Thermo-shapeable fabrics and articles made therefrom

Abstract

Disclosed herein are fabrics having different thermo-properties. The fabric is characterized in its structure by having a high melting temperature zone and a low melting temperature zone, which are respectively made up by yarns having high and low melting temperatures By having yarns of high and low temperatures in the fabric, in which the respective melting temperatures in the high and low melting temperature zones differ by about 30° C. to 150° C.; and the low melting temperature zone melts and eventually becomes harden after heat-activation, while the high melting temperature zone remains un-melted and soft after heat-activation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermo-shapeable fabric comprising:
 a high melting temperature zone and a low melting temperature zone respectively composed of yarns having high and low melting temperatures,   wherein, the respective melting temperatures in the high and low melting temperature zones differ by about 30° C. to 150° C.; and the low melting temperature zone becomes harden after heat-activation, while the high melting temperature zone remains soft after heat-activation.   
     
     
         2 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein each yarns is composed of a plurality of fibers independently made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low melting point copolyester, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the low melting point copolyester is a copolymer of terephthalic acid (PTA), ethylene glycol (EG) and an aliphatic monomer, in which the aliphatic monomer is selected from the group consisting of glutamic acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, neopentyl glycol and butylene glycol. 
     
     
         4 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the low melting point copolyester is a copolymer of PTA, EG and sebacic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the low temperature zone is created by embroidering the yarns having low melting temperature onto the high melting temperature zone. 
     
     
         6 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the high and low temperature zones are created by knitting or weaving the yarns respectively having high and low melting temperature into the thermo-shapeable fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-activation comprises heating the thermo-shapeable fabric until the temperature reaches the melting temperature of the low temperature zone but not exceeding the melting temperature of the high temperature zone. 
     
     
         8 . An article made by heat-activating the thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1  to form a shape of the article directly on the thermo-shapeable fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the shape of the article is created by heating the thermo-shapeable fabric of  claim 1  until the temperature reaches the melting temperature of the low temperature zone but not exceeding the melting temperature of the high temperature zone. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the shape of the article is created with an aid of a mould during the heat activation.