Staple fibers containing releasable surface modifying molecules

Abstract

Staple fibers and compositions formed from staple fibers are disclosed herein. The fibers are functionalized with molecules that render fabrics comprising the disclosed fibers hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and/or release molecules upon exposure to an external stimulus. Also presented are methods of synthesizing the same and a fabric comprising woven yarns including the staple fiber.

1 . A staple fiber comprising:
 a polymer matrix;   a surface modifying molecule connected to the polymer matrix, wherein the surface modifying molecule includes a functional group that interacts with the polymer matrix and a surface modifying group; and   an anchor molecule attached to the surface modifying molecule by covalent bonding, an electrostatic interaction, a hydrophobic interaction, an aromatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and/or a van der Waals interaction, wherein the anchor molecule has reactive functional groups and is a polymeric or oligomeric molecule.   
     
     
         2 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the functional group is configured to bond or react with the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor molecule has a chemically similar characteristic as the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive functional groups include at least one of amines, amides, imides, hydroxyls, anhydrides, isocyanates, carboxyls, epoxy, sulfhydryls, thiols, acid chlorides (acyl chloride), aldehydes, esters, ketones, alkyl halides, or arenes. 
     
     
         5 . The staple fiber of  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric or oligomeric molecule includes a water insoluble polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The staple fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the water insoluble polymer includes polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The staple fiber of  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric or oligomeric molecule includes one of a polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, styrenic, vinyl polymer, or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying group includes fluorine. 
     
     
         9 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying group includes a derivative of a water soluble polymer including functional groups that are reactive with groups present on the functional group that interacts with the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The staple fiber of  claim 9 , wherein the water soluble polymer includes polyethyleneoxide. 
     
     
         11 . The staple fiber of  claim 9 , wherein the functional groups react and form a covalent interaction that includes one of epoxy-amine, epoxy-anhydride, anhydride-hydroxyl, anhydride-amine, amine-isocyanate, hydroxyl-isocyanate, acid chloride-amine, epoxy-phenol, epoxy-carboxyls, arene-anhydride, aldehyde-amine, ketone-amine, ester-amine, alkyl halide-amine, or isocyanate-anhydride. 
     
     
         12 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying molecule includes an amine group, an anhydride group, an acid chloride group, a carboxyl group, or a reactive group configured to react with a nylon end group or the hydroxyl functionalities of cellulose. 
     
     
         13 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying molecule includes hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks, wherein the hydrophobic blocks include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the hydrophilic blocks include ethylene oxide blocks. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying molecule includes a hydroxypropylmethacrylate copolymerized with a vinyl monomer containing fluorinated groups. 
     
     
         17 . The staple fiber of  claim 16 , wherein the vinyl monomer containing fluorinated groups includes 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl acrylate. 
     
     
         18 . The staple fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying molecule includes a fluorinated polyether molecule. 
     
     
         19 . A fabric comprising woven yarns including the staple fiber of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 19 , wherein the surface modifying molecule renders the fabric hydrophobic. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 19 , wherein the surface modifying molecule renders the fabric hydrophilic. 
     
     
         22 . The fabric of  claim 19 , wherein the surface modifying molecule renders the fabric one or more of insecticidal, repellant to insects, fragrant, antibacterial, antiperspirant, UV absorbing, fungicidal, and/or medicinal. 
     
     
         23 . The fabric of  claim 19 , wherein the surface modifying molecule is a phase change material. 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 adding surface modifying molecules to a melt phase of a polymer matrix wherein each of the surface modifying molecules includes a functional group that interacts with the polymer matrix and a surface modifying group;   forming a carrier, wherein the carrier includes the surface modifying molecules, wherein the carrier is a polyolefin, and wherein the surface modifying molecule is an epoxidized siloxane molecule; and   adding an anchor molecule to the melt phase of the polymer matrix, wherein the anchor molecule is configured to anchor the surface modifying molecule to the polymer matrix.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 adding the staple fiber of  claim 1  to a yarn or fabric; and   releasing the surface modifying molecule within the interstices of the yarn or fabric.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the releasing occurs during of spinning, weaving, and/or finishing the fabric. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the releasing occurs during a heat treatment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the releasing occurs during one or more of a change in pH, a change in temperature, a change in humidity, a change in pressure, application of a current, and/or exposure to radiation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the yarn includes a nylon-cotton blend. 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 adding the carrier formed by  claim 24  to a yarn or fabric; and   releasing the surface modifying molecule within the interstices of the yarn or fabric.