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Life-saving textiles
December 20th, 2021
Finnish nonwovens manufacturer Suominen offers a sustainable portfolio of products made of renewable, recycled and/or plastic-free raw materials as well as compostable and dispersible nonwovens. Photo: Suominen. Experts weigh in on the future of the nonwovens market. by Seshadri Ramkumar Textiles are necessities in our daily lives, but single-use and semi-durable products where nonwoven materials find […]
Mask fabric glows when exposed to traces of the coronavirus
December 20th, 2021
Japanese researchers have developed a face mask that can indicate the presence of the coronavirus. Photo: Kyoto Prefectural University. Japanese researchers have developed a mask filter that will glow in the dark indicating traces of coronavirus on the mask. Led by Yasuhiro Tsukamoto, Kyoto Prefectural University, the researchers turned to the ostrich for a simple […]
Floating solar panels studied
December 20th, 2021
A consortium including TNO in the Netherlands is studying the viability of collecting solar energy via floating, flexible solar panels. Photo: TNO. A consortium led by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has launched a study on floating, flexible solar energy systems. IDTechEx reports that the system of floating units has been installed […]
Apparel developed to confuse CCTV recognition algorithms
December 20th, 2021
A German consortium has developed apparel capable of confusing AI algorithms used to track human behavior. Photo: WertelOberfell. German design studio WertelOberfell, in collaboration with a consortium of technical partners, sought to find a way to protect people from a very modern hazard: CCTVs that are equipped with AI human-recognition algorithms. With today’s sophisticated technology, CCTV doesn’t […]
Infection activates silver nanoparticle wound dressing
December 20th, 2021
Although silver is highly effective at killing bacteria, it can also be toxic to humans in large amounts. A new wound dressing has been created that will release its silver nanoparticles only when infections are present. Currently being developed at the University of South Australia, the dressing is intended mainly for use on children with […]
IFAI offers webinar Dec. 15 on lowering employee turnover
December 14th, 2021
Photograph courtesy of FlexJobs.com The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will host the webinar “The Key to Lowering your Turnover” on Dec. 15, 2021, at 1–2 p.m. EST. The webinar is free to IFAI members (including Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) members) and is $39 for nonmembers. Hiring has become tougher and finding the right applicant […]
Managing one’s personal climate
December 13th, 2021
Textiles can help block the heat caused by solar radiation. Photo: Luis Graterol on Unsplash. New materials help to maintain thermal comfort indoors or out. By Debra Cobb With COP 26 in the rearview mirror, the remediation of climate change remains uncertain. While the struggle to limit global warming to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels will […]
Hot and cold
December 13th, 2021
by Janet Preus The level of thermal management possible in textiles today is, quite literally, out of this world. The requirements of NASA and other enterprises venturing beyond earth have driven development of extraordinary materials that tolerate the extreme environment in Space. But for most of us, it’s a little hard to wrap our heads […]
NASA heat shield features a new design architecture
December 13th, 2021
NASA's ADEPT heat shield features a 3D seamless woven material from Bally Ribbon Mills. Photo: NASA. by Debra Cobb Heat shields are a critical part of vehicles for space exploration, enabling science payloads to safely pass through the atmosphere of distant worlds. NASA’s deployable heat shield design called ADEPT (Adaptable, Deployable, Entry and Placement Technology) […]
Registration for Smart Fabrics Summit 2022 opens
December 13th, 2021
Registration is now open for the Smart Fabrics Summit 2022, which will be held at North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, N.C. March 28-29. This event offers education, product showcases, facility tours and networking opportunities. Speakers currently scheduled include: Dr. Amanda Mills, a fusion designer and project coordinator in the Nano-EXtended Textiles (NEXT) research […]