/denier). The ratio LA/LB is represented by a ratio
of an average of the measured lengths LA to the average
of the measured lengths LB. The piece of the composite
yarn (A) and the piece of the yarn (B) picked up from
each specimen piece of the fabric must be those extended
in one the same direction of the composite fabric. For
example, where the composite yarn (A) piece is picked up
from the warp (or weft) yarns of the composite fabric,
the yarn (B) piece must be picked up from the warp (or
weft) yarns of the woven fabric.
Where the yarn (B) is a composite yarn containing
non-stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-self
elongative yarns (4), the ratio LA/LB can be controlled
in the range of from 0.9 to 1.1 by the following method.
Where the composite yarn (B) is prepared from the
stretchable yarns (3) and the non-stretchable yarns (4),
the draw ratio applied to the stretchable yarns (3)
during the production of the yarns (3) influences upon
the shrinkage in boiling water of the resultant composite
yarns (B). Therefore, the draw ratio in the production
procedures of the stretchable yarns (3) is controlled so
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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that the ratio a/(3 of the shrinkage in boiling water of
the composite yarns (A) to the shrinkage in boiling water
of the composite yarns (B) containing the yarns (3) falls
within the range of from 0.9 to 1.1. When the composite
fabric is produced by the above-mentioned method, and the
resultant composite fabric passes through a boiling water
treatment, for example, a dyeing procedure, the composite
yarns (A) and the composite yarns (B) are thermally
shrunk to the same extent is each other, and thus the
difference in yarn length between the composite yarns (A)
and (B) is made small. In the case where the difference
in yarn length between the. composite yarns (A) and (B)
contained in the composite fabric is made large by the
dyeing procedure, etc., a heat set treatment in which the
composite fabric is heat set while expanding the width of
the composite fabric to 1.4 times or less the original
width thereof, enables the average yarn length ratio
LA/LB of the composite yarns (A) and (B) in the composite
fabric to be controlled in the range of from 0.9 to 1.1.
The composite fabric of the present invention is
preferably wet-treated at a temperature of 60°C or more
(more preferably 65 to 98°C), then optionally subjected to
a dyeing procedure, and then the wet-treated (or, if
applied, dyeing-processed) composite fabric is preferably
heat-set while expanding the width of the fabric at a
width expansion ratio of 1.4 or less (more preferably 1.0
to 1.3). If the heat set is carried out at a width
expansion ratio more than 1.4, the self elongation of the
yarn (1) contained in the composite yarn (A) upon
absorbing water may decrease and the sufficient change in
the rough pattern of the fabric due to wetting and drying
may not be obtained.
In the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention, when wetted with water, the composite yarns
(A) self-elongate upon absorbing water and the yarn
lengths of the yarns (A) increase, whereas the
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-self elongative
yarns (B) arrayed adjacent to the composite yarns (A) do
not change the yarn lengths thereof. As a result, only
the elongated composite yarns (A) are corrugated in the
fabric to cause a rugged pattern to be generated on the
surface of the fabric. When the composite fabric is
dried, the yarn lengths of the composite yarns (A)
reversibly decrease to the original and the rough pattern
on the fabric surface disappears.
With respect to the yarn length difference between
the composite yarns (A) and the yarns (B) when wetted
with water, when the yarn length of the wetted composite
yarn is represented by LAw, and the length of the wetted
yarn (B) is represented by LBw, the ratio LAw/LBw is
preferably controlled to 1.05 or more, more preferably
1.1 to 1.3. If the ratio LAw/LBw in the wetted state is
less than 1.05, the generation of the rough pattern on
the fabric surface when wetted with perspiration may
become insufficient and thus an unpleasant sticky feel
cannot be sufficiently prevented: the change in the
roughness (or ruggedness) between the wet and dry
conditions is preferably 100 or more, more preferably
100% or more, still more preferably 200% or more but not
more than 1000%.
The roughness change of the fabric surface of the
stretchable composite fabric of the present invention,
generated by water-wetting and drying can be determined
by the following measurement.
A plurality of specimens having dimensions of
5 cm x 2 cm are prepared from the composite fabric, and
left to stand in the air atmosphere at a temperature of
20°C at a relative humidity of 65% for 24 hours to provide
a plurality of dried specimens; separately a plurality of
specimens having dimensions of 5 cm x 2 cm are prepared
from the composite fabric, immersed in water at a
temperature of 20°C for 5 minutes, taken up from water,
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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and subjected to a water removement by interposing each
specimen between a pair of filter paper sheets, and
applying a pressure of 490 N/m2 to the interposed specimen
for one minute to remove water remaining between fibers
in the specimens to provide a plurality of wetted
specimens; an average largest thickness Dw of the wetted
specimens and an average largest thickness Dd of the
dried specimens are measured, and the roughness change of
the composite fabric is calculated in accordance with the
following equation:
Roughness change (o) - [(Dw - Dd)/(Dd)] x 100.
The average largest thicknesses Dd and Dw of the
dried specimens and the wetted specimens by subjecting
the dried and wetted specimens to a largest thickness
measurement using a super high precisive laser
displacement meter (Model: LC-2400, made by KEYENCE
C0.). The measurement procedure is repeated for five
specimens and the average largest thicknesses Dw and Dd
are calculated from the resultant data.
When the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention is wetted with, for example, perspiration, a
rugged pattern is generated in the fabric due to the
self-elongation of the yarn (1) upon absorbing
perspiration, to decrease the area of the fabric at which
the fabric comes into contact with the skin, and to cause
the unpleasant feel due to wetting to decrease of the
fabric, and further the drying of the fabric to be
enhanced.
The stretchable composite fabric preferably has an
elastic elongation of 60 or more, more preferably 8 to
30o in the direction along which the composite yarns (A)
and the yarns (B) are arranged.
Further, the stretchable composite fabric of the
present invention is optionally treated with at least one
function-imparting treatment, for example, water-
repellent, raising and ultraviolet ray-shielding
treatments, or with at least one-function-imparting agent
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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selected from, for example, anti-bacterial agents,
mothproofing agents, light accumulating agents,
regressive reflecting agents and negative ion-generating
agents.
The stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention may have a mufti-ply fabric structure having
two or more plies. In this case, preferably, at least
one ply in the mufti-ply fabric structure contain the
composite yarns (A) in a content of 20% by mass or more,
based on the total mass of the ply and at least one
another ply in the mufti-ply fabric structure contain the
yarn (B) in a content of 20o by mass or more, based on
the total mass of the another ply.
In the two ply-structured composite fabric of the
present invention, there is no specific limitation to the
two-ply woven or knitted fabric structure. For example,
in the case of woven fabrics, the two ply fabric
structure includes warp two-ply weave structures, weft
two ply weave structures, double weave structures,
superpose weave structures, and may be a plain
weave/plain weave combination, a twill weave/plain weave
combination, a satin weave/plain weave combination and a
satin weave/twill weave combination. Also, in the case
of knitted fabrics, the two ply knitting structures
include half structures, half base structures and satin
structures using two reeds or three reeds. The two ply
fabric structure further include a combination of two
single woven or knitted fabrics heat-bonded to each other
or oversewn together. Generally the two-ply woven or
knitted fabrics made by weaving or knitting in the two
ply structure have a soft hand and thus are more
preferable than the heat-bonded or oversewn two ply
fabrics.
In the two ply structured composite fabric of the
present invention, when the two ply composite fabric
comprises the composite yarns (A) and the yarns (B), a
ply principally comprises the composite yarns (A) and the
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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other ply principally comprises the yarns (B), and in the
resultant cloth, the ply comprising the composite yarns
(A) is arranged in an inner side of the cloth, facing the
skin and the other ply comprising the yarn (B) is
arranged in an outer atmosphere side of the cloth, a
rough (rugged) pattern is generated on the inner side of
the cloth facing the skin when wetted with perspiration.
Also, in the outer atmosphere side surface of the two-ply
structured woven or knitted composite fabric, usually the
rough (rugged) pattern is not generated even when the
cloth is wetted with rain, and thus no change in the
appearance of the outer side surface of the composite
fabric occurs, to produce a two ply woven fabric in which
the composite yarns (A) are arranged, as a principal
component, in a ply and the yarns (B) are arranged, as a
principal component, in the other ply, for example, in
accordance with a weft two ply weave structure as shown
in Fig. 10 which will be explained in detail hereinafter,
in which structure, in the weft yarn group of the weave
structure, the composite yarns (A) and the yarns (B) are
alternately arranged with every one yarn, and in the warp
yarn group of the weave structure is filled with
stretchable, non-water-absorbent and non-self-elongative
yarns. In this case, the stretchable, non-water-
absorbent and non-self-elongative yarns usable for the
weft yarns preferably have a individual fiber thickness
of 1.5 d tex or less, more preferably 1.3 d tex or less,
still more preferably 0.1 to 1.2 d tex and a number of
the individual fibers per of yarn of 30 or more, more
preferably 50 to 300. When this type of weft yarn is
employed, the resultant composite fabric may exhibit a
high water-repellency.
When a water-repellent agent is applied to the ply
comprising the stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-
self elongative yarns, as a principal component, the
resultant composite fabric can exhibit an enhanced
resistance to penetration of rain water thereinto. The
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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water-repellent agent may be selected from the
conventional water repellent agents usable for the
textile products. For example, the water-repellent agent
include fluorine resin and silicone resin water-repellent
agents. In this case, a single type of water-repellent
agent may be used, or a mixture of two or more types of
water repellent agents may be used. When the water-
repellent agent is applied in a combination with a cross-
linking agent, for example, a melamine cross-linking
agent or an isocyanate cross-bonding agent, the water-
repellent agent can be firmly fixed to the two ply-
structured woven or knitted fabric.
There is no limitation to the method of applying a
water-repellent agent to the surface formed principally
from the stretchable, non-water absorbent and non-self
elongative yarns (B), of the two ply-structured composite
fabric. The application of the water-repellent agent may
be effected by a flat screen-printing method, a rotary
screen-printing method, a roller printing method, a
gravuar roll method, a kiss roll method and foam-
processing machine method.
Further, the ply in which the composite yarns (A)
are mainly arranged, is optionally imparted with a water-
absorbing agent.
The water-absorbing agent may be selected from those
having an affinity to the composite yarns (A).
Particularly, water-absorbing polymeric materials are
preferably employed for polyester fibers. This type of
water-absorbing polymeric materials include, for example,
block copolymers obtainable by block copolymerizing a
polyalkylene glycol (for example, polyethylene glycol,
polypropylene glycol etc.) with terephthalic acid and/or
isophthalic acid and a lower alkylene glycol (for example
ethylene glycol, etc.). In this case, a single type of
water-absorbing agent or a mixture of two or more types
of water-absorbing agents may be used. There is no
limitation to the application method of the water-
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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absorbing agent. For example, to apply the water-
absorbing agent, a flat screen printing method, a rotary
screen printing method, a roller printing method, a
gravure roll method, a kiss roll method and foam
processing machine method can be utilized.
In the case where the water-repellent agent and the
water-absorbing agent are applied to the two ply-
structured composite fabric of the present invention,
there is no limitation to the sequence of applications
thereof, and thus, first, the water-repellent agent may
be applied to a ply principally comprising the non-water-
absorbent and self elongative yarns (B), and then the
water-absorbing agent may be applied to the other ply
comprising the composite yarns (A), or first the water-
absorbing agent may applied to a ply comprising as a
principal component, the composite yarn (A) and then the
water-repellent agent may be applied to the other ply
comprising as a principal component to the non-water
absorbent and self elongative yarns (B). In general,
former sequence is preferable in practice, because the
penetration of the water-absorbing agent into the water-
repellent surface can be prevented with high efficiency.
In the two ply-structured composite fabric of the
present invention, the fabric preferably has a high
density to prevent a penetration of rain water into the
fabric. For example, when the two ply-structured
composite fabric has a woven fabric structure, the fabric
preferably has a cover factor CF of 2500 or more, more
preferably 3000 to 4500. Herein, the cover factor CF is
defined by the following equation.
CF _ (DWp/1. 1) 1~2 x MWp + (DWf/1.1) 1~2 x MWf
wherein DWp represents a warp yarn total thickness
(d tex) of; MWp represents a weave density of the warp
yarns (yarns/3.79 cm); DWf represents a weft yarn total
thickness (d tex); and MWf represents a weave density of
the weft yarns (yarns/3.79 cm).
A target of the weave density is that at which the
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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fabric exhibit an air permeability at dry of preferably
ml/cmz~s or less; more preferably 0.1 to 3.0 ml/cmZ~s,
and a hydraulic pressure resistance of preferably
100 mmHg or more, more preferably 120 to 600 mmHg.
5 The two ply-structured composite fabric of the
present invention can be easily produced by, for example,
the following method.
A composite yarn (A) is prepared by dubling a
yarn (1) with a yarn (2) while overfeeding the yarn (2)
to the doubling step, or combining a yarn (2) with a
yarn (1) comprising a polyetherester elastic yarn while
applying a draft to the yarn (1), and then subjecting the
doubled or combined yarn to an air jet interlace
treatment, or covering processing, or composite false
twist texturing treatment. In order to obtain a
composite yarn (A) having a clear core-in-sheath
structure, the covering processing is preferably applied.
In the combining step, the draft ratio for the yarn (1)
is preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.2 to 5.0,
namely 120 to 500%. Then a two ply-structured woven or
knitted fabric is produced from the composite yarns (A)
alone or the composite yarns (A) together with the non-
self elongative yarns (B), in an appropriately
established weave or knitting structure as mentioned
above. In the case where the non-self elongative yarns
(B) have no stretchability, while the composite yarns (A)
are stretchable, the composite yarns (A) are stretched
under a tension applied thereto during the weaving or
knitting procedure and then are released from the tension
after the weaving or knitting procedure is completed, and
the length of the composite yarns (A) elastically returns
to the original length so as to cause a crape-like rugged
pattern to be generated on the woven or knitted fabric.
Thus, in order to produce a relatively flat woven or
knitted fabric, the non-self elongative yarns (B) is
selected from single stretchable yarns (3) or elastic
composite yarns. In an embodiment of the yarn
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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arrangements for the composite fabric, a weft two ply
structured woven fabric is produced from a weft yarn
group in which the composite yarns (A) and the non-self
elongative yarns (B) are alternately arranged with every
one yarn, or every one yarn (A) and a plurality of yarns
(B), or every a plurality of yarns (A) and one yarn (B),
or every a plurality of yarns (A) and a plurality of
yarns (B), and a warp yarn group consisting of non-self
elongative yarns; or a warp two ply structured woven
fabric is produced from a warp yarn group in which the
composite yarns (A) and the non-self elongative yarns (B)
are alternately arranged with every one yarn or every one
yarn (A) and a plurality of yarns (B), or every plurality
of yarns (A) and one yarn (B) or every plurality of yarns
(A) and a plurality of yarns (B), and a weft yarn group
consisting of non-self elongative yarns; or a two ply
structured knitted fabric is produced from the composite
yarns (A) and the non-self elongative yarns (B)
alternately arranged with every one yarn, or every one
yarn (A) and a plurality of yarns (B), or every plurality
of yarns (A) and one yarn (B) or every plurality of yarns
(A) and a plurality of yarns (B).
The two ply structured composite fabric of the
present invention is preferably processed with a water-
repellent treatment of a water-absorption treatment.
Also, before or after the water-repellent treatment or
the water-absorption treatment, the composite fabric is
optionally subjected to dyeing and finishing procedures.
Optionally, the composite fabric is further subjected to
a raising procedure or an ultraviolet ray-shielding
procedure or treated with at least one function-imparting
agent selected from antibacterial agents, deodoring
agents, mothproofing agents, light-accumulating agents,
return-reflecting agents and negative ion-generating
agents.
In the two ply structured composite fabric of the
present invention, the composite yarns (A) constituted
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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from water-absorbent, self elongative yarns (1) and non-
water absorbent, self elongative yarns (2) are contained
at least one ply of the composite fabric, and therefore,
when wetted with water, the composite yarns (A) self
elongate upon absorbing water to generate a rough pattern
on the woven or knitted fabric surface. Also, when
dried, the yarn length of the stretchable composite yarns
(A) reversibly decreases into the original length, and
the rough pattern disappears.
Fig. 3 shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of
an embodiment of the two ply structured woven fabrics of
the present invention in dry state. In Fig. 3, a
composite fabric 11 comprises an upper ply formed from
composite yarns (A) 12 comprising stretchable, water
absorbency and self elongative yarns (1) and non-
stretchable, low water absorbent and low self elongative
yarns (2), and a lower ply formed from yarns (B) 13
comprising stretchable, low water absorbent and low self
elongative yarns (3). In this dry state, the woven
fabric has a thickness d1.
Fig. 4 shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of
the two ply structured woven fabric as shown in Fig. 3 in
water-wetted state. In Fig. 4, the yarns (1) in the
composite yarns (A) 12 are wetted with water, absorb
water and self elongate to increase the length of the
yarns (1) and thus the yarns (2), which are wound around
the yarns (1) and are in a bent form or a spiral form,
are elongated, to cause the length of the composite yarns
(A) 12 to increase as shown in Fig. 4, and thus the
roughness of the surface of the two ply structured woven
fabric to increase. Thus the thickness d2 of the water-
wetted woven fabric 11 becomes larger than d1. When the
wetted fabric shown in Fig. 4 is dried, the form of the
fabric returns to that shown in Fig. 3, and the
ruggedness of the fabric surface decreases.
The degree of change in the ruggedness of the
composite fabric surface caused by drying, wetting and
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drying can be represented by the ruggedness change as
defined above.
The ruggedness change of the two ply structured
composite fabric of the present invention is preferably
100 or more, more preferably 20 to 50%. If the
ruggedness change is less than 10%, a cloth prepared from
the resultant two ply structured composite fabric may
adhere to the skin when wetted with perspiration with an
increased unpleasantness, and may be difficult to dry.
The composite fabric of the present invention
preferably exhibits an air permeability of 50 ml/cm2~s or
less, more preferably 5 to 40 ml/cm2~s, determined by an
air permeability measurement in accordance with
JIS L 1096 - 1998, 6.27, method A (Fragir type method) in
the air atmosphere at a temperature of 20°C at a relative
humidity of 65%.
Also, the composite fabric of the present invention
preferably exhibits a hydraulic pressure resistance of
100 mmH20 or more, more preferably 120 to 600 mmH20,
determined by a hydraulic pressure resistance measurement
in accordance with JIS L 1092 - 1998, 4(1.1) (Law
hydraulic pressure method), in the air atmosphere at a
temperature of 20°C at a relative humidity of 65%.
In accordance with the present invention, various
textile products including cloth materials, for example,
men's clothes, women's clothes, sports wear; interior
materials, for example, bed materials and curtains, and
automobile interior materials, for example, car sheets,
can be provided from the above-mentioned two-ply
structured composite fabric. The textile materials may
be entirely formed by sewing the composite woven or
knitted fabric as mentioned above, or parts of the
textile materials, for example, armholes and breast
portions, may be formed by sewing the composite woven or
knitted fabric of the present invention. When the
textile materials produced as mentioned above are
employed, the penetration of rain water into the textile
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materials can be prevented, and the area of a portion of
the textile material coming into contact with the skin
when wetted with perspiration can made small, to cause
the sticky feel due to the wetted textile material
portion to decrease and the pleasantness to increase.
The cloth material of the present invention
comprises the stretchable composite fabric of the present
invention as mentioned above and is capable of generating
a rugged pattern on at least one surface of the cloth
material when wetted with water.
The cloth of the present invention is formed by
using the cloth material of the present invention. The
cloth may be entirely formed from the cloth material of
the present invention, or may have at least one portion,
for example, an armhole, a side, a breast, a back or a
shoulder portion formed from the cloth material of the
present invention. In the latter case, cloth portions
corresponding to portions of the body in which a
perspiration occurs at a relatively high extent are
formed from the cloth material of the present invention,
and the remaining portions of the cloth are formed from a
material different from the cloth material of the present
invention and, thus, are not capable of producing a rough
pattern on the surface of the remaining portions when
wetted with water. For example, right and left armhole
portions 21 of a cloth shown in Fig. 5, right and left
undersleeve portions and right and left body side end
portions of a cloth shown in Fig. 6, breast center
portion of a cloth shown in Fig. 7, back upper center
portion of a cloth shown in Fig. 8 and right and left
shoulder portions of a cloth shown in Fig. 9, are formed
from the cloth material of the present invention. The
total area of the portions formed from the cloth material
of the present invention is preferably 500 to 10000 cmZ
per cloth, and the percentage of the total area of the
portions on the basis of the entire area of the cloth is
preferably in the range of from 5 to 70$, more preferably
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from 10 to 60%. If the area percentage is less than 5%,
and when the cloth portions are wetted with, for example,
perspiration, the effect of the rugged pattern generated
in the wetted portions on the whole cloth may be too low.
Also, if the area percentage is more than 700, and when
wetted with water, the change in dimensions of the cloth
may be too high.
EXAMPLE
The present invention will be further illustrated by
the following Examples which are not intended to limit
the scope of the present invention in any way.
In the examples, the following measurements were
carried out.
(1) Lengthes of a yarn contained in woven or
knitted fabric in dry and in wet were determined in
accordance with the measurement method as described
hereinbefore.
(2) Self elongations of a yarn upon absorbing water
were determined in accordance with the measurement method
as described hereinbefore.
(3) Shrinkage of a yarn in boiling water
The shrinkage of a yarn in boiling water was
determined in accordance with JIS L 1013 - 1998, 7.15.
The number (n) of specimens subjected to the measurement
was 3.
(9) Measurements of air permeabilities of a woven
or knitted fabric in dry and in wet and change
in air permeability
A sample of a woven or knitted fabric to be
tested was left to stand in the air atmosphere at a
temperature of 20°C at a relative humidity of 65% for
24 hours, and a plurality of dry specimens (n = 5) were
provided from the dried sample. Separately, another
sample of the woven or knitted fabric was immersed in
water at a temperature of 20°C for 5 minutes; the wetted
sample was taken up from water, interposed between a pair
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of filter paper sheets and pressed under a pressure of
490 N/m2 for one minute to remove water remaining between
fibers in the sample; and a plurality of specimens
(n = 5) were provided from the wetted sample. Then the
dry specimens and wetted specimens were subjected to a
measurements of air permeability in accordance with
JIS L 1096 - 1998, 6.27.1, method A (Fragir type method),
to determine average air permeabilities of the dry and
wetted specimens.
Further, the change in air permeability of the
woven or knitted fabric was calculated in accordance with
the following equation.
Change in air permeability (o)
- [(Pw - Pd)/PdJ x 100
wherein Pw represents an average air permeability of the
wetted specimens and Pd represents an average
permeability of the dry specimens.
(5) Largest thicknesses of woven or knitted fabric
in dry and in wet and change in ruggedness of the fabric
were determined by the measurements as described
hereinbefore.
(6) Elongation at break
Elongation at break of a yarn was determined in
accordance with JIS L 1013 - 1998, Elongation measuring
method.
(7) Cover factor (CF)
Cover factor of a woven fabric was calculated
in accordance with the following equation.
CF = (DWp/1. 1) 1~2 x MWp + (DWf/1. 1) 1~2 x MWf
wherein DWp represents a thickness (d tex) of warp yarns
in the woven fabric, MWp represents a weave density
(yarns/3.79 cm) of the warp yarns in the woven fabric,
DWf represents a thickness (d tex) of weft yarns in the
woven fabric and MWf represents a weave density
(yarns/3.79 cm) of the weft yarns in the woven fabric.
(8) Hydraulic pressure resistance
Hydraulic pressure resistance of a fabric was
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determined in accordance with JIS L 1092, Method B (low
hydraulic static pressure method).
(9) Water repellency
Water repellency of a fabric was evaluated in
points in accordance with JIS L 1092, Spray method.
(10) Water absorption
Water absorption was measured in accordance
with JIS L 1967, the dropping method, in which water was
dropped onto a surface of a fabric sample and a time for
which the water drop disappeared a specular reflection
thereon was measured, and the water absorption of the
fabric sample was represented by the measured time.
(11) Stick-preventing property of a fabric to the
skin
Three testers respectively wore a type of cloth
to be tested and quietly stayed on a chain under
conditions of a temperature of 35°C and a relative
humidity (RH) of 50~ for 5 minutes, and thereafter walked
at a constant walking speed of 5 km/hour. During
walking, the confortability of the cloth was
organoleptically evaluated in the following three classes
by the testes.
Class Comfort
3 Good, no sticky feel
2 Practically usable, slightly sticky
1 Bad, Significantly sticky
Example 1
A polyetherester polymer produced from 99.8 parts by
mass of polybutylene terephthalate for hard segments and
50.2 parts by mass of polyoxyethylene glycol having a
number average molecular weight of 4,000 for soft
segments was melted at a temperature of 230°c and extruded
at an extrusion rate of 3.05 g/minute through a melt
spinneret for a monofilament. The extruded polymer
filament was taken up at a taking-up speed of
705 m/minute through two godet rollers and wound up at a
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winding-up speed of 750 m/minute under a winding draft of
1.06, to provide a stretchable, high water absorbent and
self elongative yarn (1) having a yarn count of
44 d tex/1 filament. The yarn (1) had a self elongation
of 10o upon absorbing water in the longitudinal axis
direction thereof, a shrinkage in boiling water of 8% and
an elongation at break of 8160.
Also, as a non-stretchable, low water absorbent and
low self-elongative yarn (2), a conventional polyethylene
terephthalate mufti-filament yarn
(56 d tex/144 filaments) having a self elongation less
than 1% upon wetting with water was;employed.
A stretchable composite yarn ,(A)~1';having a core-in-
sheath structure was produced from the stretchable, high
water absorbent and self elongative yarn (1) as a core
yarn and the non-stretchable, low water absorbent and low
self elongative yarn (2) as a sheath yarn, by combining
the core yarn (1) with the sheath yarn (2) in accordance
with a covering method at a draft (in %) of the core
yarn (1) of 3000 (3.0 times) with a yarn covering number
of the sheath yarn (2) of 1000 turns/m in the S
direction.
Separately, as a stretchable, low water absorbent
and low self elongative yarn (3), a stretchable
polyetherester yarn available under the trademark REXE,
made by TEIJIN FIBERS, hTD, and having a yarn count of
44 d tex/1 filament, a shrinkage in boiling water of 24%
and a self elongation upon absorbing water less than 10
in the longitudinal axis direction of the yarn was
employed, and as a yarn (4), a conventional polyethylene
terephthalate mufti-filament yarn
(56 d tex/144 filaments) was employed. A stretchable,
low water absorbent and low self elongative composite
yarn (B) was produced from the yarn (3) as a core yarn
and the yarn (4) as a sheath yarn, by a yarn-combining
procedure in accordance with a covering method at a draft
(in o) of the core yarn of 30% (1.3 times) at a covering
CA 02539780 2006-03-22
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number of the sheath yarn (4) of 1000 turns/m in the S
direction.
The composite yarn (A) and the composite yarn (B)
were subjected as weft yarns to a weaving procedure. As
a warp yarn, a polyethylene terephthalate multifilament
yarn (5) having a yarn count .of 84 d tex/30 filaments was
employed. The yarn (5) is formed from individual
filaments having a flat cross-sectional profile with a
flatness of 3.2, and having ridge (projecting) portions
and groove (constricted) portions formed in two sides
with respect to the major axis of the flat cross-
sectional profile. In the profile, the number of the
groove portions was 3 and the number of the ridge
portions was 4 each per side of the profile.
A plain weave having a warp density of
117 yarns/25.4 mm and a weft density of 107 yarns/25.4 mm
was produced from a warp yarn group consisting of the
yarns (5) and a weft yarn group consisting of the
composite yarns (A) and the composite yarns (B) which
were alternately arranged with every 50 yarns.
The resultant plain weave was subjected to a wet
heat treatment at 95°C for 3 minutes and was dyed with a
disperse dye at 120°C for 95 minutes in a liquid stream
type dyeing machine. The dyed woven fabric was dry heat-
treated in a tenter at 160°C for one minute while
expanding the fabric at a expansion ratio of 1.1 in the
cross direction of the fabric.
The resultant plain weave exhibited a stretchability
in the weft direction. The stretch percentage of the
plain weave in the weft direction was 120. Also, in the
plain weave, the yarn length ratio LA/LB of the composite
yarns (A) to the composite yarns (B) contained in the
weft yarn group was 1.03 in dry condition and 1.15 in
water-wetted condition. The change in the ruggedness of
the plain weave between the dry and wetted conditions was
996%. Also, in the plain weave, the average yarn length
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ratio L1/L2 of the yarn (1) to the yarn (2) contained in
the composite yarns (A) in the weft yarn group, and the
average yarn length ratio L3/LB of the yarn (3) to the
yarn (4) in the composite yarn (4) was 0.73.
A sport shirt was produced from the stretchable
plain weave as mentioned above. It was confirmed that,
when wetted with perspiration during wearing of the
shirt, a rugged pattern was generated on the shirt, to
decrease the sticking of the shirt to the skin and the
comfort of the shirt was good.
Example 2
A stretchable plain weave was produced by the same
weaving, dyeing and heat-setting procedures as in those
in Example 1, except that the as warp yarns, polyester
multifilament yarn having a yarn count of
84 d tex/72 filaments and thus a fine individual filament
thickness.
In the resultant stretchable plain weave, the yarn
length ratio LA/LB of the composite yarns(A)lto the
J
composite yarns (B) used as weft yarns was 1:02 in dry
condition and 1.14 in wetted condition, and the
ruggedness change occurred when wetted with water was
487 0 .
Also, in the weft yarn group of the stretchable
plain weave, the average yarn length ratio L1/L2 of the
yarns (1) to the yarns (2) contained in the composite
yarns (A) was 0.43, and the average yarn length ratio
L3/L4 of the yar s~(3\) to the yarns 4 contained in the
composite yarn (B) w,ias 0.80.
The stretchab~plain weave had a stretch percentage
of llo in the weft direction.
A sport shirt was prepared from the stretchable
plain weave as mentioned above. It was confirmed that
when wetted with perspiration, during wearing of the
shirt, a rugged pattern was generated on the shirt to
prevent the sticking of the shirt to the skin, and the
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comfort of the shirt was good.
Comparative Example 1
A plain weave was produced by the same weaving,
dyeing and heat-setting procedures as in Example 1,
except that the weft yarn group consisted of only the
composite yarns (A).
The resultant stretchable plain weave exhibited a
stretch percentage of. l0% in the weft direction.
When the stretchable plain weave was wetted with
water, however, the plain weave evenly elongated in the
warp direction and substantially no rough pattern was
generated on the fabric. (Roughness change = 0.50)
A sport shirt was prepared from the above-mentioned
plain weave. It was found that when worn and wetted with
perspiration, the shirt elongated in the weft direction
of the fabric but no rough pattern was generated. Thus,
the sticking of the shirt to the skin could not be
controlled and the comfort of the shirt was
unsatisfactory.
Example 3
A polyetherester polymer produced from 49.8 parts by
mass of polybutylene terephthalate for hard segments and
50.2 parts by mass of polyoxyethylene glycol having a
number average molecular weight of 9,000 for soft
segments melted at a temperature of 230°c and extruded at
an extrusion rate of 3.05 g/minute through a melt
spinneret. The extruded polymer filament was taken up at
a taking-up speed of 705 m/minute through two godet
rollers and wound up at a winding-up speed of
750 m/minute under a winding draft of 1.06, to provide a
stretchable, high water absorbent and self elongative
yarn (1) having a yarn count of 49 d tex/1 filament. The
yarn (1) had a self elongation of 25o upon absorbing
water in the longitudinal axis direction thereof, and an
elongation at break of 816%.
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Also, as a low water absorbent and low self
elongative yarn, a false twist-textured yarn prepared by
subjecting a conventional polyethylene terephthalate
multifilament yarn to a conventional false twist-
s texturing procedure and having a yarn count of
56 d tex/144 filaments, a self elongation less than 1%
upon wetting with water and an individual filament
thickness of 0.39 d tex was employed.
The yarns (1) and the yarns (2) were fed into a
covering type yarn-combining machine in which the
yarns (1) were used as core yarns, the yarns (2) were
used as sheath yarns, and the core yarns (1) were
combined with the yarns (2) at a draft of the core
yarns (1) of 120% (1.2 times) at a covering number of the
sheath yarns (2) of 1000 turns/m in the S direction, to
prepare a stretchable composite yarn (A).
Separately, as a stretchable, low water absorbent
and low self elongative yarn (3), a stretchable
polyetherester yarn available under a trademark REXE,
made by TEIJIN FIBERS, LTD, and having a yarn count of
44 d tex/1 filament, a shrinkage in boiling water of 24%,
a self elongation upon absorbing water less than 1% in
the longitudinal axis direction of the yarn and an
elongation at break of 650% was employed, and as a non-
stretchable, low water absorbent and low self elongative
yarn (4), a conventional polyethylene terephthalate
rnulti-filament yarn (56 d tex/144 filaments) having an
individual filament thickness of 0.39 d tex and a self
elongation less than 1o upon absorbing water in the
filament axis direction, was employed. A stretchable,
low water absorbent and low self elongative composite
yarn (B) was produced from the yarns (3) used as core
yarns and the yarns (4) used as sheath yarns, by using a
covering type yarn-combining machine at a draft (in %) of
the core yarns of 3000 (3.0 times) at a covering number
of the sheath yarn (4) of 1000 turns/m in the S
direction, separately, a polyethylene terephthalate
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mufti-filament yarn was subjected to a false twist-
texturing treatment, to prepare a false twist-textured
polyester yarn having a yarn count of
84 d tex/72 filaments, and an individual filament
thickness of 1.17 d tex.
The resultant two yarns were combined with each
other while twisting the resultant combined yarn at a
twist number of 200 turns/m in the S direction, to
provide a combined and twisted polyester yarn (5).
A woven fabric was produced from the combined and
twisted polyester yarns (5) used as warp yarns and the
above-mentioned composite yarns (A) and (B) used as weft
yarns, in the woven fabric structure as shown in Fig. 10,
in which the composite yarns (A) and the composite yarns
(B) are alternately arranged with every one yarn. The
resultant woven fabric had a warp density of
135 yarns/3.79 cm and a weft density of
215 yarns/3.79 cm. The resultant woven fabric was a weft
two ply structured woven fabric having a surface formed
mainly from the composite yarns (1) and an other surface
formed mainly from the composite yarns (2).
The resultant woven fabric was subjected to a wet
heat treatment at 95°C for 3 minutes and was dyed with a
disperse dye at 120°C for 45 minutes in a liquid stream
type dyeing machine.
The surface of the dyed woven fabric which surface
was mainly formed from the composite yarns (B) was coated
with an aqueous water repellent treating liquid
containing 3.0% by mass of a fluorine-containing water
repellent agent (trademark: ASAHIGUARD AG 7101, made by
ASAHI Glass C0.) by a roller printing method, dried at
120°C, and dry heated in a tenter at 160°C for 45 seconds,
while expanding in the cross-direction the fabric at a
expansion rate of 1.1.
The resultant two ply structured woven fabric
exhibited the following performance.
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Air permeability . 1.40 ml/cmz~s
Hydraulic pressure resistance on a
surface formed mainly from the
composite yarns (B) . 175 mmH20
Water repellency of a surface
mainly formed from the composite
yarns (B) . Class 5
Water absorption of a surface
mainly formed from the composite
yarns (A) . 5.5 seconds
Roughness change . 25%
Comfort . Class 3
A cloth for sports wear was prepared from the two
ply structured woven fabric and worn. It was found that
the surface mainly formed from the composite yarns (B)
could prevent penetration of rain water and the other
surface mainly formed from the composite yarns (A) could
prevent or decrease sticky feel of the cloth to the skin
when perspirated and stuffy feel of the cloth and the
comfort of the cloth was good.
Example 4
A two ply structured woven fabric was produced by
the same weaving, dyeing, water repellent-treating and
heat treating procedures as those in Example 3, except
that, as warp yarns, combined yarns produced by
subjecting polyethylene terephthalate multi-filament
yarns (having a self elongation less than 1o upon
absorbing water) to a false twist-texturing procedure,
paralleling two of the resultant polyester false twist-
textured yarns (having a yarn count of
84 d texi36 filaments and an individual filament
thickness of 2.3 d tex to each other, and twisting the
resultant double yarns at a twist number of 200 turns/m
in the S direction, were employed.
The resultant two ply structured woven fabric
exhibited the following performance.
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Water repellency of the surface
not treated with water repellent
agent . 6.4 seconds
Roughness change . 220
Comfort . Class 3
Air permeability . 5.5 ml/cm2~s
Hydraulic pressure resistance on
the surface treated with the water
repellent agent . 80 mmH20
A cloth for sports wear was prepared from the above-
mentioned fabric and worn. The comfort of the cloth was
good, while the waterproofing property of the cloth was
slightly lower than that of Example 1, as the non-
stretchable, low water absorbent and low self elongative
yarns (2) to be contained in the composite yarns (A),
false twist-textured yarns (having a yarn count of
56 d tex/24 filaments and an individual filament
thickness of 2.3 d tex) produced by false twist texturing
polyethylene terephthalate mufti-filament yarns (having a
self elongation less than 1% upon absorbing water), were
employed.
The resultant two ply structured woven fabric
exhibited the following performance.
Air permeability . 1.5 ml/cm2~s
Hydraulic pressure resistance of
the water repellent-treated
surface . 170 mmH20
Water repellency of the water
repellent-treated surface . Class 5
Comfort . Class 2
Roughness change . 8%
A cloth for sports wear was prepared from the above-
mentioned fabric and worn. The waterproofing property of
the cloth was satisfactory, while the comfort of the
cloth was slightly lower than that in Example 1.
Example 6
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Composite yarns (A) were produced by the same
procedures as in Example 3, except that in the yarn-
combining procedure, the draft of the yarns (1) was
changed to 3000 (3 times).
Composite yarns (B) were produced by the same
procedures as in Example 3.
Separately, twisted yarns were produced by twisting
each of the same false twist textured polyethylene
terephthalate multi-filament yarns having a yarn count of
84 d tex/72 filaments and an individual filament
thickness of 1.17 d tex as those used in Example l, at a
twist number of 300 turns/m in the S direction, and were
employed as warp yarns for weaving.
A two ply structured woven fabric having a warp
density of 188 yarns/3.79 cm and a weft density of
157 yarns/3.79 cm was produced from the composite yarns
(A) and the composite yarns (B) used as weft yarns and
the above-mentioned warp yarns, in accordance with the
two ply weaving structure as shown in Fig. 11. A surface
of the two ply structured woven fabric was mainly formed
from the composite yarns (A) and the other surface of the
fabric was mainly formed from the composite yarns (B).
The two ply structured woven fabric was dyed, water
repellent-treated and heat threated in the same
procedures as in Example 3.
The resultant two ply structured woven fabric
exhibited the following performance.
Air permeability . 4.50 ml/cm2~s
Hydraulic pressure resistance of
water repellent-treated surface . 120 mmH20
Water repellency of water
repellent-treated surface . Class 5
Water absorption of non-water
repellent-treated surface . 8.2 seconds
Roughness change . 40°s
Comfort . Class 3
A cloth for sports wear was prepared from the above-
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mentioned two ply structured woven fabric and worn. The
waterproofing property and confortability (stick-
preventing property of the cloth to the skin when wetted
with perspiration, and stuffiness-preventing property)
were good.
Example 7
A two ply structured woven fabric was produced by
the same procedures as in Example 6, wet heat-treated at
95°C for 3 minutes; and dyed with a disperse dye at 120°C
for 95 minutes in a liquid stream type dyeing machine.
Then the dyed woven fabric was immersed in a treating
liquid containing 5.0% by mass of a water absorbing agent
(trademark: YM-81, made by TAKAMATSU YUSHI K.K.);
squeezed to an extent allowing the water absorbing agent
in an amount of 1200 to be impregnated in the fabric;
dried at a temperature of 120°C; and then heat-treated in
a tenter at 160°C for 95 seconds while expanding the
fabric at a expansion ratio of 1.2 in the cross direction
of the fabric.
The resultant two ply structured woven fabric
exhibited the following performance.
Air permeability . 9.50 ml/cm2~s
Water absorption in the surface
mainly formed from the composite
yarns (A) . 1.5 seconds
Roughness change . 40%
Comfort . Class 3
A cloth for sports wear was prepared from the above-
mentioned two ply structured woven fabric and worn.
During the wearing, a slick feeling of the cloth to the
skin, when perspiring was small, the stuffy feeling was
little, and the comfort was good.
