Highly absorbent, super-soft and functionalized composite yarn, textile and related manufacturing method

Abstract

A highly absorbent, super-soft composite yarn includes a core formed of microfibers and a covering layer formed of natural fibers which are twisted and surround the microfibers. The microfiber is a composite fiber having two or more components. In one structure, the two components are held together in an interleaved structure resembling an orange in cross-section. In another structure, the microfibers have undergone a splitting process and the two components are separated from each other, where the single filaments of the two components have a linear mass density below 0.55 dtex. The natural fibers of the covering layer cotton fibers, hemp fibers, wool fibers, bamboo fibers, silk fibers, or soybean fibers. The microfibers are functionalized with one or more additives, such as antibacterial, aromatic, and UV-blocking additives. A method for manufacturing the composite yarn and related textile is also described.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A composite yarn comprising:
 a core formed of microfibers, wherein each microfiber has two components which are different materials, the two components being held together in an interleaved arrangement in a cross-sectional view; and   a covering layer formed of natural fibers which are twisted and surround and cover the core.   
     
     
         3 . The composite yarn of  claim 2 , wherein the two components are polyamide 6 and polyester. 
     
     
         4 . The composite yarn of  claim 3 , wherein either the polyamide 6 component or the polyester component or both are functionalized with a functional material. 
     
     
         5 . The composite yarn of  claim 4 , wherein the functional material is selected from a group consisting of antibacterial materials, aromatic materials, and UV-blocking materials. 
     
     
         6 . The composite yarn of  claim 21 , wherein the microfibers are separate filaments of polyamide 6 and polyester which have a linear mass density of less than or equal to 0.55 dtex. 
     
     
         7 . The composite yarn of  claim 6 , wherein either the polyamide 6 filaments or the polyester filaments or both are functionalized with the functional material. 
     
     
         8 . The composite yarn of  claim 21 , wherein the functional material is selected from a group consisting of antibacterial materials, aromatic materials, and UV-blocking materials. 
     
     
         9 . The composite yarn of  claim 2 , wherein the natural fibers of the covering layer are selected from a group consisting of cotton fibers, hemp fibers, wool fibers, bamboo fibers, silk fibers, and soybean fibers. 
     
     
         10 . A fabric made of the composite yarn of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         11 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A composite yarn comprising:
 a core formed of microfibers, wherein at least some of the microfibers are functionalized with a functional material; and   a covering layer formed of natural fibers which are twisted and surround and cover the core.   
     
     
         22 . The composite yarn of  claim 21 , wherein the at least some of the microfibers contain the functional material melted therein. 
     
     
         23 . The composite yarn of  claim 21 , wherein the natural fibers of the covering layer are selected from a group consisting of cotton fibers, hemp fibers, wool fibers, bamboo fibers, silk fibers, and soybean fibers. 
     
     
         24 . A fabric made of the composite yarn of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         25 . A composite yarn comprising:
 a core formed of microfibers which include separate filaments of polyamide 6 and filaments of polyester, the filaments having a linear mass density of less than or equal to 0.55 dtex, wherein either the polyamide 6 filaments or the polyester filaments or both are functionalized with a functional material selected from a group consisting of antibacterial materials, aromatic materials, and UV-blocking materials; and   a covering layer formed of natural fibers which are twisted and surround and cover the core.   
     
     
         26 . The composite yarn of  claim 25 , wherein either the polyamide 6 or the polyester or both contains the functional material melted therein. 
     
     
         27 . The composite yarn of  claim 25 , wherein the natural fibers of the covering layer are selected from a group consisting of cotton fibers, hemp fibers, wool fibers, bamboo fibers, silk fibers, and soybean fibers. 
     
     
         28 . A fabric made of the composite yarn of  claim 25 .