WO2019161350A1

WO2019161350A1 - Apparatus and method for applying additives to substrates and related products

Info

Publication number: WO2019161350A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/018467
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew L. PETERSON
Original assignee: Fuze Biotech, Llc
Priority date: 2018-02-19
Filing date: 2019-02-19
Publication date: 2019-08-22
Also published as: US20200378062A1; CN111819318A

Abstract

An apparatus and method for applying one or more additives to a substrate. The substrate may be a fabric, fiber or yarn but not limited thereto. The apparatus includes an array of a plurality of sprayers arranged in proximity to the substrate while the substrate is moving or in a static position. The sprayers are arranged to deliver a mixture of one or more additives and an additive delivery vehicle to the substrate sufficient to bond at least a portion of the one or more additives into the substrate or adhere the one or more additives to the surface of the substrate. The additive delivery vehicle may be air. The sprayers include nozzles configured to generate a spray pattern that provides substantially uniform and substantially complete coverage. The apparatus may include an optional heater to warm the substrate to improve adhesion of the one or more additives on and into the substrate.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING ADDITIVES TO SUBSTRATES

AND RELATED PRODUCTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to improving the characteristics of fabrics and other substrates that may or may not be related to fabrics. More particularly, the present invention relates to effective and cost-efficient application of additives to substrates including but not limited to fabrics, down feathers, fill, leather, synthetics and yam, which are generally referred to herein as materials. The present invention is an apparatus and a method for applying additives to materials by spraying or otherwise directing the additives on to the substrate to infuse them on and/or into the substrate.

2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] Fabrics and applicable substrates mentioned are widely used throughout the world to make finished products such as clothing, bedding and towels, to name just three. There are many desirable characteristics that product manufacturers seek to establish in their products. These characteristics vary widely and can include, but not be limited to feel, temperature control, moisture control and microbe control. Manufacturers also seek to maintain the product integrity and the desired characteristics through many cycles of cleaning and usage. It is therefore important to treat materials effectively to enable desired characteristics. It is also important to be able to do so in a cost-effective manner.

[0003] Presently, for the most part, additives are applied to materials in a wet condition, such as in a bath, by conventional spraying, coating or foam. Application of additive in a liquid state as currently accomplished is costly in terms of the amount of additive material used, the amount of liquid used to deliver the additive and the energy required to dry the material after liquid immersion. Moreover, the additive delivery vehicle in the form of solvents and adherence-enhancing chemicals are increasingly undesirable components of the treatment that may remain in the material and/or be exposed in the effluent downstream. Nevertheless, the desired material characteristics achieved by liquid additive application currently outweigh the negative consequences. In addition, existing methods for treating materials by applying additives thereto involve simply coating the material rather than applying the additives in a way that integrates or embeds them into the material and so, while enhancing material characteristics, additives applied by current processes do not improve those characteristics as much as is possible.

[0004] The described limitations of additive introduction to materials also limit the number, form and type of desired additives that can be applied to fabrics to improve their characteristics. Some additives may not be suitable for dispersion in a liquid and/or uniform introduction to the material. It may not be possible to combine a plurality of additives in a single liquid mixture and so multiple applications may be required. These and other limitations reduce the manufacturer’s options for improving materials in a desired but cost-effective way. Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and method for the effective application of one or more additives to a material by adhering and/or embedding the one or more additives on and/or into the material. Further, what is needed is such an apparatus and method that provides additive application in a cost-effective process. In addition, what is needed is an apparatus and method to apply one or more additives to other types of substrates as well as components of materials, particularly nanoparticle additives but not limited thereto. Relatedly, the present invention forms new products including such additives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for the effective application of one or more additives to a substrate such as a fabric but not limited thereto. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide such an apparatus and method that improves additive application in a cost-effective process.

[0006] These and other objectives are achieved with the present invention, which is an additive application device that may be a stand-alone apparatus or that may form part of a more comprehensive system, such as a fabric or fill production and treatment apparatus. The additive application device includes a plurality of sprayers arranged in an array to provide a substantially uniform dispersion of the atomized additive, which may be a plurality of additives, onto a material so that at least a portion of the one or more additives is retained within, or at least attached to the surface of, the material. The focus of the description of the present invention is directed to application of one or more additives to fabrics and/or the components of fabrics; however, it is not limited to that substrate alone. For example, but not limited thereto, it is to be understood that the present invention may be used to adhere and/or embed one or more additives on and/or into fibers, yarns, down, fills, leather, and other synthetic or natural material. The materials may be stationary, or they may be moving during the additive application process. The number and arrangement of sprayers in the array is selectable. The sprayers include spray nozzles that are selectably positioned with respect to the materials to ensure substantial uniformity of additive dispersion and substantially complete contact with the material. The device includes one or more manifolds to which the sprayers are connected. The manifold supplies an additive delivery vehicle, which may be air, to the sprayers. The additive or additives are also supplied to the sprayers with the delivery vehicle and transmitted through spray nozzles. The nozzles are configured to generate a dispersive pattern of the mixture, such as in a conical arrangement, for example. The delivery vehicle is configured to disperse the one or more additives onto the material with minimal liquid inclusion. As a result, the material is treated with the additive(s) with minimal liquid and decreased drying requirements.

[0007] The device optionally includes a heater used to warm the material enough to manipulate the physical properties. The material substrate, particularly synthetic fibers but not limited thereto, have thermal plastic structures that allow the physical properties to be modified when manipulated with and exposed to heat. The process of warming a material to enhance additive adhesion is not limited to use of the additive application device described herein. That is, the mechanism of warming may be employed separate from the additive apparatus as described, with the one or more additives directed to the material in an alternative way provided that the one or more additives or at least a portion thereof are embedded into or adhered onto the substrate. The warming of the substrate may also be accomplished by other means not limited to a heater placed adjacent to the substrate. For example, the substrate may be warmed due to a process of making it, such as when synthetic materials are thermally set but not limited thereto. [0008] The additive application device of the present invention may be used to improve characteristics of materials and any resultant product made using such material. Prior systems for adding additives to materials often involved immersing the material in water or another solvent that included such additives or simply coating the surface of the material with a treatment. On the other hand, the present invention enables introduction of the additives in a form that is close to dry relative to the immersion method while enabling integration of at least a portion of the additive into or onto the material. There is less energy required to complete drying, less water (with its corresponding waste removal obligations) used and the material is of a better quality with less residual dampness therein. The method of the present invention involves generating an additive

formulation, an additive delivery vehicle and directing a dispersion of that mixture to the material to be treated. The dispersed additive formulation uses an efficient amount of moisture to allow the additive to adhere to the material or embed into the surface of the material. The additive formulation is directed to the material in a pattern and at a rate selected to provide substantially uniform dispersion on the material with enough speed, power and pressure to ensure integration and while maximizing the efficiency of the additive usage. The use of a relatively dry delivery vehicle reduces the time and energy required to dry the material to completion after additive application.

[0009] As noted, the apparatus of the present invention may also be used to apply one or more additives to a surface, such as a wall, a carpet, a chair, a computer keyboard, and any other application where it is of interest to treat such surface with nanoparticle additives. For such types of additives, the apparatus used to deliver a formulation of additives and the additive delivery vehicle includes components that come in contact with the additive that are made of, or treated with, low surface tension materials. The nanoparticles tend to adhere to interior surfaces of components such as pump walls, tubes, valves and sprayer nozzles when those interior surfaces are relatively rough. The surfaces of the components of the apparatus of the present invention that are designed to contact nanoparticle additives are either coated with low-surface-tension materials or are made of low-surface-tension materials. That includes nonmetallic materials such as Nylon and Teflon, for example. [0010] These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. l is a front perspective view of an example of a fabric treatment apparatus including the additive application device of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the additive application device of the present invention showing a section of fabric arranged for treatment therein and including an optional fabric heating component.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the sprayer array of the additive application device.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the sprayer manifold of the additive application device without sprayer nozzles.

[0018] FIG. 8 is an end view of the sprayer manifold and its two end caps.

[0019] FIG. 9 is an example representation of the additive delivery controller of the additive application device for transfer of additive to the sprayer manifold.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a photograph of fibers of a fabric or yarn subjected to the application of an additive using the apparatus and method of the present invention wherein the additives are embedded into or adhered onto the fabric or yam.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a simplified representation of a mobile version of the additive application device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] While the following description is directed for the embodiment of the invention wherein one or more additives are delivered to a material, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Instead, the present invention provides an apparatus and method to facilitate the introduction and adhesion of one or more additives to a material with minimal after drying and processing required. In addition, the present invention improves the opportunity to enhance the characteristics of treated materials through a more effective integration of the additives into the interstices of the materials. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for material enhancement using the apparatus described. The steps of the method as described may be done in different orders without deviating from the scope of the invention. The method of the present invention involving the application of one or more additives to a substrate of interest results in the fabrication of products having improved characteristics due to the integration of one or more additives into and on the substrate so that it is effectively joined thereto.

[0023] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a fabric treatment apparatus 10 including an additive application device 12 forming part thereof. It is to be understood that while the additive application device 12 is shown as part of the fabric treatment apparatus 10 that includes other components, the device 12 may be a stand-alone device as well. In addition, the fabric treatment apparatus 10 may form part of a larger fabric manufacturing system. For the example of the present invention represented in the drawings, the apparatus 10 includes a fabric introduction section 14, a fabric roller section 16, an optional fabric treatment section 18, a fabric recovery section 20 and the additive application device 12. While this description describes the treatment of a fabric, it is to be understood that it may also be used to treat other materials in a similar way.

[0024] The fabric introduction section 14 includes a plurality of preparation rollers 22 and an optional pretreater 24 that can be used to prepare a fabric for subsequent processing in the apparatus 10. The fabric roller section 16 is used to configure the fabric in a desired alignment and for controlling the rate of fabric passage through the apparatus 10. The fabric recovery section 20 is used to spool treated fabric for subsequent delivery and later processing into finished product. It is to be understood that the fabric introduction section 14, the fabric roller section 16, the optional fabric treatment section 18 and the fabric recovery section 20 are all elements of a fabric processing system known to those of skill in the art. The apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 represents examples of such known components and that representation is not intended to be limiting. The additive application device 12 renders the apparatus 10 novel. [0025] With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5, the additive application device 12 includes one or more additive manifolds 26 and a plurality of additive sprayers 28. Each manifold 26 is constructed to supply a dispersion vehicle to the sprayers 28. Each sprayer 28 is constructed to deliver one or more additives to fabric 30 wherein the one or more additives are combined with the dispersion vehicle in a way that disperses the one or more additives in a spray pattern on and into the fabric 30. The dispersion vehicle may be air or another gaseous material. The one or more additives may be in solid, liquid or gaseous form prior to the combination with the dispersion vehicle. The additive application device 12 shown in the figures includes structural support members 32 to position the one or more manifolds 26 in a desired proximity to the fabric 30 as the fabric 30 is conveyed from the fabric introduction section 14 to the fabric recovery section 20. The mechanism of conveyance of the fabric is of any form known to those skilled in the art and can include, but not be limited to, a belt-and-pulley system powered by a motor.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the additive application device 12 may optionally include a fabric heater 100 that may be positioned on either or both sides of the fabric 30. The fabric heater 100 may optionally be used to warm the fabric 30 to a selectable temperature prior to introducing the one or more additives to the fabric via the sprayers 28. The fabric heater 100 may be any sort of heating apparatus suitable for applying heat at a selectable temperature over a desired area. For example, the fabric heater 100 may be a radiant heater or a convection heater with a directed blowing mechanism but not limited thereto.

[0027] It has been observed that at least some additives bind better to the fibers of the fabric 30 when those fibers have been warmed to a point of increased viscosity, more particularly, at or greater than glass transition temperature. When the one or more additives contact the fabric 30 with viscous fibers, the additive material is retained in and on the fibers, particularly as those fibers cool while passing from the additive application device 12 through to the fabric recovery section 20. That is, the additive material applied using the sprayers 28 better adheres to the fabric fibers. The resultant improved fabric has a better chance of retaining the desired characteristics imparted by the one or more additives for a longer period than when the one or more additives are applied to fabric that is cooler. This additive adhesion improvement resulting from additive application when the fabric fibers are in a viscous state is not limited to additive introduction with a device such as the additive application device 12 described herein.

[0028] With respect to FIG. 6 and the other drawings, the additive application device 12 may be configured so that there is a plurality of manifolds 26 wherein the manifolds are in opposing positions with the sprayers 28 facing one another so that when the fabric 30 passes into space 34 between the opposing manifolds 26, the one or more additives are sprayed onto both sides of the fabric 30. It is to be understood that the one or more additives may be applied to just one side of the fabric 30 if that is desired. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the sprayers 28 are removably coupled to ports 36 of the manifold 26. Each of the sprayers 28 includes a dispersion vehicle inlet 38, an additive inlet 40, a mixing chamber 42 and a spray nozzle 44. The inlets 38 and 40 may be of any sort suitable to direct fluids into the mixing chamber 42. The mixing chamber 42 is configured to receive the additive dispersion vehicle from the manifold 26 and enable turbulent fluid flow therein with the one or more additives introduced through the additive inlet 40 so that the one or more additives are well interspersed with the additive dispersion vehicle.

[0029] The spray nozzles 44 are selected to maintain integrity and minimize clogging based on the materials selected to pass therethrough. The spray nozzles 44 include conical inserts 45 selected and arranged to generate a conical spray pattern on the fabric 30 passing by. The spray nozzles 44 are arranged on the manifold 26 and the force of the spray pattern is selected to ensure substantially that the spray of additive material from adjacent spray nozzles 44 overlap. That configuration, the spray force selected, and the additives chosen are designed in combination to enhance the likelihood that the additive application to the fabric 30 is complete and uniform over the entire surface of the fabric 30.

[0030] Each manifold 26 includes a first end cap 46 and a second end cap 48.

The first end cap 46 seals interior cavity 50 of the manifold 26 so that any dispersion vehicle introduced into the cavity 50 can only exit through the ports that are coupled to the dispersion vehicle inlets 38 of the sprayers 28. The second end cap 48 includes a supply port 52 that may be coupled to a dispersion vehicle supply. For example, when air is used as the dispersion vehicle, the dispersion vehicle supply may be an air compressor having a supply tube removably coupled to the supply port 52 of the manifold 26. The dispersion vehicle is maintained at a force sufficient to cause turbulent mixing with the one or more additives in the mixing chamber 42 of the sprayer 28 and sufficient to force the additive-dispersion vehicle mixture to pass through the spray nozzle 44 with enough force to reach the fabric 30 passing by or retained in position adjacent to the manifolds 26.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, the additive inlet 40 of each sprayer 28 is removably coupled to an additive supply tube 54. The additive supply tubes 54 are coupled to one or more additive sources represented by additive source 56. The amount, type and rate of the one or more additives contained in the additive source 56 is determined by programming of additive delivery controller 58. The additive delivery controller 58 controls flow rate and flow volume through the supply tubes 54 by managing operation of pump apparatus 60, which may be formed of a plurality of pumps, one for each of the supply tubes 54. It is to be noted that the number and size of the supply tubes 54 is selectable and that the number of supply tubes 54 in operation for any additive spray event may also be selectable through the programming of the controller 58. In addition, the controller 58 may be programmed to deliver the one or more additives on a continuous, periodic or sporadic basis. That control of additive delivery rate and timing may be accomplished throughout the entire array of sprayers 28 and it may be

accomplished on a per sprayer basis.

[0032] The additive application device 12 of the present invention may be used to improve characteristics of a fabric and any resultant product made using such fabric. Whereas prior systems for adding additives to fabrics often involved submerging the fabric in water or another solvent that included such additives, the present invention enables introduction of the additives in a form that is close to dry relative to the immersion method. There is less energy required to complete drying, less solvent (with its corresponding waste removal obligations) used and the fabric is of a better quality with less residual dampness therein. The method of the present invention involves generating a mixture of additive and additive delivery vehicle and directing a dispersion of that mixture to fabric to be treated. The dispersed mixture is sufficiently damp to cause the additive to adhere to the fabric while the additive delivery vehicle is selected to be relatively dry, such as a gas like air, for example. The mixture is directed onto the fabric in a pattern and at a rate selected to provide substantially uniform dispersion on the fabric and embed into or adhere onto the fabric while maximizing the efficiency of additive usage. The use of a relatively dry delivery vehicle reduces the time and energy required to dry the fabric to completion after additive application. It is to be understood that the additive application device 12, or at least those components used to combine the one or more additives with the additive delivery vehicle and the sprayer 28 may be employed to treat a surface with desired additives. For example, the additive application device 12 so configured can be used to apply one or more additives to a wall, a floor, a chair, a keyboard and any other surface of interest.

[0033] The type of additive that may be used and the number of additives used in a single dispersion process is selectable. The additive is preferably in a fluid form, such as a gas, a liquid, solid particles or any combination thereof. Examples of additives that may be deployed on and into a fabric using the present invention include, but are not limited to, anti-microbials, dyes, moisture suppressors, insulative materials and fluid transport regulators. Nanoparticles of materials may be applied to fabric with the present invention. Examples of suitable nanoparticles include, but are not limited to, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Jade, Copper, Zinc and combinations thereof. Other types of particles may also be added or substituted. In addition, while nanoparticles are suitable additive materials in the present invention, additive materials sized in a manner so that they may not qualify as nanoparticles as conventionally understood are also contemplated as suitable additives in the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a fabric having nanoparticles bonded to fibers thereof. Such nanoparticles may also be used to treat other types of surfaces, such as walls, floors, chairs, keyboards and the like using the mixing and delivery components of the additive application device 12.

[0034] The additive application device 12 is shown in the drawings as part of the more comprehensive and stationary fabric treatment apparatus 10. It is to be understood that alternative configurations exist for the additive application device 12. For example, and not limited thereto, the additive application device 12 may be operated as a mobile device that is not specifically coupled to a stationary structure or to a broader treatment apparatus. FIG. 11 illustrates an example mobile apparatus that is a mobile container within which the components of the additive application device 12 described herein may be contained. In particular, the mobile device the additive application device 12 includes the one or more additive manifolds and the plurality of additive sprayers. The mobile device also includes the additive supply tubes that are coupled to or that may be coupled to one or more additive sources that are retained in the mobile device or that are separate from the mobile device. The mobile device also includes the programmable additive delivery controller. It may include one or more pumps for transferring the additive to the one or more manifolds. The mobile device may also or alternatively include couplings to connect to power and/or fluid transfer devices such as pumps. The mobile device may be wheeled as shown in FIG. 11 for ease of transfer such as when a large area is to be treated with the applied additive.

[0035] When the one or more additives includes one or more nanoparticles and/or other solid materials, the components of the additive application device 12 that contact those types of materials are preferably treated with, or made of, materials that minimize additive buildup thereon. For example, the additive supply tubes 54, the additive inlet 40, the mixing chamber 42, and the spray nozzles 44 are fabricated of a low-surface-tension material such as Nylon or Teflon, for example. Alternatively, at least the additive contact surfaces of those components are treated with low-surface-tension material.

[0036] The optional step of warming the material to the point that its fibers are in a state of viscosity increases the adhesion of the additives on and into the fabric, yam or a surface to be treated. The apparatus and method of the present invention improve the uniformity and certainty of additive inclusion in and on a fabric, yam or surface while reducing drying time and overall expense of such an effort.

[0037] While the step of warming has been described herein with respect to modification of a material’s physical properties specifically, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The invention includes the process of applying the additive described to any substrate wherein either or both the substrate and the additive are warmed to a temperature suitable to enhance the adhesion of the additive to the substrate. The substrate may be a solid or a fluid material. The substrate may also be a component of a product. For example, the additive is shown in FIG. 10 adhere to fiber of a fabric wherein the additive has been applied to the fabric. However, the additive may be applied to a component of the fabric before it is manufactured into a fabric. That component may be for example, a yam or yarns used to make the fabric. That component may be fibers of the yarn or yarns used to make the fabric.

[0038] In a situation where individual fibers are treated with an additive, the additive application device 12 or another type of device can be used to direct fluid additive onto fibers. The fluid may be warmed to facilitate adhesion of the additive to the fibers. The fibers may be warmed to facilitate that adhesion. Both the fluid and the fibers may be warmed to enhance the adhesion. The fibers may be warmed by applying heat to them prior to or while they are twisted into a yarn. For man-made fibers that are fabricated from a polymeric fluid that passes through a spinneret and cooled to form fibers. The additive may be applied to the fibers either before or after the fibers exit the spinneret while in a semi-solid state prior to twisting into a yarn through various methods of introduction into the screw extrusion or application after yarn stabilization.

[0039] Fibers to be treated with the additive may be of any shape, including those of uniform cross section, those of non-uniform cross section and those that are at least partially voided, such as fibers referred to as hollow fibers. The fibers of non-uniform cross-section, such as those with a plurality of lobes including, but not limited to X- shaped, Y-shaped and W-shaped fibers, for example are suited for additive adhesion, whether warmed or not warmed, as they have perimeters that are greater than fibers of uniform cross-section, such as round fibers. Moreover, fibers with non-uniform cross section effectively are formed with valleys, pockets and other entrapment configurations that are more likely to retain desired additives joined on and/or into the fiber structure than fibers having smooth perimeters. Nevertheless, the additive may be applied to fibers of any shape. Application of one or more desired additives at the fiber level enhances the effectiveness of the one or more additives when the fibers form part of a product because the additive is integrated throughout the product rather than at the surface of the perimeter of the product.

[0040] Further, while the additive application device 12 or the mobile example described herein may be used to apply one or more additives to selectable fibers, the one or more additives may be applied to fibers by using other types of application devices, as well as by contacting them with the additive such as by placing them on, or immersing them into, a bath of fluid containing the one or more additives, whether or not warmed. The one or more additives may also be incorporated into the polymeric fluid prior to extruding the fibers through the spinneret.

[0041] The application of one or more additives having desirable characteristics to individual fibers results in the formation of new fiber products having such

characteristics. Further, products such as yarns and fabrics made with such fibers are also new products having such characteristics. More generally, the present invention produces enhanced products of all types because of the effective integration of the one or more additives on and into those products, wherein at least a portion of those one or more additives are nanoparticles.

[0042] The present invention of an apparatus and method for applying one or more additives to a fabric has been described with respect to specific components and method steps. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All equivalents are deemed to fall within the scope of this description of the invention as identified by the following claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. An apparatus for bonding one or more additives into or onto a fabric or a yam, the apparatus comprising:

one or more manifolds coupled to a source of an additive delivery vehicle;

a plurality of sprayers removably affixed to each of the one or more manifolds, wherein each of the plurality of sprayers is coupled to a source of one or more additives to be applied to the fabric or yam, wherein each sprayer includes a spray nozzle configured to direct a mixture of the one or more additives and the additive delivery vehicle to the fabric or yarn sufficient to embed or adhere at least a portion of the one or more additives therein, and wherein the apparatus is configured to deliver one or more nanoparticles with minimal clogging; and

an additive delivery controller coupled to the plurality of sprayers and configured to regulate delivery of the mixture to the fabric or the yarn.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of sprayers on each of the one or more manifolds are arranged to deliver the mixture in a uniform dispersion to the fabric or yarn.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to deliver the mixture to the fabric or yarn when the fabric or yarn is static or moving.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the additive delivery vehicle is air.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the one or more additives are selected from one or more gases, one or more liquids, one or more particles or any combination thereof.

6. The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the one or more additives include

nanoparticles of Diamond, Gold, Silver, Jade, Copper, Zinc or any combination thereof.

7. The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising a heater arranged to warm the fabric or yarn to manipulate the thermal dynamic properties of the materials to prepare them for enhanced particle adhesion.

8. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein each of the sprayers includes a delivery vehicle inlet port, an additive inlet port and a mixing chamber arranged to mix the additive delivery vehicle and the one or more additives therein.

9. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the additive delivery controller is coupled to a pump apparatus arranged to regulate the flow of the one or more additives to the sprayers.

10. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to deliver one or more nanoparticles with minimal clogging thereof.

11. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein one or more components of the apparatus are made completely or partially of low-surface-tension material.

12. The apparatus of Claim 11, wherein the low-surface-tension material is selected from Nylon and Teflon.

13. A method for treating a fabric or yarn to modify one or more characteristics of the fabric, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering the fabric or yarn to an additive application device including a plurality of sprayers, wherein each of the plurality of sprayers is coupled to a source of one or more additives to be applied to the fabric or yarn, and wherein each sprayer includes a spray nozzle arranged to direct a mixture of the one or more additives and an additive delivery vehicle to the fabric or yarn sufficient to embed or adhere at least a portion of the one or more additives into the fabric or yarn; and

spraying the mixture at a selectable rate and in a selectable pattern onto the fabric or yarn.

14. The method of Claim 13, wherein the selectable rate of spraying the mixture is selected from continuous, periodic or sporadic.

15. The method of Claim 13, further comprising the step of heating the fabric or yam prior to delivering the fabric or yarn to the additive application device.

16. The method of Claim 13, wherein the fabric or yarn is retained in a static position during the step of spraying.

17. The method of Claim 13, wherein the fabric or yarn is moved continuously to pass the plurality of sprayers during the step of spraying.

18. The method of Claim 13 wherein one or more components of the device are made completely or partially of low-surface-tension material.

19. A product made by the method of Claim 13.

20. A method of applying one or more additives to a fabric or yarn that comprises the step of heating the fabric or yam until fibers thereof are exposed to enough heat to begin manipulation of the thermal plastic physical properties so that at least a portion of the one or more additives is bonded with the material.

21. A method for treating a substrate with one or more additives, wherein at least one of the one or more additives is a nanoparticle material, the method comprising the steps of:

spraying the one or more additives on a surface of the substrate using an additive application device including a plurality of sprayers, wherein each of the plurality of sprayers is coupled to a source of the one or more additives to be applied to the surface, and wherein each sprayer includes a spray nozzle arranged to direct a mixture of the one or more additives and an additive delivery vehicle to the surface, wherein the one or more additives include at least one nanoparticle material; and regulating a rate and a pattern of spraying of the mixture onto the surface.

22. The method of Claim 21, wherein the selectable rate of spraying the mixture is selected from continuous, periodic or sporadic.

23. The method of Claim 21, wherein one or more components of the device are made completely or partially of low-surface-tension material.

24. The method of Claim 21, wherein the one or more additives include nanoparticles of Diamond, Gold, Silver, Jade, Copper, Zinc or any combination thereof.

25. A method of treating a fiber to enhance one or characteristics thereof using one or more additives, the method comprising the step of contacting the fiber with the one or more additives.

26. A method of treating a fiber to enhance one or more characteristics thereof using one or more additives, the method comprising the steps of:

combining a polymeric material used to make the fiber with the one or more additives; and

forming the polymeric material into the fiber.

27. The method of Claim 25 or Claim 26 wherein the one or more additives include nanoparticles of Diamond, Gold, Silver, Jade, Copper, Zinc or any combination thereof.

28. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the apparatus is contained in a mobile container.

29. A fiber product made by the method of Claim 25.

30. An improved substrate made by the method of Claim 21.