TEXTILES.ORG
Swiss textile technology company HeiQ Materials AG has introduced its HeiQ Real Silk textile-finishing technology. HeiQ Real Silk replicates key properties of silk by applying a minute amount of the natural raw material to the surface of any fabric.
HeiQ Real Silk transfers the characteristics and feel of silk to such other fabrics as polyamide, polyester, cotton or its blends. Traditionally, silk use has been limited to yarns, which limited design flexibility and engendered high costs. The HeiQ Real Silk treatment uses formulated short silk fibers that are applied by standard textile finishing processes onto the surface of any fabric.
The HeiQ Real Silk technology makes use of short polymer fibers formed by a coagulation process at its R&D facility in Geelong, Australia. The first adopter of HeiQ Real Silk is long-standing partner Bekaert Deslee, a maker of mattress ticking. Bekaert Deslee launched its mattress ticking with HeiQ Real Silk during the International Sleep Products Association meeting in Orlando, Fla., in March. Samples for third parties will be available in July.