Auxetic knitted fabric

Abstract

An auxetic knitted fabric, comprising an auxetic component knitted from at least a first type of fibre, and a stabilising component knitted from at least a second type of fibre, wherein the first and second fibre types have different mechanical properties.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An auxetic solid knitted fabric, comprising
 an auxetic component knitted from at least a first type of fibre, and   a stabilising component knitted from at least a second type of fibre, wherein
 the first and second fibre types have different mechanical properties. 
   
     
     
         13 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein the first fibre type has a substantially higher modulus of elasticity than the second fibre type. 
     
     
         14 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein the auxetic component comprises a repeating pattern of auxetic elements. 
     
     
         15 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 14 , wherein each auxetic element is a re-entrant triangle. 
     
     
         16 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12  wherein the auxetic component is knitted from two fibre types, the first fibre type and a third fibre. 
     
     
         17 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12  wherein the stabilising component is knitted from two fibre types, the second fibre type and a fourth fibre type. 
     
     
         18 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12  knitted on a warp knitting machine. 
     
     
         19 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein the stabilising component acts to return the fabric to a stable state after deformation from the state by application of strain to the fabric. 
     
     
         20 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein during expansion of the fabric by an applied strain at least part of the fibres of the stabilising component stretch elastically. 
     
     
         21 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 20 , wherein the fibres of the auxetic component do not stretch during expansion. 
     
     
         22 . An auxetic fabric according to  claim 12 , wherein a first phase of expansion of the fabric in response to an applied strain occurs by stretching of at least part of the stabilising component and deformation by hinging or bending of the auxetic component.