Water-Repellent Fibre

Abstract

A water-repellent fibre ( 300 ) for a yarn and/or a fabric or textile is provided. The fibre ( 300 ) comprises a hydrophobic material. The fibre ( 300 ) also comprises a shape or configuration comprising one or more micro and/or nano-sized structures ( 310 ).

1 . A water-repellent fibre for a yarn and/or a fabric or textile, wherein the fibre comprises:
 a hydrophobic material; and   a shape or configuration comprising one or more micro and/or nano-sized structures.   
     
     
         2 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more micro and/or nano-sized structures have a size of between substantially 10 nm and substantially 100 μm. 
     
     
         3 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more micro and/or nano-sized structures form at least part of or are located on an outer surface of the fibre. 
     
     
         4 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the fibre comprises a cross-sectional shape or configuration that forms or provides the one or more micro and/or nano-sized structures; and/or wherein the fibre comprises a thickness or diameter of between substantially 100 nm and substantially 500 μm. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the one or micro and/or nano-sized structures comprise one or more projections from and/or recesses in the outer surface of the fibre; and, optionally or preferably, wherein a height and/or depth of the one or more projections and/or recesses is between substantially 100 nm and substantially 10 μm. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of micro and/or nano-sized structures, and optionally comprising between substantially 3 and substantially 50 micro and/or nano-sized structures. 
     
     
         9 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 8 , wherein a spacing between adjacent micro and/or nano-sized structures is between substantially 100 nm and substantially 10 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic material is or comprises a hydrophobic polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 10 , wherein the fibre comprises a mixture of the hydrophobic polymeric material and one or more other polymeric materials. 
     
     
         12 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture comprises or is arranged in a core-sheath structure, an island-in-sea structure or a random blend structure. 
     
     
         13 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrophobic polymeric material is or comprises a polymethylpentene polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 13 , wherein the mixture comprises substantially 5% or more by volume of the hydrophobic polymeric material, and optionally comprises between substantially 60% and substantially 80% by volume of the hydrophobic polymeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more other polymers are or comprise one or more of an α-olefin, a polyester, a nylon and a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 13 , wherein the polymethylpentene polymer is or comprises a 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The water-repellent fibre of  claim 16 , wherein the polymethylpentene polymer is or comprises a copolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene with one or more α-olefins, and optionally wherein the one or more α-olefins each comprise between 2 and 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         18 . A water-repellent yarn for a fabric or textile, comprising at least one water-repellent fibre according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The water-repellent yarn of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the yarn comprises a diameter of between substantially 200 nm and substantially 1000 μm; and/or   the yarn comprises between substantially 15 twists/m and substantially 2000 twists/m.   
     
     
         20 . A water-repellent plied yarn for a fabric or textile, comprising at least one water-repellent yarn according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         21 . The water-repellent plied yarn of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the plied yarn comprises a diameter of between substantially 400 nm and substantially 5000 μm; and/or   the plied yarn comprises between substantially 15 twists/m and substantially 2000 twists/m.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing a water-repellent fibre for a yarn and/or a fabric or textile, the method comprising:
 forming a fibre comprising a hydrophobic material; and   
       providing the fibre with a shape or configuration comprising one or more micro and/or nano-sized structure