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Synthetic skin is self-healing
March 22nd, 2014
Imagine trying to emulate what human skin does to protect and heal our bodies. Not only is our skin sensitive, sending the brain information about pressure and temperature, but it heals efficiently to maintain a protective barrier. Combining these two features into one synthetic material has been the focus of Stanford chemical engineering professor Zhenan Bao and […]
NIKE’s new football boot fits like a sock
March 22nd, 2014
At a recent event in Barcelona, Spain, NIKE officially presented its flyknit boot called Magista. Conceived to fit like a sock, the company claims that the knitted cleat will permanently change how soccer (football) shoes are designed. The Flyknit technology creates sock-like feel and allows for strength and support to be knitted directly into the boot. […]
Crypton Inc. purchases Nanotex
March 22nd, 2014
Randy Rubin, Chairman of The Crypton Companies, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has announced that Crypton Inc. has purchased Nanotex™ from private equity and venture capital investors. The company calls it “a strategic acquisition,” expressing particular excitement about Aquapel®, a new nonfluorinated repellency treatment. Nanotex is a textile technology company whose performance finishes have enhanced many well-known consumer brands; in […]
Smart in more ways than one
March 22nd, 2014
The Sporty Supaheroe by Austrian company, Utope, is a stylish cycling jacket featuring improved visibility and security in the dark. The wearable electronic system, which includes four modular smart patches with LEDs, sensors, a switch and a rechargeable battery, is based on stretchable circuit board technology developed by Fraunhofer IZM. The circuit board is made […]
Secant medical launches two new products
March 22nd, 2014
Secant Medical has announced the availability of two diverse products that can advance the research and product development needs of medical device OEMs. The company is launching an off-the-shelf, low-profile fabric for next-generation endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or heart valve component design, and Regenerez™, a research-grade resin for tissue engineering applications. “Available in eight different […]
“Nose in clothes,” one year later
March 22nd, 2014
When we think “wearable technology” we may think of photovoltaic materials powering small electronic devices, or sensors relating vital signs to health care providers. About a year ago, U.K.-based Peratech announced its involvement in a new project, dubbed “Nose in clothes.” Doctoral candidate Anne Prahl, a student at the London College of Fashion, University of […]
UVR Defense Tech closes license sale
March 22nd, 2014
UVR Defense Tech Ltd. has sold licenses to Essex Flameproofing Ltd. (Euroflam) to apply UVR's technologies—UVRC and nanoTarge —within the U.K. UVRC is a camouflage for the ultraviolet spectrum that may be applied to conventional camouflage without altering the visible and near-infrared properties of the fabric; nanoTarge strengthens and protects technical and ballistic fabrics, providing […]
The healing textiles
March 8th, 2014
Biomedical textiles are one of the fastest growing segments in the textile industry, according to Dr. Martin King, professor of textiles at North Carolina State University (NCSU), and an expert in biotextiles. But what exactly are biomedical textiles? What’s driving development? And what are the benefits for materials manufacturers, device and product manufacturers and end […]
PurThread™ uses antimicrobial core
March 8th, 2014
Antimicrobial textile advances include reducing bacteria on the fabrics healthcare workers and patients come into contact with every day: hospital bedding and privacy curtains, and lab coats and scrubs. At the earliest stages, these advancements essentially involved two ways to achieve antimicrobial benefits—by coating fabrics topically or incorporating a coated fiber or yarn into the […]
Medical fiber standards in discussion
March 8th, 2014
“Historically, there were no medical grade standards for fiber production in the textile industry,” says Brenda Gilchrist, vice president operations, RxFiber LLC. “We are in the process of pulling together the leading biomaterial experts to discuss what medical grade fiber is and to begin setting standards for the industry. What does medical grade really mean?” […]