Method of producing shrink-stabilized composite fabrics

Abstract

Abstract The disclosure relates to the shrink-stabilization of laminated and bonded fabrics, herein referred to as composite fabrics, by mechanical compressive shrinkage techniques adapted especially to handle the composite material. The disclosure also relates in part to a new product, in the form of a shrink-stabilized composite fabric. In the disclosed process, a mechanically settable thermoplastic tricot backing fabric is bonded to a desired outer or shell fabric to form the composite. The composite is mechanically compressively shrunk in a two roll compactor, including a feeding roll and a retarding roll. The composite fabric is so oriented relative to the compacting apparatus that the tricot backing fabric contacts the retarding roll, and the relationship of peripheral speeds of the feeding and retarding rolls is such as to effect longitudinal upsetting of the knitted loops of the backing material, confined wholly within the lengths of the loops to avoid pleating of the fabric. The mechanical compressive shrinkage operation is so carried out that the settable backing fabric material is semi-permanently set in an upset condition, at least partly by reason of selfgenerated heat of formation, resulting from the mechanical compacting operation. The new product, in addition to having a desirable stabilization against excess shrinkage, has a noticeably improved hand, as compared to the same material prior to processing, rendering the processed composite fabric more attractive for many applications, particularly garments.

Inventors

• 👤 Thomas T Constantine

Bibliographic Details