Patent ID: 7494944

Claim:
A hydrophilized fabric intended for use in the presence of water within a temperature range of greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or from a LUT to an UUT, wherein LUT≦UUT, comprising: (a) a fabric substrate comprising fibers having hydrophobic surfaces, and (b) at least one polymer deposited on at least a portion of the hydrophobic surfaces of the fibers, wherein the at least one polymer comprises monomeric units derived from at least one monomer according to formula (I) or (IV): wherein: R 1 is H or methyl, A is oxyalkylene or poly(oxyalkylene), and R 2 is alkyl wherein: R 5 is H or methyl, each R 6 is independently H or alkyl, and is soluble in water to the extent that an aqueous solution of such polymer exhibits: (i) a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of less than the LUT, (ii) an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) of greater than the UUT, or (iii) a LCST of less than the LUT and a UCST of greater than the UUT.