Atmospheric plasma increases breathability of spunbond nonwoven fabrics
June 24th, 2013
A study conducted by Texas Tech University and Enercon Industries Corp. has determined that when spunbond polypropylene nonwoven fabrics are pretreated with atmospheric plasma it increases the breathability of the fabric. Atmospheric plasma treatment increases the number of pores and enlarges the pore size of the fabric improving the diffusion of vapor between the filaments […]
Protecting outdoor workers from insects
June 24th, 2013
Insect Shield® has launched a workwear online store with expanded product offerings for people who work outdoors and need protection from insects and the diseases they carry. This makes protective clothing and gear available at locations across the globe. The new storefront offers the added functionality of zoom to reveal detailed product feature views, videos […]
Bekaert adds ADAPTIVE technology
June 24th, 2013
Bekaert Textiles Group has partnered with Swiss company HeiQ, incorporating HeiQ’s ADAPTIVE intelligent textile technology into bedding products. ADAPTIVE uses the energy of the body to accelerate moisture wicking, evaporation and cooling. This innovation is based on a unique hydro-functional polymer whose properties change in response to temperature, releasing and transporting moisture. Applied to bedding […]
Getting a reaction
June 10th, 2013
A reactive technology enables new functions and possibilities with normal interfaces. Tangible Textural Interfaces (TTI), a project created by materials and industrial designer, Eunhee Jo, sought to redefine the role of the surface in future lifestyles, exploring how surfaces can be an integrated as part of a product or environment. http://vimeo.com/44646607 TTI, a new sound […]
Honeycomb nano foam for body armor
June 1st, 2013
New nano foam fabrics with a honeycomb structure may increase the effectiveness of body armor in preventing traumatic brain injury and blast-related lung injuries, according to researchers at the University of California in San Diego, Calif. Yu Qiao, professor of structural engineering, reports that the nano foam helps disperse the force of impact over a […]
Nonwoven fabric Galaxy central to solar water desalinization
June 1st, 2013
The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and energy-intensive purification technologies (such as reverse osmosis membranes) use an estimated $10.96 in oil to produce 264 gallons of clean water. A simple, solar-powered panel made with a viscose nonwoven fabric, Galaxy®, may revolutionize water purification in […]
Scientific pay-off from long duration balloons
June 1st, 2013
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) obtains data about the evolution of the universe and elements in the polar atmosphere using scientific balloons made of polyethylene film as thin as sandwich wrap, filled with the same helium used in party balloons. New developments in balloon materials, however, helped NASA launch a mission in Antarctica […]
Boltwear: clothes with a jolt
June 1st, 2013
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, widely regarded as the fastest person ever recorded since fully automated time measurements became mandatory at the Olympic games in 1977, has inspired a new PUMA® athletic wear line with powerful extras. The sleek designs are made of polyester fibers embedded with a patented natural mineral blend from Hologenix LLC, Santa […]
Underwater tenting helps advance marine science
June 1st, 2013
Clear vinyl pyramids are proving to be a valuable tool for checking reef health. It may seem that Dr. Nichole Price has a job in paradise: cruising between remote tropical, often deserted, islands in the South Pacific, doing a bit of diving and pitching tents. As a postdoctoral researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography […]
Creating the future of textiles: Bearable lightness
June 1st, 2013
Building energy research in Germany finds inspiration from polar bears. Fabric materials offer quite a few advantages in the construction of roofs, such as efficiency of material use, ease of transport and good light transmissivity, but a big disadvantage is their poor thermal insulation performance. Over the last several years, many advances have been made […]