Heat Reflecting Composites with Knitted Insulation

Abstract

Fabrics made for apparel, tents, sleeping bags and the like, in various composites, constructed such that there is at least one metal layer, forming a radiant barrier to reduce heat loss via radiation from the human body, and insulating this metal layer from heat loss via conduction, and a process for its manufacture.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A process for creating an infra-red reflective composite by applying a metal layer to a moisture vapour permeable substrate comprising the steps of:
 a. pre-treating said substrate in a plasma field;   b. flash evaporating a metal in a vacuum chamber to produce a vapour;   c. condensing the vapour on the substrate to produce a film on the surface of the substrate;   d. curing the film to produce a metal layer on the substrate; and,   e. covering the metal layer with an insulating textile layer having a substantially lower thermal conductivity than the metal layer in a pattern that includes gaps which expose a portion of the metal layer for infra red reflection while also providing mechanical separation of the metal layer from other surfaces.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein a functional layer is applied to the moisture vapour permeable substrate prior to applying the metal layer by:
 a. pre-treating the substrate in a plasma field;   b. flash evaporating a monomer having a functionality in a vacuum chamber to produce a vapour;   c. condensing the vapour on the substrate to produce a film of said monomer on a surface of the substrate; and,   d. curing the film to produce a functional layer.   
     
     
         13 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A process for creating an infra-red reflective composite by applying a metal layer to a substrate by: providing a textile layer; providing a moisture vapour permeable substrate; and, coating a thin metallic compound onto said substrate or textile layer by a process selected from the group consisting of of sputtering, rotary screen printing, block screen printing, transfer printing, jet printing, spraying, and sculptured roller, wherein the metal layer, textile layer, and substrate are combined to form a composite. 
     
     
         37 . A process for creating an infra-red reflective composite by: providing a textile layer; providing a moisture vapour permeable substrate; coating a layer of metal onto a release paper by a process selected from the group consisting of of sputtering, rotary screen printing, block screen printing, transfer printing, jet printing, spraying, and sculptured roller; and adhering said layer of metal to said substrate or textile layer, wherein the metal layer, textile layer, and substrate are combined to form a composite. 
     
     
         38 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the metal layer is oxidised by a controlled application of an oxidising gas. 
     
     
         43 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the metal layer is oxidised by a controlled application of an oxidising plasma. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The process according  claim 12 , wherein the metal layer and the functional layer are applied in a continuous process within one vacuum chamber.