Technical Textile Markets: Product Developments and Innovations, 2023

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS

• EconCore has developed a honeycomb core material which is being used in the production of Formula Electric Belgium’s Titan race car
• Teijin Frontier has developed a cord for the reinforcement of rubber tyres which is made from recycled polyester and environmentally sustainable adhesive

CHEMICALS

• Toray Industries (Toray) has developed 100% bio-based adipic acid for use in the manufacture of nylon 6.6 fibres

COMPOSITES

• AELER Technologies (AELER) has put into operation lightweight composite shipping containers called Unit One which take larger payloads and are stronger, better insulated and easier to track
• Cygnet Texkimp has developed a new filament fibre winding process for use in the manufacture of composite components
• Hexcel Corporation (Hexcel) HexPly M9.6GF prepregs have received Bureau Veritas approval for marine use
• Zoltek and A+ Composites have collaborated in the development of a unidirectional (UD) tape made from carbon fibre and polypropylene

FABRICS

• Researchers at Columbia University and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) are developing a compostable, flame retardant bio-leather based on microbial nanocellulose

FIBRES

• naturamus and researchers at the DITF and the University of Hohenheim are exploring the extraction of fibres from lavender stalks
• Rheon Labs is developing polymer fibres that exhibit dynamic stiffness

FINISHES

• Archroma has developed a new air purifying finish which can be applied to a variety of fabrics
• HeiQ has developed a bio-based textile finish which helps to reduce the proliferation of inanimate allergens

MEDICAL TEXTILES

• Comez is producing knitting machines for use in the production of textiles for medical implants
• Researchers at Fraunhofer IKTS have developed a vest which can monitor the symptoms of patients with lung diseases
• Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a method of improving the antiviral and antimicrobial properties of N95 face masks

NONWOVENS

• Freudenberg Performance Materials has developed a nonwoven product which can improve the efficiency and power density of wind turbines

RECYCLING

• Researchers at RMIT University have developed a method for recycling materials obtained from personal protective equipment (PPE) to create reinforcement materials for concrete

THREADS

• Coats has launched a range of biodegradable recycled polyester threads called Eco-B

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

• Vollebak, the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) have developed a prototype jacket which provides thermal camouflage

Companies Mentioned

• A+ Composites
• AELER Technologies (AELER)
• Archroma
• Coats
• Columbia University
• Comez
• Cygnet Texkimp
• Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (DITF--German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf)
• EconCore
• Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme (IKTS--Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems)
• Freudenberg Performance Materials
• HeiQ
• Hexcel Corporation (Hexcel)
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rheon Labs
• RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University
• Teijin Frontier
• Toray Industries (Toray)
• University of Hohenheim
• Zoltek