Enhanced meta-aramid and para-aramid textiles, garments, and methods

Abstract

A textile comprising a plurality of synthetic fibers and a plurality of active particles. The plurality of synthetic fibers comprise a plurality of meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fibers. The plurality of active particles are physically embedded in the plurality of synthetic fibers. The plurality of active particles comprise a higher heat stability temperature than the plurality of synthetic fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A textile comprising,
 a plurality of synthetic fibers, the plurality of synthetic fibers comprising a plurality of meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fibers;   a plurality of active particles physically embedded in the plurality of synthetic fibers, wherein the plurality of active particles comprise a higher heat stability temperature than the plurality of synthetic fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein,
 the textile comprises a first side and a second side; and 
 the active particles decrease the humidity and/or an amount of liquid between the first side and a user's skin upon wearing the textile. 
 
     
     
         3 . The textile of  claim 2  wherein,
 the first side comprises a textile side nearest to a user's skin upon wearing the textile; and 
 the second side comprises a textile side farther from the user's skin upon wearing the textile. 
 
     
     
         4 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein,
 the weight ratio of active particles to synthetic fibers comprises a range of about to about 0.01% to 3%; and 
 the active particles increase a resistance to burning for the textile. 
 
     
     
         5 . The textile of  claim 4  wherein, the resistance to burning comprises,
 a non-melting textile; 
 a non-dripping textile; and 
 a textile comprising,
 less than two second of afterglow and after flame, and 
 less than four inches of char length. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein, the active particles,
 are between about 100 nm and 10 microns in diameter; 
 absorb light comprising wavelengths from about 8 microns to about 12 microns; 
 absorb and eject water, wherein the water comprises a temperature between about 10 degrees Celsius and about 40 degrees Celsius; and 
 comprise a surface area greater than 10 m 2  per gram of active particles. 
 
     
     
         7 . The textile of  claim 6  wherein,
 the light comprises infrared light; and 
 an increased water evaporation rate for the textile when the active particle is present. 
 
     
     
         8 . The textile of  claim 6  wherein,
 the water evaporation rate comprises moisture entering the textile at a textile first side and leaving the textile at a textile second side; 
 a temperature of the water at the textile first side comprises a temperature near a user's body temperature; 
 the temperature of the water at the textile second side comprises an ambient temperature. 
 
     
     
         9 . A fire-resistant garment comprising,
 a plurality of synthetic fibers, the plurality of synthetic fibers comprising a plurality of meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fibers;   a plurality of active particles physically embedded in the plurality of synthetic fibers, wherein the plurality of active particles comprise a higher heat stability temperature than the plurality of synthetic fibers.   
     
     
         10 . The fire-resistant garment of  claim 9  further comprising,
 a first garment section; and 
 a second garment section. 
 
     
     
         11 . The fire-resistant garment of  claim 10  wherein,
 one of the first garment section and the second garment section comprises a head and/or neck covering; and 
 no skin is exposed to an ambient environment upon wearing the fire-resistant garment. 
 
     
     
         12 . The fire-resistant garment of  claim 9  further comprising,
 a plurality of natural porous fibers blended with the plurality of synthetic fibers; and 
 one or more openings to access a first garment side from a second garment side. 
 
     
     
         13 . The fire-resistant garment of  claim 12  wherein,
 the plurality of synthetic fibers doped with active particles comprises cotton and/or polyester; and 
 the synthetic fibers doped with active particles is no greater than 35%. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of creating a composite polymer textile comprising,
 creating a solution by dissolving polymers comprising meta-aramids and/or para-aramids into a solvent;   dispersing active particles into the solution;   spinning the solution using a spinneret;   polymerizing or precipitating the solution into a meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fiber material; and   physically incorporating the active particles into the meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fiber material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, the solvent comprises sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, the active particles are insoluble and physically unaffected by the solvent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, the active particles are dispersed into the solution before and/or during the spinning of the solution using a spinneret. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the active particles are dispersed directly into the solution or:
 by using a dispersing agent, or 
 through the use of a removable encapsulant. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  18  wherein, the active particles are dispersed using a dispersing agent and further comprising,
 substantially decreasing the agglomeration of active particles; and 
 substantially decreasing the number of active particles that fall out of the solution. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, physically incorporating the active particles into the meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fiber material occurs during the spinning of the solution and comprises using dispersion forces or van der Waals forces to hold the active particles and the meta-aramid and/or para-aramid fiber material together.