Fabrics Containing Multi-Groove Fibers

Abstract

Fabric having a fabric body defines a first surface and an opposite second surface, with at least one of the first and second surfaces incorporating fibers having an axial core surrounded by a multiplicity of radially extending, axially-elongated whiskers. The whiskers are separated by axially-extending grooves. The fibers have denier of about 0.3 dpf to about 10.0 dpf. Garments formed of such fabric are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric comprising a fabric body defining a first surface and an opposite second surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface incorporating fibers having an axial core surrounded by a multiplicity of radially extending, axially-elongated whiskers, separated by axially-extending grooves, said fibers having denier of about 0.3 dpf to about 10.0 dpf. 
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a smooth surface and incorporates said fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a raised surface and incorporates said fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein the second surface incorporates fibers other than said fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the second surface is a raised surface and incorporates said fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein the second surface incorporates fibers other said fibers, and the fibers incorporated in the second surface have denier relatively greater than the denier of said fibers incorporated in the first surface. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the fibers other than said fibers incorporated in the second surface have denier of about 0.1 dpf to about 3.0 dpf. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the fabric has construction selected from among has double needle bar warp knit (raschel), circular terry sinker loop, cut loop terry sinker loop, and brushed warp knit construction. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric has constructions selected from among plaited single jersey, plaited jersey, double knit, tricot, the jersey side of single face construction, 2-end fleece, and 3-end fleece construction. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the raised surface defines pillars separated by intersecting channels, the pillars being defined by discrete regions of relative high pile and the intersecting channels being defined by discrete regions of relatively lower pile or no pile. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 6 , wherein the raised surface defines pockets, the pockets being defined by discrete regions of relatively low pile or no pile arrayed among relatively higher pile. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces both incorporate said fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric body further comprises elastomeric fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric body has 4-way stretch. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric has construction selected from woven construction, double weave construction, and warp knit construction. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the core and the whiskers of said fibers consist of the same polymer or compatible polymers. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer of the core and/or of the whiskers comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyamide 6 (PA 6), PA 66, or any of the combinations. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have about 3 to about 200 whiskers within a cross-sectional surface of said fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said axially-extending grooves are nanogrooves or microgrooves. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said whiskers have an average radial length of about 2 nm to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a denier of about 0.3 dpf to about 10.0 dpf. 
     
     
         22 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the whiskers have an average length up to about 200% of a diameter of the core. 
     
     
         23 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the whiskers have an average length down to about 0.01% of a diameter of the core. 
     
     
         24 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the whiskers have an average length in the range of about 20% and to about 100% of a diameter of the core, or about 0.1% to about 1.0% of a diameter of the core. 
     
     
         25 . A garment formed of the fabric of  claim 1 ,  claim 2 , or  claim 3 , wherein a raised surface of the fabric is an outer surface of the garment, facing away from skin of a wearer. 
     
     
         26 . A garment formed of the fabric of  claim 1 ,  claim 2 , or  claim 3 , wherein a raised surface of the fabric is an inner surface of the garment, facing toward a skin surface of a wearer.