Moisture-management in hydrophilic fibers

Abstract

A nano technology process for the manufacture of a fabric that comprises fibers, such as man-made fibers, cotton fibers or cellulose fibers, which are essentially hydrophilic, with improved moisture-management performance, in which the fibers are individually encapsulated with a nano chemistry water-repellant surface.

1 . A nano technology process for the manufacture of a fabric comprising fibers, said fibers being essentially hydrophilic, with improved moisture-management performance, said process comprising the step of individually encapsulating said fibers with a nano chemistry water-repellant surface.  
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers are cotton fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers are man-made fibers, preferably cotton fibers or cellulose fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said encapsulating of said fibers with said water-repellant surface essentially imparts superior moisture-management performance to said fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said water-repellant surface is a particulate silicone surface, wherein the particles of said silicone surface are of nano-scale size.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said encapsulation is carried-out by essentially immersing said fibers in particulate silicone suspension, said suspension comprising silicone particles in nano-scale size.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the cross section of said fibers are of bean shape, said cotton fibers being in slightly flat and twisted shape.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated cotton fibers are further tightly bound to form a fabric, said fabric comprising open channels between said fibers.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the improved moisture-management performance is essentially conducted by wicking of moisture through said open channels.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric further comprising synthetic fibers in pre-determined amount.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said synthetic fiber is Lycra.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric further comprises washing additives, bleaching additives, dying finishing additives, colorants, finishing additives.  
   
   
       13 . A fabric with improved moisture-management performance, said fabric comprising fibers encapsulated with water-repellant surface, said fibers being essentially hydrophilic.  
   
   
       14 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are cotton fibers.  
   
   
       15 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein said fibers are man-made fibers, preferably said man-made fibers are cotton or cellulose fibers.  
   
   
       16 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein said encapsulated water-repellant surface essentially imparts superior moisture-management performance to said fabric.  
   
   
       17 . The fabric of  claim 16 , wherein said moisture-management performance essentially translated into wicking of said moisture, said wicking essentially being carried-out through inter-fiber channels in said fabric.  
   
   
       18 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein said water-repellant surface is a particulate silicone surface, wherein the particles of said silicone surface are of nano-scale size.  
   
   
       19 . The fabric of  claim 11 , wherein the cross section of said fibers is of bean shape, said fibers being in slightly flat and twisted shape.  
   
   
       20 . The fabric of  claim 13 , further comprising synthetic fibers in pre-determined amount.  
   
   
       21 . The fabric of  claim 20 , wherein said synthetic fiber is Lycra.  
   
   
       22 . A textile article comprising a fabric of  claim 13 .  
   
   
       23 . The textile article of  claim 22 , essentially having superior moisture-management performance.  
   
   
       24 . The textile article of  claim 23 , wherein said article is any of apparel, garment, or clothing.