technical textiles international (autumn 2021)

T E X T I L E STechnical

international

Industry urgently seekssustainable raw materials

Autumn 2021Volume 30, Number 3

Electric vehicles presentwealth of opportunitiesfor textile suppliers

INSIDE:What to expect on the show floor at Index 2020Textiles that harvest energy from radio waves

Nonwoven pads ensure safety and reliability of batteries

Informing the industry worldwide


international

The seminar will provide a taste of the kind of high-quality, insightful and informative presentations that feature in our conference series,

Nonwovens for High-Performance Applications (NHPA)

NHPAVisit www.technical-textiles.online/NHPA for more information on our NHPA conference series and further details on the seminar at INDEX™ Geneva

HIGH-PERFORMANCE NONWOVENS AT INDEX™

We are pleased to announce that in association with INDEX™ and EDANA, Technical Textiles International / TTNet have developed the programme for a half-day seminar on smart Nonwovens - high-performance applications of nonwovens. This will take place on 20 October 2021 in INDEX™ Lab, Room W (Hall 3) at 14:00 - 16:45.

Experts from the following companies will present their latest technologies to the INDEX™ audience in Geneva:

Fibroline NIRI Nora�n RISE Research Institutes Indian Institute of TechnologyThe session will be chaired by experienced industry specialist, Adrian Wilson. In addition, there will be an Innovation Lab where visitors can view products relating to the presentations given during the seminar. This display area is outside the seminar room.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME

Dry powder impregnation solutions - Jérôme Ville, CEO, Fibroline SA (France)

Adsorbent Technology for High-performance Nonwoven Applications - Ross Ward, New Business Development Manager, Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute Ltd (NIRI) (UK)

Innovation in Technical Nonwovens – Evolving USP - Marc Jolly, Head of Research & Development, Nora�n Industries (Germany) GmbH

Opportunities for production of nonwoven bio-based electronics, Hjalmar Granberg, Senior Research Associate, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

High-performance applications for nonwovens - an overview, Adrian Wilson, Seminar Chair, Technical Textiles International (UK)

Out-of-plane auxetic nonwoven as a designer metamaterial, Amit Rawal, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (India)

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international

Autumn 2021(Volume 30, Number 3)

Editor: Nick ButlerTel: +44 (3301) 335450

Email: [email protected]

Nonwovens Editor:Adrian WilsonComposites Editor:James BakewellUSA correspondent:John W. McCurry China correspondent:Jason ChenRussia correspondent:Eugene GerdenIndia correspondent:Samuel JosephRegular contributor:Geoff Fisher

Display advertising sales:Jill GwinnuttTel: +44 (3301) 335450Email: [email protected]

David Kay/Maria BoxTel: +44 (1273) 423512Email: [email protected]

Published by InternationalNewsletters Ltd, PO Box 50, WR15 8XN, UK.

Subscription enquiries, ordersand payments:International Newsletters Ltd, PO Box 50, WR15 8XN, UK.Tel: +44 (3301) 335450Email: [email protected]://www.technical-textiles.net

Annual subscription (four issues):includes free access to publicationsand back issues online:£300/$459/€390.(Payments in other currencies are subject to

our prevailing exchange rate). Prices are

valid to the end of 2021, and include

airmail delivery in Europe and air-speeded

delivery elsewhere.

In the Editor’s opinionA return to normality or more chaos? Why weneed to proceed cautiouslyIn June, the industry witnessed the first staging of a major exhibition sincethe pandemic struck—ITMA Asia + CITME was held in Shanghai, China, on12–16 June 2021. It was quickly followed by CINTE Techtextil China and AsiaNonwovens Exhibition and Conference (ANEX)/Shanghai InternationalNonwovens Exhibition (SINCE), held in the same city on 22–24 June and 22–24 July, respectively.

Emboldened by vaccination programmes, more parts of the industrialisedworld are now relaxing restrictions on gatherings and the followingmonths promise to be extremely hectic, with many important meetingsscheduled to follow between now and the end of the year—in August:Techtextil North America; in September: Techtextil Russia; in October: FESPAGlobal Print Expo, Index (see also, page 10, Milipol and A+A; in November:IFAI Expo and Techtextil India (see also, page 55).

There is a clear appetite among many to meet face-to-face at live events,not just for all the usual business-related reasons, but also to satisfy thevery human needs for personal contact and affirmation that we are return-ing to a more familiar world—one similar, if not the same, as the one weknew before those of us outside of microbiology laboratories had heardof coronaviruses.

However, many remain more cautious, and with good reason. A headlongrush back to so-called “normality” could damage the fragile control we arebeginning to grasp on this pandemic, resulting in the need to re-introducerestrictions on our freedoms.

Evidence for the continued need for caution came on 4 August, when, as aresult of outbreaks of covid-19 in China, Messe Frankfurt announced that itwas postponing major textile exhibitions for the apparel and domesticmarkets (Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles andYarn Expo) all due to be held in Shanghai.

The postponements are only for a few weeks – originally due to take placeat the end of August, the shows are now scheduled for October – but thedisruption will be significant and it is highly symbolic that this is affectingthe very city that had seemed to be a beacon of a return towards businessas usual just a few weeks before.

In addition, where they are able, some major events, such as the DornbirnGlobal Fiber Congress (taking place on 15–17 September), have chosen tobe wholly online meetings. Others among those listed above, such as Indexand Techtextil India, have contingency plans for some of their programmesat least to be online—recognition that even if events can go ahead asplanned, not everyone from our international community will be able (orwant) to travel just yet.

In summary, there are optimistic signs, but we need to proceed cautiouslyif we are not to jeopardise the return to normality we crave.

2 Technical Textiles International—Autumn 2021


international

Contents Autumn 20216 Finishing update

Zünd launches updated cradle feeder۰Pulcra Chemicals buys Devan Chemicals۰AATCC revises and introduces standards in supplement

8 Filtration updateUnifrax signs agreement to buy Lydall Inc۰Toray unveils gas-separation membrane۰Porvair expands range of microfiltration products۰Neenah Gessner launches filter media

Preview: Index 202010 Long-awaited chance for nonwovens industry to meet in Geneva

In depth: Automotive textiles17 Electric vehicles present new opportunities for textile suppliers

In depth: Sustainable fibres24 Industry urgently needs to develop supplies of sustainable raw materials

31 Smart textiles updateStretchable, washable textiles can harvest energy from radio waves۰A foldable,rollable, musical keyboard۰Inkjet printing shows promise for the production ofelectronic textiles۰Thread features molecular tag for supply-chain security۰Improving the power output of textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators۰Smarttextile-based monitoring used in space exploration۰Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology engineers create digital fibre

35 Nonwovens updateAbsorbent nonwoven pads ensure safety and reliability of batteries۰Avgol to investin Russian production facility۰Andritz receives repeat order for hydroentanglementline۰Ahlstrom-Munksjö unveils nonwovens for use in ceiling construction۰Nonwoven Innovation & Research Institute invests in pilot meltblowing line۰DiloGroup to supply web-forming and needling line for automotive۰Ahlstrom-Munksjö launches filtration media for electric vehicles۰Nonwoven for protectiveclothing is proven to reduce heat-stress۰DuPont launches para-aramid nanofibre forbattery separators

39 Sustainability updateLyocell fibre produced using citrus-fruit waste۰Superabsorbent polymers from bio-based acrylic acid۰Tyre reinforcements produced from recycled plastic bottles۰YKK touse sustainable finishing technology۰Solvay launches partially bio-based polyamideyarn۰Cleaning granulates support the development of bio-based fibres۰Microfilament fabrics made using post-consumer recycled polyester۰Producingelastic fibres from polylactic acid blends۰Apply Carbon to establish carbon-fibrerecycling facility۰Additive enables thermoregulating fibres to biodegrade inlandfills۰Avgol and Algaeing to develop algae-based dyes for nonwovens

44 Safety and protection updateRollable camouflage sheet can make soldiers nearly undetectable۰Award fordevelopers of electromagnetic radiation-attenuating yarn۰Gloves protect goalkeepersfrom finger injuries۰Durable, inherently flame-retardant fabric۰Senate passage ofInnovation and Competition Act is welcomed۰DSM partners with mills for productionof Dyneema fabrics۰Klopman launches products through virtual showroom

47 Medical textiles updateElectrospun wound dressing indicates infection by glowing۰Antimicrobial knittedface masks can withstand 100 washes۰Face masks feature biosensors that can detectSARS Cov-2 virus۰Antimicrobial additive can be applied through laundering۰System developed for the closed-loop recycling of single-use face masks۰Antimicrobial spray can be applied to textiles۰Impregnated textile patch used tostem bleeding during surgery

52 Composites updateSpread-tow fabrics contribute to success of Ingenuity Mars helicopter۰NCC unveils automated fibre-placement, automated tape-laying machine

54 Performance fibres updateELG Carbon Fibre becomes Gen 2 Carbon۰Zoltek to increase production capacity forcarbon fibre۰Fibre Extrusion Technology breaks ground on research anddevelopment centre۰Teijin establishes carbon-fibre products facility in Vietnam

55 Events diary56 Index to advertisers

On the cover:

Autoneum has developed a

back-coating process for its

range of automotive carpets

that makes them easier to

recycle. Adrian Wilson

describes further textile

technologies for use in future

vehicles, starting on page 17

Consumer disapproval and

pending legislation are piling

pressure on the synthetic fibres

industry to change its ways.

Ford, for instance, has worked

with Coca-Cola to produce

interior fabrics using

PlantBottle technology. Turn to

page 24 to find out more


international

Autumn 2021—Technical Textiles International 3

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Zünd launches updated cradle feederA cradle feeder thatis capable ofremoving stretchfabrics from rollswithout generatingany tension thatmight createdistortions and canbe fitted with anintegrated cut-offsystem has beenlaunched by ZündSystemtechnik AGof Altstätten,Switzerland (seealso, page 17).

Called the cradle feeder 100, the machine hasan unwind-control system that continuouslymonitors the rate at which it feeds material toa cutter and manages that process withgreater precision than its previous iteration,says Zünd. The optional integrated cut-offfeature, meanwhile, slices through thematerial at the end of a marker while thecutter is still operating, making it possible forrolls to be switched without interrupting theproduction process. Especially for users whofrequently need to process short markers, thisreduces preparation and set-up times. Thecut-off function can be initiated manually bythe user or can be set in the cutter softwareto occur automatically.

To make the loading process easier, one sideof the cradle feeder 100 can be lowered. A

dancer roller continuously registers fluctuat -ions in web tension and, if necessary, thecradle feeder automatically synchronises itsfeed speed with the cutter, which furtherminimises stretch and distortion in thematerial. The cradle feeder not only unwindsmaterial from rolls, but can also rewindthem. When a job is completed, this featurecan be used to rewind uncut fabric backonto the roll.

The cradle feeder 100 is available immed -iately for Zünd's S3, G3 and D3 cutters.

Daniel Bischof, Media Relations, ZündSystemtechnik AG.Tel: +41 (71) 554-8342.Email: [email protected];http://www.zund.com

AATCC revises and introduces standards in supplementThe American Association of Textile Chemistsand Colorists (AATCC) of Research TrianglePark, North Carolina, USA, has published themid-year supplement to its Manual ofInternational Test Methods and Procedures.

The 2021 AATCC Mid-Year Supplement(1)

includes four revised, one editoriallyrevised and two new standards. Ofparticular interest to developers andmanufacturers of technical textiles will bea method that provides a quantifiablemeans of evaluating the reduction ofodour from textiles treated withantibacterial finishes, which is laid-out inone of the new standards, TM211-2021(Test method for the reduction of bacterialodor on antibacterial-treated textiles).EP13-2021 (Evaluation procedure for

electrical resistance of electronicallyintegrated textiles), meanwhile, has beenrevised to allow for measurements using afour-point probe. Finally, TM35-2018e2(Test method for water resistance: rain)has been updated to clarify its referenceimages and align its history section withthe AATCC's style guide.

See also:(1)https://members.aatcc.org/store/mid2021/3479

Erika Simmons, Technical Director, TheAmerican Association of Textile Chemistsand Colorists.Tel: +1 (919) 549-3522.Email: [email protected];https://aatcc.org

Zünd's cradle feeder

100 can be equipped

with an automatic

cut-off system.

Pulcra Chemicals buysDevan ChemicalsBelgian private equity fund Pentahold hassold Devan Chemicals to Pulcra Chemicalsof Geretsried, Germany.

Established in 1977, Devan Chemicals hasits headquarters in Ronse, Belgium, andhas offices in: Ambergate, UK; Moreira DaMaia, Portugal; Greenville, South Carolina,USA. It also has a team in Shanghai, China.

The company is focusing increasinglyon the development of sustainablealternatives to its conventional productsfor the finishing of textiles.

Since 2019, Devan has launched asoftener and a finish that improves thesweat-wicking performance of fabrics,both derived from vegetable oils(1), a bio-based flame-retardant(2), a naturalantimicrobial(3) and a range of plant-based fragrances(4).

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PulcraChemicals, Ümit Yaldiz, says that thepurchase of Devan Chemicals will positionhis company better to supply the textilesmarket. The terms of the acquisition willnot be disclosed.

See also:(1)Devan launches bio-based softener andmoisture-management finish,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76225

(2)Devan unveils bio-based finish for textiles,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/74866

(3)Devan reveals bio-based finishes forbedding at Heimtextil,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75351

(4)Technical Textiles International, Summer2021, Devan launches range of bio-basedfragrances for textiles, page 24;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76124

Sven Ghyselinck, Chief Executive Officer,Devan Chemicals NV.Tel: +32 (47) 132001.Email: [email protected];http://devan.net

Ümit Yaldiz, Chief Executive Officer,Pulcra Chemicals.Tel: +49 (81) 716280.Email: [email protected];https://www.pulcra-chemicals.com

Finishing update

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raw materials that rewards you with consistent quality at high capacity for years to come. Experience how our innovative approaches and digital services can give you more control than ever before. All this opens up new opportunities for your product development and your business success. This is nonwoven excellence.

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BOOTH 2114

Neenah Gessner launchesfilter mediaA range of high-quality filter media foruse in the filter elements of heating,ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)systems and air-purifiers has beenlaunched by Neenah Gessner GmbH ofFeldkirchen-Westerham, Germany.

Called NeenahPure, the range featuresmedia that demonstrate filtrationefficiencies from ePM10 50% to ePM1 80%(according to the 16890 standard from theInternational Organization for Standard -ization (ISO) of Geneva, Switzerland)and M5-F9 (according to Europeanstandard EN 779:2012). The electro -statically charged NeenahPure meltblownmedia can reach filtration efficiencies ofup to 99.9% for particles of 0.3 µm andabove in size.

Neenah Gessner GmbH.http://www.neenahfiltration.com


Porvair expands range ofmicrofiltration productsPorvair Filtration Group of Fareham, UK, hasadded two products to its Tekfil range ofpolypropylene (PP) depth filter cartridges.

The Tekfil SW range of precision-woundfilter cartridges are available in a variety ofmedia types and with either PP or steelcores, ensuring their compatibility with awide range of chemicals. The use of glassfibre on a steel core enables them tooperate at temperatures of up to 400°C inthe presence of a broad spectrum ofsolvents. The cartridges are suitable fornumerous applications, such as in themanufacture of food and beverages, finechemicals and solvents, coatings andphotographic chemicals, and in metal-finishing and water-treatment processes.

Tekfil CR, meanwhile, is a PP depth filtercartridge optimised for the removal ofCryptosporidium oocysts from such asmineral water. It is made from fine fibresthat remove more than 99.9993% oflive Cryptosporidium oocysts withoutcompromising flow rate, pressure drop ordirt-holding capacity of the cartridge.

Porvair Filtration Group Ltd.Tel: +44 (1489) 864330. Fax: +44 (1489) 864399.https://www.porvairfiltration.com

Toray unveils gas-separation membrane

A durable all-carbon separation membranethat can remove carbon dioxide fromgasses is being developed by Toray ofTokyo, Japan. The hollow fibre membranecomprises an inner layer made from a thin,flexible and chemically stable carbon fibrewith a diameter of less than 300 µm and ananoscale continuous pore structure(1), andan outer separation layer also made fromcarbon with a thickness of a few micrometres.

Conventional absorption- and adsorption-based facilities for greenhouse-gassepar ation and hydrogen productionare large, consume a lot of energy andemit a great deal of carbon dioxide. Gas-separation methods based on the use ofmembranes have thus attracted

considerable attention, but until now, amembrane that demonst rates satisfactorygas-separation performance and durabilityhas not been developed.

Toray says that its membrane is flexible andthin, and – as it is in the form of a fibre – canbe produced using a continuous process. Itspermeability to carbon dioxide can be fivetimes greater than that of conventionalinorganic separation membranes with thesame volume. Further, it can be tailored foruse in the separation of other gasses.

Toray is to continue the development of suchgas-separation membranes at its researchand development (R&D) Innovation Centrefor the Future at its Shiga plant in Japan.

See also:(1)Toray creates carbon fibre with continuouspore structure, https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75268

Soichiro Koda, CorporateCommunications Department, Toray.Email: [email protected];http://www.toray.com

Toray's thin, flexible and chemically

stable carbon fibre has a nanoscale

continuous pore structure.

Unifrax signs agreement to buy Lydall IncManufacturer of fibres and inorganicmaterials, Unifrax, has signed a definitiveagreement to acquire producer ofmaterials for thermal and acousticmanagement, and filtration andseparation applications, Lydall Inc.

Unifrax of Tonawanda, New York, USA,says that its compatriot Lydall, of Man -chester, Connecticut, has numeroustechnologies and 23 manufacturingfacilities around the world, meaning that itis well-positioned to capitalise on growthin demand for materials for use in cleanair-filtration applications and electricvehicles, among many others.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lydall'sshareholders will receive US$62.10 in cashfor each share outstanding, implying atotal enterprise value of approximatelyUS$1.3 billion. The transaction, which hasbeen approved by the boards of directorsof both companies, is expected to closein the second half of 2021, subject tothe receipt of the required regulatoryapprovals, the approval of Lydall's

shareholders and other customaryclosing conditions.

In September 2020, Lydall announcedplans for the installation of a productionline for the manufacture of fine-fibremeltblown filtration media for face masksand high-efficiency air-filtration systemsat its facility in Saint-Rivalain, France(1).

See also:(1)Lydall invests in meltblowing line tosupport European face-mask production,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75838

Deborah Myers, CommunicationsDirector, Unifrax.Tel: +1 (716) 768-6465.Email: [email protected];https://www.unifrax.com

Brendan Moynihan, InvestorRelations, Lydall.Tel: +1 (860) 646-1233. Fax: +1 (860) 646-4917.Email: [email protected]; http://www.lydall.com

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Machinery and equipmentThe Andritz Group’s stand (2114; see also, page 7) willbe home to the companies:

Andritz Asselin-Thibeau of Elbeuf-sur-Seine, France,•which designs, builds and supplies turnkey lines forneedlpunched, and thermo- and chemicallybonded fabrics;Collecorvino, Italy-based Andritz Diatec, which•develops and manufactures machinery and technologyfor the hygiene industry. As well as machines for makingdisposable sanitary products, the company can nowsupply lamination machinery, spool winders andequipment for manufacturers of medical nonwovens;Andritz Küsters GmbH of Krefeld, Germany,•specialising in individual parts and complete lines forwetlaid, hydroentangled and spunbond nonwovens,as well as a line combining wetlaid and hydro -entangled processes (called Wetlace). Lines includewire systems, calenders, rolls and finishing equipment(both inline and offline);Andritz Perfojet, with headquarters in Montbonnot,•France, where it develops and supplies lines (neXline)for hydroentangled fabrics. A complete line includes acarding system, a hydroentanglement unit (Jetlace), ade-watering unit, a through-air dryer and a twinembossing calender. The company also suppliesthrough-air bonding lines for high-throughputmanufacture of hygiene products.

In Shanghai, China at the latest ANEX/SINCE exhibition(held on 22–24 July 2021), Andritz concentrated on itsneedlepunch technology for durable applications and theproduction of wipes made from biodegradable materials.

Brückner Group (see also, page 19) of Leonberg,Germany, specialises in supplying finishing and coatinglines for textiles and nonwovens. The company hasalready begun to meet with customers face-to-face byexhibiting at ITMA Asia, held in Shanghai on 12–16June 2021. Visitors to stand 1580 in Geneva canexpect to learn about the latest developmentsrelating to automation and data-exchange betweenmanufacturing technologies, so-called “Industry 4.0”.

One recent development, for instance, is an intelligentassistance system that gives the machine operator tipson setting the individual machine parameters to achievegoals, such as saving on consumption of energy whilemaintaining levels of productivity. Another is amaintenance manager that monitors all processes in thebackground and supports the operating personnel inplanning maintenance and cleaning work, as well as thetimely re-ordering of parts as they wear.

Specifically for nonwovens, Brückner has developedovens to dry and consolidate fabrics.

Eberbach, Germany-based Dilo Group (see also, TechnicalTextiles International, Summer 2021, page 5) can be foundon Stand 2010 where it will provide information about itsability to provide complete lines for all technologies fornonwovens made from staple fibres. Fabrics made on theGroup’s machinery are used for durable and disposabletechnical applications such as automotive, filtration,geotextiles, insulation, roofing materials and medical.

Erhardt+Leimer (see also, page 14) of Stadtbergen,Germany, will use stand 4443 to exhibit products that it

Long-awaited chance for nonwovens industry to meet in GenevaFollowing two postponements, Index 2020 is finally set to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, and onlineon 19–22 October 2021. Editor Nick Butler rounds-up some of the highlights to expect at the exhibition.

On Stand 2010, Dilo Group will discuss its ability to

provide complete lines for all technologies for

nonwovens made from staple fibres.

Preview: Index 2020

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designs, makes and supplies for automatedmeasurement and control technologies for nonwovensand textiles, as well as plastics, paper and tyres. Theseproducts include cutters, spreaders, guides, devices tomeasure tension and control webs, and monitors tocheck printed images. In Shanghai, the companyintroduced its latest metal detector, for instance, theElmeta MDA1005/1006, which it claims can detectsmall metal particles across the width of a web runningat between 2 and 500 m.min–1.

Fibroline of Limonest, France, has developed andpatented an impregnation method for dry powders(1).Using alternating electric fields, the company’s D-Preg,S-Preg and T-Preg technologies can permanently embedvarious additives into porous structures, includingnonwovens up to 10 cm in width, on lines runningcontinuously at 10–300 m.min–1. Visitors to Geneva canlearn more on Stand 1383, or by listening to ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) Jerôme Ville’s presentation at theSmart Nonwovens seminar taking place during theexhibition (see also, Inside front cover).

The German machinery builder Reifenhäuser Reicofil(see also, page 1) is a leading supplier of meltblown andcomposite lines for polypropylene (PP) and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) fabrics. On its stand (2531), theTroisdorf-based company will explain that thesenonwovens are used in such as the medical, agriculturaland filtration markets. It will also explain that, in additionto lines for high-volume production(2), it can now delivermachines designed for economical entry into smallmarkets and for making soft, bulky materials.

At ANEX/SINCE, Reifenhäuser Reicofil focused onnonwovens made using sustainable materials.

Reifenhäuser’s subsidiary, Enka Tecnica of Heinsberg,Germany, will exhibit from its own stand (2638),displaying its spinnerets, spin packs, distributor andperforated plates, coat hangers, die tips, spinningbeams and jet strips for melt-, and wet- and dry-spinning. The company will also introduce its RefreshService for restoring customers’ spinnerets.

From complete production lines to single components,Egelsbach, Germany-based Trützschler Nonwovens &Man-made Fibers (see also, page 13) supplies machinesfor opening and blending fibres, forming and bonding(hydroentangling, and thermally and chemicallybonding), drying, finishing and winding webs. At itsEgelsbach headquarters, customers can perform processtrials at an industrial scale, visitors will learn. Products tobe highlighted on stand 2327 will include:

the company’s range of carding machines, specific cards•and crosslappers designed to allow customers to processnumerous fibre types to create unique nonwovens;lines combining wet-laying and hydroentanglement•to create flushable wipes(3), which were developed inpartnership with Voith Paper of Heidenheim,Germany. The exhibitor will also show such wipesmade using pulp- and lyocell-based materials withsufficient strengths to compete with those madeusing polyester (PES)/viscose blends; complete production lines for making nonwovens•using sustainable materials including cotton, naturalfibres, viscose and wood pulp. The resulting fabrics canbe used for biodegradable, single-use products suchas medical textiles, face masks, wipes (wet and dry)and feminine care items.

Sharing stand 2327 will be fellow group memberTrützschler Card Clothing of Neubulach, Germany, aspecialist in high-performance clothing for cards androller cards. In Geneva, the company will introduce itslatest clothing product (Supertip).

Weko – Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co KG (see also,Technical Textiles International, Summer 2021, page 9) isa specialist in the selection and integration of non-contacting systems for the application of small amountsof functional additives/finishes during production.Based in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, thecompany offers test services at its technical centre.

Preview: Index 2020

Trützschler’s exhibit will include details about the

company’s latest condenser wires.


Preview: Index 2020

A highlight of its exhibit on Stand 4171 will be the Weko-ProTec system for applying functional fluids for thefinishing of webs. The company will say the systemapplies the finishes reliably and reproducibly. It also hasan encapsulated unit allowing users to handle safelysubstances that should not be exposed to theworking environment.

Fibres and fabricsOne of the world’s largest suppliers of nonwovens,Berry Global of Evansville, Illinois, USA, will highlight anumber of product launches on its exhibit, Stand 2631.For technical applications, these include:

a viral barrier that satisfies the level-4 breathability•requirements stipulated by the Association for theAdvancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) ofArlington, Virginia, USA;polyethylene (PE) spunbonds (Berotex PE) derived•from sugar cane-based raw materials, and used asthermobonding layers between textiles and thesupport media for roofing products;biodegradable and compostable food wipes;•bicomponent PP/PE spunbonds (Melfab) with high•strengths in the machine and cross-machinedirections, and rigidity for use as pleat supports.

FiberVisions from Varde, Denmark, is a specialist inmanufacturing polyolefin staple fibres for nonwovens. OnStand 2119, the company will highlight its monocomp -onent PP fibre (HY-AffiniT) for hydroentangled fabrics,claiming it has a high degree of hydrophilicity and asoftness similar to that of a bicomponent.

Meanwhile, ES FiberVisions, its joint venture with JNCCorp of Tokyo, Japan, is a supplier of bicomponent fibres.

FiberVisions is part of Indorama Ventures of Bangkok,Thailand, which encourages all its group members andaffiliates to cooperate to serve better various markets,such as hygiene, automotive and construction.FiberVisions and ES FiberVisions, for instance,cooperate to supply blends of their fibres.

Indorama, also to be found on Stand 2119, will launchits iCare staple fibres, which consist of monocomponentPET and bicomponent PET/PE versions, both claimed tobe free from heavy-metal contaminants.

Trützschler Nonwovens


Preview: Index 2020

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Automation and Vision Systems

Erhardt+Leimer GmbH · Albert-Leimer-Platz 1 · 86391 Stadtbergen · Germany www.erhardt-leimer.comwww.erhardt-leimer.com

ELCUTEdge cutting system

Reliable shear cutting Minimum waste Automatic blade follow-up

International Fibres Group (IFG; see also, page 11) isbased in Bradford, UK, and specialises in the globalsupply of polyolefin staple fibres, as well as polyamide(PA), biopolymer and recycled fibres. The exhibitor willsay it focuses on research and development (R&D) inorder to create innovative fibres that meet the exactdemands of its customers. Technical textile markets forthe fibres include automotive, geotextiles, sports andleisure, filtration and construction. The Group includesthree European fibre companies:

IFG Drake of Bradford;•IFG Asota of Linz, Austria;•IFG Exelto of Zwijnaarde, Belgium.•

There are also two other members: IFG Cresco, aweaver of technical textiles in Lokeren, Belgium; DrakeExtrusion, a supplier of PP fibres and yarns fromMartinsville, Virginia, USA.

Kelheim Fibres GmbH is a supplier of specialist viscosefibres made entirely from wood pulp. On Stand 2415,the company from Kelheim, Germany, will tell visitorsthe fibres are fully biodegradable while offering

properties at least comparable with those made usingpetroleum-based chemicals. In Geneva, the companywill introduce its Galaxy fibre, developed for use in thetransfer layer of sanitary pads and tampons.

Sandler AG of Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany, will beexhibiting on Stand 2431, offering information about itsnonwoven roll-goods for: personal care (including wipes,diapers, and feminine care and adult incontinenceproducts); medical textiles; filtration; construction andtransportation. The company’s fabrics are made usingmany different nonwoven technologies, including parallelcarding, crosslapping, hydroentangling, thermobonding,air-through bonding, meltblowing and needlepunching.Visitors will also be told about the numerous differentfibres Sandler uses, such as PP, PET, copolymerisedpolyethylene terephthalate (coPET); PPcoPP, PA, polylacticacid (PLA), bicomponents, viscose and cotton. Themanufacturer can also apply a variety of finishes andcoatings to the fabrics, and emboss and laminate them.The company reported it had a highly successful yearin 2020, despite the economic impact of the pandemic,generating sales of €328 million and hiring 60 new


Preview: Index 2020

members of staff(4). During this period, it provided itsexpertise to efforts to make materials for face masks(5),particularly for Germany’s Bavarian region.

Technical Absorbents Ltd (see also, Outside back cover) isbased in Grimsby, UK, where it developed a uniquetechnology called SAF for making superabsorbent fibres(6).Visitors can learn about the fibres’ properties, whichinclude an ability to absorb up to 200 times their ownweight in water or 60 times their own weight in salinesolution. The company will also describe the fibres’applications, such as medical textiles, protection for cables,food packaging and filtration. More recently, TechnicalAbsorbents has introduced a range of fabrics made fromthe fibre(7) and its most recent development, fabrics madefrom a SAF fibre with a high gel-strength (HGS), will bethe focus of the exhibit on stand 1118.

Further informationMagali Fakhry Dufresne, Exhibition Manager, Palexpo SA.Tel: +41 (22) 761-1061. Fax: +41 (22) 798-0100.Email: [email protected]; https://www.indexnonwovens.comList of exhibitors:https://www.indexnonwovens.com/en/pages/exhibitor-s-list-123Full programme including seminars:https://www.indexnonwovens.com/en/pages/programme-3#sector-section(See also, Inside front cover)

Association for the Advancement of MedicalInstrumentation (AAMI). https://www.aami.org

Petra Wolf, Group Finance, Corporate Communications &Investor Relations, Andritz AG.Tel: +43 (316) 6902-2722.Email: [email protected];https://www.andritz.com

Jean-Philippe Dumon, Sales and Marketing Director,Andritz Asselin-Thibeau.Tel: +33 (2) 3296-4207. Fax: +33 (3) 2024-1933.Email: [email protected];https://www.andritz.com/nonwoven

Laurent Jallat, Marketing Manager, Andritz Perfojet.Tel: +33 (4) 7652-5103. Fax: +33 (4) 7652-2173.Email: [email protected];http://www.andritz.com/nonwoven

Caroline Goetschkes, Marketing & Communications,Nonwoven Division, Andritz Küsters GmbH.Tel: +49 (2151) 34-2564. Email: [email protected];http://www.andritz.com

Amy Waterman, Global Marketing Manager, Berry GlobalGroup Inc.Tel: +1 (812) 306-2435.Email: [email protected];https://www.berryglobal.com

Verena Ruckh, Head of Advertising & MarketingDepartment, Brückner Trockentechnik GmbH & Co KG. Tel: +49 (7152) 12-334. Fax: +49 (7152) 12-9334.Email: [email protected];https://www.brueckner-textile.com

Andrea Wunder, Marketing Department, Dilo Group.Tel: +49 (6271) 940-239. Fax: +49 (6271) 940-266.Email: [email protected]; https://www.dilo.de

References(1)Technical Textiles International, Supplement on TextileCoating and Laminating, Dry powder impregnation takesthe heat out of processing, page 17;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/74288

(2)Technical Textiles International, December 2019, FirstRF5 line from Reifenhäuser starts-up successfully inCzechia, page 30;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75219

(3)Technical Textiles International, Summer 2021, Albaadinvests in line for the production of biodegradable nonwovens, page 34; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76176

(4)Technical Textiles International, Summer 2021, Pandemicfails to halt growth and innovation at Sandler, page 37; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76138

(5) Production line for face-mask material inaugurated by Sandler; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75814

Bavarian alliance secures certification for face mask;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75978

New partners join German face-mask production initiative; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75959

(6)Technical Textiles International, July 2015, TechnicalAbsorbents targets superabsorbent nonwovens, page 17; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/71510

(7)Technical Textiles International, Autumn 2020, Shrink-resistant superabsorbent fabrics, page 38; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75748


Preview: Index 2020

Drake Extrusion Inc.Tel: +1 (276) 632-0159. Fax: +1 (276) 634-0224.Email: [email protected];https://www.drakeextrusion.com

ES FiberVisions ApS.Tel: +45 7994-2200. Fax: +45 7994-2201.https://es-fibervisions.com

Isgrit Bloch, Corporate Communications,Erhardt+Leimer GmbH.Tel: +49 (821) 2435-636. Fax: +49 (821) 2435-682.Email: [email protected];https://www.erhardt-leimer.com

FiberVisions A/S.Tel: +45 7994-2200. Fax: +45 7994-2201.Email: [email protected];https://www.fibervisions.com

Jérôme Ville, Chief Executive Officer, Fibroline.Tel: +33 (4) 7286-1637; Fax: +33 (4) 7286-1695;Mobile/cellular: +33 (6) 7408-2184.Email: [email protected]; http://www.fibroline.com

Richard Barker-Poole, Group Sales & Marketing Director, IFG.Tel: +44 (113) 285-2202.Email: [email protected];https://fibresgroup.com

IFG Drake.Tel: +44 (113) 285-2202. Fax: +44 (113) 285-2575.https://fibresgroup.com

IFG Asota.Tel: +43 (732) 6985-0; Fax: +43 (732) 6985-5526.https://fibresgroup.com

IFG Exelto.Tel: +32 (9) 2414-437. Fax: +32 (9) 2414-562.https://fibresgroup.com

IFG Cresco.Tel: +32 (9) 340-9811.Email: [email protected]; https://ifgcresco.com

Stuart Kelly, Communications, Indorama Ventures.Tel: +66 (2) 661-6661, x 508.Email: [email protected]

Naweensuda Krabuanrat, Communications, IndoramaVentures.Tel: +66 (2) 661-6661, x 247.Email: [email protected];https://www.indoramaventures.com

Shinji Itoh, Deputy GM of Sales, JNC Corp.Tel: +81 (6) 6441-3307. Fax: +81 (6) 6441-3347.Email: [email protected]; https://www.jnc-corp.co.jp

Stefanie Heigl, Corporate Communications, KelheimFibres GmbH.Tel: +49 (9971)-99-63659. Fax: +49 (9441)-99-1475.Email: [email protected];https://www.kelheim-fibres.com

Claire Landsmann, Head of Global Communications,Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik. Tel: +49 (2241) 481-9325. Mobile/cellular: +49 (151) 61637-666Email: [email protected];

Michael Ziegler, Communications, Reifenhäuser Group.Tel: +49 (2241) 481-523.Email: [email protected];https://reifenhauser.com

Reifenhäuser Heinsberg GmbH.Tel: +49 (2452) 98896-0.Email: [email protected];https://reifenhauser.com/en/company/reifenhauser-group/extrusion-systems

Kristina Müller, Marketing Manager, Sandler AG. Tel: +49 (9284) 60-114. Fax: +49 (9284) 60-205.Email: [email protected];https://www.sandler.de

Anita Bemrose, Marketing Executive, TechnicalAbsorbents Ltd.Tel: +44 (1472) 245205. Fax: +44 (1472) 245244.Mobile/cellular: +44 (7827) 290339.Email: [email protected];https://www.exploresaf.com

Jutta Stehr, Group Marketing Manager, TrützschlerNonwovens & Man-made Fibers GmbH.Tel: +49 (6103) 401-321; Fax: +49 (6103) 401-440. Mobile/cellular: +49 (172) 936-6213.Email: [email protected]://www.truetzschler-nonwovens.de

Julia Schaefer, Global Communication Manager, Voith Paper.Tel: +49 (7321) 376995.Email: [email protected]; https://voith.com

Jessica Deiss, Marketing Department, Weko – Weitmann& Konrad GmbH & Co KG.Tel: +49 (711) 7988-219.Email: [email protected];https://www.weko.net


For businesses that are currently grappling withunprecedented change, as well as enduring an

extremely turbulent 2020, key manufacturers of technicaltextiles for automotive thermal and acoustic insulationcomponents are decidedly upbeat about the future.Having enjoyed many years of rapid growth, as well asdeveloping numerous innovations, stimulated by theneeds of automobile manufacturers to reduce the weightof vehicles, the industry now faces fresh challenges.

Over two decades or more, the desire to reduce a car’sweight has been the automotive industry’s response toconsumer demands and increasingly stringentlegislation to lower the fuel consumption and carbondioxide (CO2) emissions of their internal combustion

Electric vehicles present new opportunities for textile suppliersWith or without an internal combustion engine, future vehicles will need tailored packages fornoise, vibration and temperature control. As a result, major suppliers of textiles and nonwovensto the automotive industry remain optimistic, reports Adrian Wilson.

Zünd Systemtech-nik

you can count on

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Global production of cars and light vehicles in 2020 was just

77.6 million, down 21% on 2019.

In depth: Automotive textiles


engines (ICEs). Now, regulators and automobilemanufacturers are looking to do away with the ICEcompletely, switching to cleaner propulsion such asoffered by battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs).

Many countries have already set targets for ending thesale of new petrol- and diesel-fuelled vehicles between2030 and 2040, while Norway will end sales of them in2025. As a result of these pressures, according toEVvolumes.com of Trollhättan, Sweden, quoted in a reportin the Guardiannewspaper(1), global sales of BEVs andplug-in hybrid vehicles are growing, amounting to3.24 million in 2020, up 43% on 2019 (2.26 million).Moreover, this rise took place in a period that saw the totalproduction of cars and light vehicles globally fall by 21%to 77.6 million (2020), compared with 98.1 million (2019).

If the growth of electric vehicle production maintainssuch momentum, they could potentially become thedominant force in all car and light-vehicle productionvery quickly.

How could this affect textiles and nonwovens?Automotive parts providing thermal and acousticinsulation include carpets, headliners, engine encapsu -lation, bonnet (hood) and boot (trunk) liners, andunder bodies. Such products exploit a wide range ofmaterials such as glass-fibre composites and aluminium,as well as textiles and nonwovens.

The use of fabrics in the European automotive industryalone grew by 11.3% a year on average between 2010

and 2015, according to Brussels, Belgium-based industrybody EDANA. Similar growth was recorded for the use ofpolyurethane (PU) foam, according to the Europeanassociation representing this industry, Europur of Brussels,Belgium(2). These growths were achieved despite the factthat the production of cars and light vehicles in Europegrew by only an average of 1.3% a year in the same period.

Even before the decline in automobile production in2020, these growths were slowing, but the figuresunderline the degree to which nonwovens and PU foamshave already been incorporated into the lightweightdesigns of vehicle manufacturers. A good deal ofmaterial substitution – particularly of hard plastics, densefoams and in certain cases metals – has already occurred.

However, given the first and most obvious thing mostdrivers and passengers notice when travelling in anykind of electric vehicle for the first time is how quiet itis without an ICE, perhaps there will be a substantialreduction in the materials required for insulation.

Happily, Adler Pelzer Group of Hagen, Germany, andAutoneum of Winterthur, Switzerland, two leadingsuppliers of such materials, say this is not the case.

Why do suppliers remain confident?Autoneum points-out that in the absence of noise froman ICE, sounds that were previously drowned-out (suchas those from fans and pumps, and noise generated bythe movement of the vehicle over the road surface, so-called “rolling noise”) become more discernible andhave to be suppressed. These are joined by new sources,including the high-frequency noise from the electricmotor. These irritants need to be silenced by acousticcomponents. At the same time, the requirement forlightweight parts remains, as the driving range on a fullycharged battery falls as the car gets heavier.

Temperature-control is just as critical. Beyondpassenger comfort, particularly low or hightemperatures have a negative impact on the battery’sperformance, such as the driving range.

Adler Pelzer GroupWith a network of manufacturing plants, and research anddesign facilities at 80 locations worldwide, Adler Pelzer hasmore than 11 000 employees. It experienced a challenging


In a single step, Adler-Pelzer’s hot-moulding process can make

a floor carpet (HMPtex) with either a velour or tufted surface and

an integrated backing for acoustic insulation.



first six months in 2020, seeing its revenues for the periodfall to €472 million, but, after a general economic recoveryduring the second half, saw sales climb by 48.7% to €702million—a total of €1.17 billion for the year.

According to the Group, the automotive industry isgoing through substantial change, principally as aresult of the desire to develop connected, autonomous,shared and electrically powered vehicles, a futurescenario sometimes referred to by the acronym CASE.

In addition, Adler Pelzer believes electric vehicles willclaim a market share of 20–30% by 2030 and is excitedabout the opportunities these shifts represent. ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO), Pietro Lardini says: “We decidedto embrace these disruptive changes a long time agoand have already been active in developing solutionsfor more than 50 new-energy vehicle (NEV) platforms.”

So far in 2021, for instance, Adler Pelzer has:

acquired the Acoustic and Soft Trims business of•Nanterre, France-based Faurecia (Faurecia AST);

established its own plastics division for hard trim,•following its acquisition of a controlling interest in STSGroup, which has its headquarters in Munich,Germany, from the previous owner, Mutares SE & CoKGaA of Munich, Germany.

The acquisition of Faurecia AST includes a research anddevelopment (R&D) centre in Mouzon, France, and

Brückner

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Contoured and precisely cut insulation components

are availible from Adler-Pelzer.


manufacturing plants in: Mouzon, as well asMarckolsheim, Saint-Quentin, and Mornac, France;Eselborn, Luxembourg; Washington, UK; Olmedo,Spain; Legnica, Poland. With 2019 sales of €385 million,Faurecia AST has approximately 1820 employees.

Meanwhile, STS Group employs more than 1600 peopleworldwide and generated sales of €235 million in 2020.

According to Lardini, at least 70% of all vehicles inthe next ten years will still have an ICE; however, thisperiod will see developments in electric vehicles andcorresponding innovations in engine insulation too.“There has already been a much-needed shift, with afocus on reducing emissions and environmental impacts,but the noise levels of conventional vehicles with [ICEs]still needs to come down.” Noise levels experienced bythose inside and outside the vehicles need to reduced.

Adler Pelzer’s parts are generally based on PU foamsand natural- or recycled-fibre nonwovens formed bycompound-injection or hot-moulding processes.

During 2018, the Group introduced a range of tailoredpackages (EVO) specifically developed for NEVs. EVOproducts are based on the simplification or removal ofcertain parts, such as damping sheets(3) and massbarriers(4), the optimisation of other parts, such asbonnet (hood) liners, and the introduction of entirelynew parts, including those for the encapsulation of theelectric motor and its accessories, together withspecific seals. The parts are tailored to mask differentsounds and frequencies, as well as to meet thedemands of different temperatures.

The Group has also developed a simulation tool(Genome), which allows engineers to track noises fromtheir sources through to the cabin. Using so-called“morphing” simulation technology, the tool can helpusers explore the effects on the design of substitutinga conventional engine with an electric motor.

Customers already using the company’s packages forfull-system engineering and noise, vibration andharshness (NVH) designs include Tesla Inc, a specialistin electric vehicles based in Palo Also, California, USA.

AutoneumAutoneum employs 12 093 people across its globaloperations (as reported on 30 June 2021). Like AdlerPelzer, the company saw its 2020 sales fall, in thiscase by 18.7% to CHF1740.6 million. However, it tooreports it is now experiencing a significant recovery.Announcing its results for the first-half of the year on29 July 2021, the company said 29.2% more lightvehicles were produced worldwide than in thecorresponding six-month period for 2020, despitethe negative impact of a continuing shortage ofsemiconductor chips. As a result, Autoneum’s revenuefor the first-half of 2021 rose to CHF890.3 million,24.3% higher than that in the corresponding periodfor 2020.

Nevertheless, the company adds that production oflight vehicles in the second half of 2021 is uncertainowing to the semiconductor shortage. Although thereis a high demand in all regions, it can be assumed thatthe shortage of chips will continue to impact theautomotive industry for some time.

Key products made by Autoneum are chiefly for enginebays and interior floors, as well as underbodies.

Theta-FiberCell, for instance, has been a leadingnonwoven product for engine encapsulation since2012. In addition to suppressing noise, it can withstandtemperatures of up to 200°C and enables heat to beretained for long periods after a vehicle has beenparked, thereby allowing the engine to re-start moreefficiently than if left to cool. Importantly, comparedwith traditional solid plastic engine covers, Theta-FiberCell components are 60% lighter-weight.


Autoneum has developed an alternative back-coating

process for its range of automotive carpets, which

eliminates the need to use latex and so makes easier

the recycling of the product at the end of its use.



Meanwhile, Theta-Cell is a proprietary PU foam able towithstand a peak temperature of up to 180°C. Itsapplications include bonnet liners, dashboard liners,tunnel insulators and battery covers.

Interior applicationsWith Autoneum’s Hybrid-Acoustics products for carinteriors (such as dashboard liners and floor insulation),the thickness and density of the materials used can betailored by adjusting the deposition of the fibrous toplayers. Together with three-dimensional (3D)calculations and statistical energy analysis, this allowsAutoneum to vary the insulation and absorptioncapacity with a resolution of one centimetre.

In addition, Hybrid-Acoustics products contain a highproportion (up to 50%) of recycled fibres – cotton orpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) – and are as much as50% lighter-weight than conventional insulation madefrom heavy layered foams. Each of the two types ofmaterial – cotton felts embedded in a thermoplastic orspecially layered PET fibres – can be pressed to formnumerous different shapes and sizes.

UnderbodiesFibre-based underbodies have had a considerableimpact on the goal of making vehicles lighter-weightand have contributed significantly to the growth inthe use of nonwovens in the automotive market.Autoneum’s Ultra Silent is a technology based on usinglightweight PET nonwovens for under-floor panels andunder-engine shields. Despite their low weight, theproducts provide good acoustic absorption. Being100% PET, the nonwovens are fully recyclable,Autoneum claims.

Materials for electric vehiclesIn 2019, Autoneum announced it was extending therange of its Ultra Silent materials by adding productsthat meet the specific requirements for acoustic andthermal management of battery undercovers in electricvehicles. These requirements include improving thebattery’s performance by protecting its cells fromheating and cooling, and reducing rolling noise.

Autoneum also now offers Ultra Silent materials forthe liners of front boots (trunks), so-called “frunks”,which it claims save on average 3 kg in weight when

manufacturers substitute them for pre-existingproducts, lowering the vehicle’s energy consumptionand so extending its driving range.

In another adaptation of the company’s products forelectric vehicles, Hybrid-Acoustics PET is being used to:encapsulate electric motors as a way to insulate high-frequency sounds at source; line inner wheelhouses, toreduce tyre noise.

Dashboard liners and floor insulation specifically forelectric vehicles have also been developed based onthe company’s Prime-Light range of compounds,which are made from cotton felts embedded in athermoplastic. Once more, depending on theapplication-specific composition, these contain up to50% of recycled materials.

Autoneum is also introducing an alternative back-coatingprocess to its range of automotive carpets, replacingcommonly used latex with a thermoplastic material, withthe goal of significantly improving recyclability at the endof the product’s life. In addition, the company says thenew manufacturing process for applying the back-coating greatly reduces water and energy consumptioncompared with existing techniques.

The thermoplastic adhesives can be heated andmelted-down together with the carpet componentsmade of pure PET at the end of the product’s life.Further, the thermoplastic mono-materials are easier toremove from the vehicle (latex tends to bond to themetal over time as a result of incidental heating) andeasier to take apart, making the materials simple to

Tufted carpet production at Autoneum’s plant in

Ghent, Belgium.


reclaim. These thermoplastic adhesives, developed in-house, will open-up new possibilities for adaptingback-coatings to the individual needs of vehiclemanufacturers, in terms of their acoustic performance,stiffness and abrasion-resistance.

Car models from various customers in Europe andNorth America are already equipped with latex-freeneedlepunched carpets from Autoneum and soonback-coatings with thermoplastic adhesives will also beavailable as part of the company’s tufted-carpet range.

Computer-aided engineeringAs the demand for electric vehicles grows, both thedevelopment time of new models and their time-to-market is decreasing, Autoneum reports. At the sametime, the new powertrains of these cars are creatingnew requirements for acoustic management.

In response, in June 2021, Autoneum announced that it willshare its long-standing experience of acoustic-simulationtechnologies with Free Field Technologies (FFT) of Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, the developer of advancedmodelling software for acoustics and vibration (Actran).The partners’ aim is to set new standards in the computer-aided engineering (CAE) design of NVH materials, as well asin data exchange. In doing so, they hope to help shortenthe development process times further for manufacturers,as well as helping to reduce noise in their vehicles.

Reasons to be cheerfulWith this wealth of developments, it is clear why majorsuppliers of thermal and acoustic insulation remainoptimistic about the automotive market, with orwithout the ICE.


Further informationFrédéric Thébaud, Communications, Adler

Pelzer Holding GmbH.

Tel +49 (2331) 6978-0.

Email: [email protected];

http://www.adlerpelzer.com

Dr Anahid Rickmann, Head of Corporate

Communications and Responsibility, Autoneum.

Tel: +41 (52) 244-8388.


http://www.autoneum.com

Eric Fohlen Weill, Head of Corporate

Communications, Faurecia.

Tel: +33 (1) 7236-7258.


https://www.faurecia.com

Stefan Hummel, Head of Investor Relations, STS Group.

Tel: +49 (170) 1810765.

Email: [email protected]; http://www.sts.group;

https://mutares.de

https://www.ev-volumes.com

https://www.tesla.com

https://www.fft.be

https://www.edana.org

https://www.europur.org

References(1)https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/

jan/19/global-sales-of-electric-cars-accelerate-fast-in-

2020-despite-covid-pandemic;

https://www.ev-volumes.com

(2)https://www.europur.org/news-events/item/

59-the-european-flexible-pu-foam-market-report-for-2018

(3)Sheets of material used to dampen the noise from

an engine.

(4)Loosely bound material, such as shoddy or loose non-

wovens, used to fill empty volumes so as to hold other

parts in place.

With its Belgian partner Free Field Technologies,

Autoneum is developing computer-aided engineering

software for the design of components to suppress

noise and vibration in electric vehicles.

- reducing the carbon footprint of the textile �nishing industry

Online 30 September-1 October & 7-8 October 2021

The textile industry is committed to action and investment in material technology and machinery to abate its detrimental impacts on the environment. For all the latest developments in aiding this process we are holding a special conference to consider all aspects of the Sustainable Finishing of Textiles. Presentations will take place online over 4 afternoons (BST), followed by live Q&A forums and a Networking Lounge for group and 1:1 chat making this is a must-attend event.

Visit the conference website for full details on the programme and to book your place:

www.technical-textiles.net/WCTC

KEYNOTE On a knife edge - making quality textiles responsibly

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEWEmerging technologies and processes - can they truly provide

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SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRYSustainable alternatives for odour control on garments

An innovative, bio-based adhesive for mechanical rubber goods

Sustainable, durable water-repellent treatments

KEYNOTEA view from Planet Tracker

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Revolutionizing and applying real sustainability to the Textile Finishing Department

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Reduction of resources (water, energy and chemicals) during cotton dyeingWaterless dyeing technology

PLUS further speakers to be announced soon, topics include in-situ thread-colouring technology; an overview of the potential of digital printing and �nishing; chemical companies developing bio-based inks; fabric manufacturers and coaters and laminators developing sustainable substrates.

Photos courtesy of Fibroline, Huafeng & Schoeller

Register now at www.technical-textiles.online/WCTC


Industry urgently needs to develop supplies of sustainable raw materialsConsumer disapproval and pending legislation are piling pressure on the synthetic fibresindustry to change its ways, according to Adrian Wilson.

Global drinks manufacturer Coca-Cola is to end itsuse of virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in its

on-the-go bottles made in the UK in September 2021.All bottles under 500 ml across its entire portfolio(Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Dr Pepper and Lilt)– will now be made from recycled PET, which thecompany estimates will save 29 kt of virgin plasticeach year.

Coca-Cola’s is one of many initiatives underway as theplastics industry responds to tightening legislation,especially in Europe, designed to reduce plastic waste(another by Coca-Cola itself, PlantBottle, is describedin detail below). Regardless of the best intentions ofthese programmes however, they could result insupply problems for the textiles industry, whererecycled PET is currently used as a raw material tomake fibres for a broad range of applications. Inaddition to the pressure of regulation, bottle-to-bottle recycling of PET is a circular process, with thepotential of many such iterations, in contrast tobottle-to-fibre products, which enter the wastestream rapidly.

Virgin-quality recycled polymerAs an alternative to PET-to-PET recycling, a Canadiancompany has patented a depolymerisation technologythat transforms such post-consumer polymer waste intoits monomers—monoethylene glycol (MEG) andparaxylene (PX). Loop Industries, which has itsheadquarters in Montreal, Quebec, says these reclaimedmonomers meet the established purity criteria neededfor the production of virgin-quality PET. importantly tothe textiles industry, the process can accommodatefeedstocks of clothing, carpets and even mattresses, aswell as bottles.

It should be noted that this development has receivedtwo recent setbacks:

in October 2020, the US financial analyst Hindenburg•Research questioned the claims for the process,leading to a damaging impact on Loop’s share price;a joint venture with Indorama Ventures of Bangkok,•Thailand, to build a depolymerisation plant in theUSA in 2020, was shelved as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Rapid turn of fortuneSubsequently however, a not-for-profit research centrespecialising in environmental chemistry, Kemitek ofThetford Mines, Quebec, has fully endorsed thedepolymerisation process and Loop has won thebacking of Seoul, South Korea-based SK Group, one ofAsia’s largest conglomerates.

A strategic joint venture with SK’s subsidiary SK GlobalChemical (SKGC) of Seoul, aims to commercialise theprocess throughout Asia. In addition to a 49% stake inthe venture, Loop will receive annually a percentage ofrevenue from each facility using its technology. SKGC hasalso paid US$56.5 million for almost five million shares inLoop (US$12 per share), with options to buy more.

SKGC aims to build the first facility in South Korea inthe first half of 2022 and to complete three others in

US automobile manufacturer Ford collaborated with Coca-Cola to

produce automotive carpets made using some of the technology

employed for PlantBottle eight years ago (1).

In depth: Sustainable fibres



as-yet unspecified Asian locations by 2030, with aprojected combined consumption of 400 kt of PETwaste a year.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LoopIndustries Daniel Solomita says: “Our team has beenextremely impressed by the thoroughness and extentof SKGC’s technical due-diligence on Loop, includingan on-site verification of the technology at ourdemonstration facility.”

Share of bio-based materialsBio-based materials currently represent less than 1% ofall plastics and synthetic fibres produced each year. In2019, 368 Mt of plastic and 80 Mt of synthetic fibreswere produced globally, according to the latest data,respectively from Plastics Europe and the EuropeanMan-Made Fibres Association (CIRFS), both based inBrussels, Belgium. Bio-plastics production in 2020 was2.111 Mt, according to European Bioplastics, which alsohas it headquarters in Brussels.

Plastics that can be made from bio-based raw materialsas direct replacements for their fossil fuel-basedcounter parts, without any changes to manufacturingprocesses or equipment, so-called “drop-in” solutions,exist for PET and polyamide (PA). Production capacityfor these bio-based drop-in plastics is currently around1 Mt (or 48% of the total for all bio-based plastics). Nodata is available on the proportion of this amount usedfor synthetic fibres.

At present however, such products – a notableexample being Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle – only contain apart (around 30%) of bio-based content at present,which somewhat distorts the overall figures for bio-based plastics production. Nevertheless, since the 2009introduction of PlantBottle, Coca-Cola has distributedmore than 40 billion of them, which it calculates hassaved the equivalent of more than 365 kt of carbondioxide emissions a year. PlantBottle now accounts for29% of Coca-Cola’s packaging volume in NorthAmerica and 8% globally, making the brand the world’slargest consumer of bioplastics.

A tale of two monomersSo far, it is the MEG monomer that has beensuccessfully replaced in PET for PlantBottle production,

while a bio-based PX component has proved muchtrickier to achieve.

In July 2015, Coca Cola announced the production of afully recyclable PET plastic bottle made of 100% bio-MEG and bio-PX and showcased it at the World Expo inMilan, Italy (held on 1 May–31 October 2015)(2), but littlehas been heard of it since and obviously there remainsmore work to be done to reach the ultimate goal ofcommercialising a 100% renewable, responsiblysourced bottle.

In recognition of this, in 2019, Coca Cola announcedthat it was making PlantBottle technology freelyavailable for other industries to explore, even making itavailable to its competitors(3).

Polyamide The key attributes of PA, its toughness and abrasion,resistance, ensure it is the synthetic fibre of choicefor textiles requiring enhanced durability, suchas workwear, military uniforms, parachutesand floorcoverings.

Since 2013, Aquafil has pioneered the production of100% regenerated PA 6 from PA waste. The company,which has its headquarters in Trento, Italy, claims itsEconyl-branded products offer the same qualityand performance as conventional PA 6 but withmany environmental benefits. A portion of the PA Aquafilrecovers to make Econyl products is from the oceans, as

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Loop Industries,

Daniel Solomita (left) and CEO of SK Global Chemical, Na Kyung-

soo, signed their strategic investment agreement on 23 June 2021.

part of the Healthy Seasinitiative(4), in whichdivers recover abandonedfishing nets from thecoastal regions of theMediterranean. Much morecomes from the massivequantities of discardedcarpeting that Aquafil isnow recycling at its twopurpose-built facilities in:Phoenix, Arizona, USA;Chula Vista, California, USA.

Bio-based precursorIn November 2020, Aquafil announced a newpartnership with Genomatica of San Diego, California,USA, with the goals of first building a demonstrationfacility for 100% renewable bio-based PA 6 and thenscaling-up to commercial production within five years.The two companies first teamed-up in January 2020 toproduce the world’s first bio-PA 6 precursor, initiallymaking one tonne.

Already, however, the partners are moving to a larger-than-typical demonstration pilot plant to supportinitial commercial applications by committedbrand partners.

The target now is to produce 50 t of bio-PA for pre-commercial use by Genomatica’s brand partners, withshowpieces to be unveiled in 2022, followed bylimited-edition collections and then full commercial

production within five years. Initial volumes of thebio-PA ingredients will be available before the endof 2021.

Genomatica CEO, Christophe Schilling believes this is asector where the partners can make an importantcontribution, reducing the impacts on theenvironment and revamping parts of the textiles,carpet and flooring industries. Brands are increasinglyrealising that sustainable manufacturing is a winningstrategy, he adds.

Aquafil will be responsible for the downstreamoperations, converting Genomatica’s bio-basedprecursors to commercial-quality PA 6 yarns, films andengineered plastics at its facility in Slovenia.

PolypropylenePolypropylene (PP) remains the most widely usedfibre in nonwovens production, but attempts toproduce a viable bio-based version have until recentlybeen unsuccessful.

However, in the past two years, two of the majorEuropean PP manufacturers – LyondellBasell, whichhas its headquarters in Rotterdam, The Netherlands,and Vienna, Austria-based Borealis – have eachannounced progress with a technology for producingbio-based PP from agricultural waste.

Both projects are joint ventures with Neste of Espoo,Finland, which produces bio-based alternatives toconventional fossil fuel-based feedstocks for theproduction of polymers and chemicals. Neste claims itsproprietary technology can use nearly any bio-based



A portion of the polyamide that Aquafil recovers for its Econyl products is from the

oceans via the Healthy Seas initiative.

The Wesseling complex in Germany is LyondellBasell’s

largest manufacturing facility in Europe.



oil or fat as a raw material, including lower-qualitywaste and residues, to produce various premium-quality renewable products.

LyondellBasell and NesteUsing Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons, for instance, inJune 2019, LyondellBasell announced the first parallelproduction of bio-based PP and bio-based low-densitypolyethylene (LDPE) at a commercial scale.

Subsequently, LyondellBasell introduced a new NesteRE renewable feedstock to its site in Wesseling,Germany, which it converts directly into bio-basedpolyethylene (PE) and PP. Independent testing usingcarbon tracers by International Sustainability andCarbon Certification (ISCC) of Cologne, Germany,confirmed these materials contained more than 30%renewable content.

In April 2021, LyondellBasell launched the Circulenfamily of products:

The CirculenRenew range consists of polymers based•on renewable feedstocks;polymers made from mechanically recycled materials•are marketed under the brand name CirculenRecover;polymers called CirculenRevive are produced•using a technology that recycles at themolecular scale.

In June 2021, LyondellBasell announced a long-termcommercial agreement with Neste to source the NesteRE feedstock.

Borealis and NesteBorealis announced a strategic co-operation withNeste for the production of renewable PP in October2019, a deal that enables Borealis to use Neste’s 100%renewable propane as a feedstock at its facilities inKallo and Beringen, Belgium.

Borealis has used Neste’s renewable propane, which isproduced in Rotterdam, to create an entire portfolio(Bornewables) of renewable PPs, which was launchedin March 2020.

This is the first time that Borealis has used bio-basedfeedstock partially to replace fossil feedstock inthe commercial production of PP and the first

time ever that renewable propane dehydrogenationhas been carried-out on an industrial scale. Thecompany claims Bornewables polymers offer thesame properties as conventional PP and arefully recyclable.

To verify that the feedstock is renewable, sustainablyproduced and traceable to its point of origin, ISCC hasindependently certified the manufacturing process.

Bio-based strong DyneemaRecently, DSM of Heerlen, The Netherlands, hasannounced a number of initiatives for its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)fibre (Dyneema)(5).

Circular ethyleneIn July 2021, for instance, DSM announced acollaboration with SABIC of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, tocreate Dyneema products made using materials fromSABIC’s certified circular portfolio (Trucircle). In a pilotproject, DSM will produce Dyneema made withcertified circular PE for both a sailing rope and anopen-sea trawl net.

To make the PE, SABIC uses mixed plastic waste,including hard-to-recycle plastics that would otherwisego to landfill or be destined for incineration, asfeedstock. The company’s process breaks-down thisfeedstock to leave basic building blocks that it then

Canadian shoe brand norda has

just launched the first seamless

trail running shoe made with DSM’s

bio-based Dyneema fibre.

uses to recreate high-performance polymers akin tovirgin materials.

Wood feedstocksIn March 2020, DSM and SABIC, together with UPMBiofuels of Helsinki, Finland, announced they hadsucceeded in producing a bio-based version ofDyneema using residues from the pulping of woodtaken from sustainably managed forests(6). As a result,partially bio-based Dyneema has been available sinceApril 2020.

Legislation and consumer demandAccording to Alexander A. Koukoulas of A2KConsultants, based in Savannah, Georgia, USA,new legislation aimed at banning single-use plastics,together with a growing consumer demand for moreenvironmentally friendly materials will drive significantdemand for bio-based plastics: “the market forbioplastics could easily double in the next five years.”

However, the textiles sector will face stiff competitionfor any bioplastic capacity in the next decade fromindustries such as plastic packaging, which is hungryfor alternative raw materials.

Other pending legislation is likely to see much moredone to recycle textile waste and successfullyregenerate synthetic fibres from it. One prime examplewill be the need to find ways to deal with the wasteclothing that the European Union (EU) has mandatedmust be collected from 2025.

In fact, so-called “extended producer responsibility”for this waste stream has already been introduced inFrance and other countries within the EU are followingthis approach, so the onus is on the textile industry tofind solutions, and fast.

The latest developments in technologies for thesustainable finishing of textiles will be discussed at theWorld Congress on Textile Coating special edition:Conference on Sustainable Finishing of Textiles, whichwill be held online on 30 September–1 October and 7–8 October, 2021 (see also, page 23).



References(1)Technical Textiles International, March/April 2014, A

plastic drinks bottle that has far-reaching implications…,

page 35; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/282

(2)Technical Textiles International, August 2016, Big chal-

lenges remain in moves from petrochemical feedstocks,


(3)https://www.coca-cola.eu/news/supporting-

environment/why-were-sharing-our-plantbottle-

technology-with-the-world;

and: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coca-

cola-expands-access-to-plantbottle-ip

(4)Technical Textiles International, January/February 2014,

Healthy Seas project aims to turn waste into polyamide fibres,


(5)for instance: Technical Textiles International,

July/August 2014, Market trends favour lightweight

polyethylene fibres for armour, page 25;

https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/294

DSM and SABIC produce Dyneema using recycled feedstock,


(6)DSM to launch partially bio-based ultra-high molecular

weight polyethylene;


Neste claims it can use nearly any bio-based oil or fat

as a raw material, including lower-quality waste and

residue oils, to produce various premium-quality

renewable products.



Further informationCoca-Cola.

https://www.coca-cola.com;

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/

faqs/what-is-plantbottle-packaging

Stephanie Corrente, Director of Marketing and Investor

Relations, Loop Industries Inc.

Tel: +1 (450) 951-8555, x 226.


https://www.loopindustries.com

Hindenburg Research.

https://hindenburgresearch.com

Uday Gill, Chief Executive Officer, Indorama Ventures.

Tel: +66 (2) 661-6661.

Fax: +66 (2) 661-6664.

http://www.indoramaventures.com

Kemitek.

Tel: +1 (418) 338-1318.


https://www.kemitek.org

SK Global Chemical Co Ltd.

Tel: +82 (2) 2121-6765.


https://www.sk.com

Virginia Janssens, Plastics Europe.

Tel: +32 (2) 792-3099.


https://www.plasticseurope.org

Frédéric Van Houte, Director General, European

Man-Made Fibres Association (CIRFS).

Tel: +32 (2) 436-9630.


https://www.cirfs.org

Oliver Buchholz, Communications Manager,

European Bioplastics.

Tel: +49 (30) 28482-353.


https://www.european-bioplastics.org

Maria Sandrini, Communications, Aquafil.

Tel: +39 (0464) 581106.


https://www.aquafil.com

Healthy Seas.https://www.healthyseas.org

Steve Weiss, Marketing, Genomatica.Tel: +1 (858) 210-4424.Email: [email protected];https://www.genomatica.com

Jasmin Bisch, LyondellBasell.Tel: +32 (471) 841-438.Email: [email protected];https://www.lyondellbasell.com

Virginia Mesicek, Senior Manager, CorporateCommunications, Borealis.Tel: +43 (1) 22400-772.Email: [email protected];https://www.borealisgroup.com

Susanna Sieppi, Vice President, Communications, Neste.Tel: +358 (10) 45811.Email: [email protected];https://www.neste.com

ISCC System GmbH.Tel: +49 (221) 50802-010. Fax: +49 (221) 50802-099Email: [email protected];https://www.iscc-system.org

Claire Theunissen, Communications, DSM.Tel: +31 (6) 3063-1754.Email: [email protected];https://www.dsm.com

Lindsay Clarkmead, Communications Specialist, SABIC.Tel: +34 (968) 127740.Email: [email protected];https://www.sabic.com

Anneli Kunnas, Senior Manager, Stakeholder Relationsand Marketing, UPM Biofuels.Tel: +358 (204) 150088.Email: [email protected]; https://www.upm.com

Alexander A. Koukoulas, A2K Consultants LLCTel: +1 (912) 777-6892.Email: [email protected]://www.a2kconsultants.com

norda.https://nordarun.com

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Stretchable, washable textiles can harvest energy from radio wavesStretchable, washable silk-based coilsthat, when sewn into clothing, can harvestenergy from radio waves and powerwearable electronics wirelessly are beingdeveloped by researchers at PurdueUniversity in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

Described in a paper in Nano Energy(1),the coils are made from microfibres ofa novel silk–nanocarbon compositethat demonstrates the stretchability ofsilk fibroin and the high electricalconductivity of multi-walled carbonnanotubes (MWCNTs) and chitin carbonnanoflakes. The coils can be sewn intoclothing using standard techniques andtheir surfaces rendered omniphobic —both hydrophobic and oleophobic —using a spray-based silanisation method,which imbues the resulting smart textilewith waterproof and stain-repellentproperties without compromising itsflexibility, elasticity and breathability. Thecoils can withstand up to 50 standardlaundering cycles without affectingtheir performance.

The senior author of the paper, AssistantProfessor at Purdue University's School ofIndustrial Engineering, Ramses Martinez(2),says: "By spray-coating smart clothes withhighly hydrophobic molecules, we areable to render them repellent to water, oiland mud. These smart clothes are almostimpossible to stain and can be washed inconventional washing machines withoutdamaging the electronic componentssewn onto their surface."

The rigidity of typical waterproofgarments and their low breathability canmake them uncomfortable if worn formore than a few hours at a time. Martinezadds: "Thanks to their ultra-thin coating,our smart clothes remain as flexible,stretchable and breathable as conven -tional cotton T-shirts."

The coils can harvest energy from wirelessInternet (Wi-Fi) and other radio waves foruse in powering other devices sewn ontothe textile. One example demonstrated bythe researchers is a battery-free glove

featuring a coil sewn into the palm areathat powers a light-emitting diode (LED)incorporated into one of the fingertips.When the wearer of the glove is near alive electrical cable, the LED lights-up,providing warning of the possibility of anelectric shock. Another example is aminiaturised cardiac monitoring systemsewn onto a washable sweatband.Significantly, owing to the use of theomniphobic coating, these devices canwork while under water.

"Such wearable devices, powered byubiquitous Wi-Fi signals, will make us notonly think of clothing as just garmentsthat keep us warm, but also as wearabletools designed to help us in our daily life,monitor our health and protect us fromaccidents", Martinez concludes.

See also:(1)Nano Energy, Volume 87, September2021, 106155, Washable, breathable,and stretchable e-textiles wirelessly poweredby omniphobic silk-based coils,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106155

(2)US researchers create self-poweredelectronic textiles, https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75056

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gQ0TCLXZ6Q8

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPVjHopm8m4

Ramses Martinez, Assistant Professor,College of Engineering, Purdue University.Tel +1 (765) 496-0399.Email: [email protected];http://www.purdue.edu


A foldable, rollable, musical keyboardA knitted musical keyboard that can beeasily folded or rolled-up and packed in abag, much like an item of clothing, isbeing developed by researchers at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) in Cambridge, USA.

Called KnittedKeyboard II, the seamless,piano-patterned textile is producedusing intarsia and interlock patterningtechniques from electrically conductiveand polyester (PES) fibres. Both individ -ually and in combination, the keys on thetextile can respond to touch, as well ascontinuous proximity, stretch andpressure. Users can play the keyboardusing conventional keystrokes and, bywaving their hands near it, activationof non-contact theremin-inspiredproximity sensors.

Each knitted key acts as an electrode andis sequentially charged and discharged.This creates an electromagnetic field thatcan be disrupted by the hand’s approach,enabling the key to detect not only directtouch, but also non-contact gestures. Itcan also detect the velocity at which it isstruck. Piezoresistive layers underneath

can measure pressure exerted on theknitted keyboard and the amount bywhich it stretches in response. All ofthe data from these sensors is convertedinto musical instrument digital interface(MIDI) messages, which will correspondto certain timbral, dynamic and temporalvariations, as well as pitch-bend, by acentral microprocessor. Audiosequencing and generation softwaremap these MIDI messages to theircorresponding channels, controls, notesand effects.

The researchers says that the technologycould also be exploited in wearables andsmart objects.

See also:https://player.vimeo.com/video/562885935?color=ffffff&title=0&byline=0"/

Irmandy Wicaksono, Research Assistant,Responsive Environments, MediaLaboratory, Massachusetts Instituteof Technology.Email: [email protected];https://www.media.mit.edu/people/irmandy/overview

The flexible silk-based coil is shown here

sewn into a textile, and is capable of

harvesting energy from wireless internet

and other radio waves present in its

surrounding environment.

Smart textiles update


Inkjet printing shows promise for the production of electronic textilesA simple and effective inkjet-printingprocess that enables layers of electricallyconductive ink to be deposited on apolyester (PES) fabric is being developedby researchers at North Carolina StateUniversity (NCSU) in Raleigh, USA.

The process – described in a paper inACS Applied Materials & Interfaces(1) –can be carried-out at room temperatureand in normal atmospheric conditionsusing a Dimatix inkjet printer fromFujifilm of Tokyo, Japan, and theresearchers say that its developmentsuggests techniques commonly usedin the flexible-electronics industrycould be applied to the manufacture ofsmart textiles.

Professor of Textile Engineering, Chemistryand Science at NCSU, and the correspond -ing author of the paper, Jesse S. Jur, says:“Inkjet printing is a rapidly advancingnew technology that is used in flexibleelectronics to make films used in cellular[mobile] telephone displays and otherdevices. We think this printing method,which uses materials and processes thatare common in both the electronics andtextiles industries, also shows promisefor making electronic textiles forwearable devices.”

Part of the challenge faced by theresearchers was in ensuring that the liquidink would not seep through the poroussurface of the textile on which it wasbeing deposited and thereby lose itsability to conduct electricity. Formergraduate student at NCSU and the firstauthor of the paper, Inhwan Kim, adds:“We wanted to build a structure layer bylayer, which has not been done on atextile layer with inkjet printing. It was abig struggle for us to find the rightmaterial composition.”

The researchers demonstrated theirprocess by printing a capacitor –comprising layers of electricallyconductive silver ink sandwichinginsulating layers of two liquid materials,urethane-acrylate (UA) and poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) – on the surface of awoven PES fabric. Observing the resultingstructure through a microscope, theyfound that the chemical properties of theinsulating materials, as well as of thetextile yarns, are important in ensuring

that the liquid-silver ink is able to conductelectricity, and in preventing it frompenetrating the porous fabric.

“We wanted a robust insulation layer inthe middle, but we wanted to keep it asthin as possible to have the entirestructure thin, and have the electricperformance as high as possible,” Kimsays. “Also, if they are too bulky, peoplewill not want to wear them.”

The electrical performance of the textilecapacitor remains constant after 100bending cycles.

In future work, they want to improvethe materials’ electrical performancecompared with that of electronic textilescreated using methods that require specialfacilities and atmospheric conditions, andto increase its breathability. Eventually,they want to use the printing method tocreate a textile that could be used inwearable electronics, such as biomedicaldevices that could track heart rate, or be

used as a battery to store power forelectronic devices.

Kim concludes: “We are able to coat theink on the fabric in a multilayer materialthat is both durable and flexible. Thebeauty of this is, we did everything withan inkjet printer—we did not use anylamination or other methodologies.”

See also:(1)ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021,Volume 13, Issue 20, pp 24081–24094,Microstructures in all-inkjet-printed textilecapacitors with bilayer interfaces ofpolymer dielectrics and metal–organicdecomposition silver electrodes,https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c01827

Jesse S. Jur, Professor, Textile TechnologyProgram Director, Wilson College ofTextiles, North Carolina State University.Tel: +1 (919) 515-1676.Email: [email protected];https://textiles.ncsu.edu/directory/people/jsjur


Thread features molecular tag for supply-chain securityA range of sewing threads that are madeentirely from recycled polyester (PES) and,through the use of a molecular tag, can betracked and traced has been launched byAmerican & Efird (A&E) of Mount Holly,North Carolina, USA.

The company says that the range, calledIntegrity ECO100, provides an economicalmeans for companies to authenticate andvalidate their products anywhere alongtheir supply chains by way of a commoncomponent—sewing thread. The threadsare tagged using A&E’s Integrity tech -nology, which employs the CertainTmolecular identifier and Beacon encryptedfluorescence technology developed byApplied DNA Sciences of Stony Brook, NewYork, USA. Once a product is marked, it canbe identified in the field using AppliedDNA Sciences' simple Beacon activator(which chemically decrypts the Beacon)and a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiationor, if needed, through a quantitativepolymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test.

Australian designer, Sara Caverley, will useA&E’s ECO100 thread products in herrange of footwear, called Caverley. She

says: “It is essential that Caverley [footwearis] produced with sustainable comp -onents that can be traced throughouttheir supply chain while ensuring we aredelivering the very best to our customers.A&E’s ECO100 recycled sewing threadsprovide tangible proof of the one-of-a-kind leather and luxury trimmings used inour products.”

The Executive Vice President of A&E, ChrisAlt, says: “Our customers are hyper-awareof the detrimental effects of counterfeitproducts, from lost sales to the potentialloss of brand equity. It is a real andglobal threat.”

Kevin Boye, Account Manager, American& Efird.Tel: +1 (704) 951-2996. Fax: +1 (704) 827-0974.Email: [email protected];http://www.amefird.com

John Shearman, Vice President ofMarketing, Applied DNA Sciences.Tel: +1 (631) 240-8838.Email: [email protected];http://www.adnas.com



Improving the power output of textile-based triboelectric nanogeneratorsTextile-based triboelectric nano -generators (TENGs) that, when integratedinto clothing, could harvest energy frommovement are being developed byresearchers in the UK and the Republicof Ireland.

TENGs use the cyclic contact of twosuitable surfaces to convert mechanicalenergy to electrical energy. One of theresearchers on the project, funded by theUK Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council and called Nextgeneration energy autonomous textilefabrics based on triboelectricnanogenerators (NextGenT-TENG), is Heriot-Watt University Professor George Stylios.

He says: "Our biggest challenge isincreasing our power output in order tomake this a viable option. For example,textile TENGs currently produce power inthe microwatt-to-milliwatt range. Weneed to drastically increase the level offriction in order to achieve an output ofhundreds of milliwatts, which is requiredto power most mobile devices."

Stylios and his colleagues plan toovercome this challenge by experiment -ing with the materials used to producetextile-based TENGs, their fibrearchitectures and surface topographies.Specifically, they will employ metal oxide-coated fibres that will generate an

electrostatic charge when brought intocontact with conventional textile fibres,such as those made from polyester (PES)and polypropylene (PP), and will design afibre architecture that maximises thecontact area between these fibres, whichwill be further enhanced through thecreation of branching nanofilaments ornanopillars on the surfaces of the fibres.

Stylios says that the TENGS would beincorporated into areas of clothing thatcome into contact with one anotherfrequently, such as in the sides andelbows. He continues: "Once we havegenerated and stored this energy, thequestion is how do we transfer this intomobile devices? We have a couple of waysfor doing this. Firstly, we can store theelectricity in a small polymer battery onthe clothing itself, but my preference isthe second option of directly transferringthe electricity wirelessly, by simplycarrying our phone in our pocket."

Further to Heriot-Watt University, ofEdinburgh, UK, the partners on NextGenT-TENG are:

the University of Glasgow in the UK;•Pireta of Teddington, UK, which has•devised a manufacturing process thatcan apply a thin, durable metallic layer tofibres, providing them with excellentelectrical conductivity without impactingon the performance of the textile(1);University College Cork in Ireland;•smart textiles specialist, Kymira Ltd of•Reading, UK;the Institute of Technology - Sligo, in Ireland. •

See also:(1)Technical Textiles International,December 2019, Military funding continuesto be a big boost for innovation, page 11;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75255

George Stylios, Professor, School of Textilesand Design, Heriot-Watt University.Tel: +44 (1896) 892135.Email: [email protected];https://www.tex.hw.ac.uk/team/prof-george-stylios

Chris Hunt ,Chief Technology Officer andFounder, Pireta.Tel: +44 (20) 3982-3858.Email: [email protected];https://www.pireta.co.uk

Smart textile-based monitoring used in space explorationFurther smart textile-based systems formonitoring the vital signs of astronautshave been dispatched to the InternationalSpace Station (ISS), and they will also beused on a Virgin Galactic test flight.

Called Astroskin and developed by Hexo skinof Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the systemcomprises smart garments and relatedsoftware that can be used to record the vitalsigns, quality of sleep and levels of activityundertaken by astronauts during theirmissions. The system is designed to operatecontinuously, recording heart and breathingrates, the electrical activity of the heart(electrocardiogram), blood pressure, breath -ing volume, skin temperature, physicalactivity and the level of oxygen in the blood -stream, without obstructing the astronaut.

Space is a harsh environment and, while thescientific community now has some aware -ness, there is still much to discover of theimpact it can have on an astronaut. Astroskincan be used to determine biological effectsof launch, weightlessness, re-entry andlanding on spaceflight participants.

On 3 June 2021, the eighth payload ofAstroskin systems was launched on aSpaceX rocket from the Kennedy SpaceCenter in Florida, USA, to the ISS.Astronauts aboard the ISS have beenusing Astroskin since January 2019.

International Institute of AstronauticalSciences (IIAS) researcher Kellie Gerardi,meanwhile, will conduct experiments using

Astroskin during a test flight of VirginGalactic's spaceflight system. The purposeof this mission is to demonstrate thebenefits to scientific research that VirginGalactic’s spaceflights will provide. It willalso illustrate the potential of conductinghuman research in suborbital flight,building on the knowledge gained througha number of Kellie’s reduced-gravity flightsperformed on Earth, including with theNational Research Council of Canada (NRC)and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

During the test flight, following theshutdown of the rocket motor, Kellie will –during several minutes of weightlessness– unbuckle from her seat and undertakethe actions necessary to complete eachexperiment. The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Co-Founder of Hexoskin, Pierre-Alexandre Fournier, says: “This historicflight will demonstrate the role privatespace companies can play to advance ourknowledge of human physiology in space,to prepare for future missions to the Moonand beyond.”

Pierre-Alexandre Fournier, Hexoskin.Tel: +1 (888) 887-2044.Email: [email protected];http://www.hexoskin.com

Aleanna Crane, Vice President,Communications, Virgin Galactic.Tel: +44 (7) 3956-04549.Email: [email protected];https://www.virgingalactic.com


Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers create digital fibre

A method that enables the production oftens-of-metres of flexible fibre containinghundreds of interspersed digital temp -erature sensors and memory devices hasbeen developed by researchers at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) in Cambridge, USA.

When incorporated into a shirt, the fibrecan collect and store data on bodytemperature over several days andenables the type of activity its wearer isundertaking to be inferred in real timewith a high degree of accuracy.

Until now, electronic fibres have beenanalogue — capable of carrying acontinuous electrical signal — rather thandigital, where discrete bits of informationcan be encoded and processed in 0sand 1s. The senior author of a paper(1)

describing the work, Professor in MIT’sdepartments of Materials Science andEngineering, and Electrical Engineeringand Computer Science, Yoel Fink, says:“This work presents the first realisationof a fabric with the ability to store andprocess data digitally, adding a newinformation-content dimension totextiles and allowing fabrics to beprogrammed literally.”

The fibre is thin and flexible and can bepassed through a needle, sewn into

fabrics and washed at least ten timeswithout breaking-down. MIT PhD studentGabriel Loke adds: “When you put it into ashirt, you cannot feel it at all. You wouldnot know it was there.”

To construct the fibre, hundreds of squaresilicon microscale digital chips, each withfour corner-positioned contact pads, arefirst placed into slots within a polymericpreform. Each chip is placed at an angle of26.56° with respect to the fibre axis andthe slots in the preform are milled to theexact dimensions of the chips. Thisspecific angle ensures the individualconnection of four coplanar and coaxialtungsten wires to the four individualpower and signal ports on each chip. Thepreform is then thermally drawn at aspecific tension, during which process, thefour 25-µm-diameter tungsten wires arefed into it—creating electrical contactswith the silicon chips within it.

The process enables individual chipswithin the fibre to be controlled from onepoint at the fibre’s end. Loke says: “You canthink of our fibre as a corridor, and the[chips] are like rooms, and they each havetheir own unique digital room numbers”.The research team has devised a digitaladdressing method that allows them toswitch-on one chip without turning-onall others.

The digital fibre can store information.The researchers were able to write, storeand read information on the fibre,including a 767-kb full-colour shortmovie file and a 0.48-MB music file. Thefiles can be stored for two monthswithout power.

The researchers have also been able toincorporate, within the fibre memory, aneural network of 1650 connections.After sewing it around the armpit area ofa shirt, the researchers have used thefibre to collect 270 minutes of surface-body temperature data from a personwearing the shirt, and to determine howthis data corresponded to differentphysical activities. Trained using this data,the fibre was able to determine with 96%accuracy the activity its wearer wasengaging in.

Fabrics with digital components cancollect a lot of information across thebody over time, and this so-called “lushdata” is perfect for machine-learningalgorithms, Loke says. He adds: “This typeof fabric could give quantity and qualityopen-source data for extracting newbody patterns that we did not knowabout before.”

With this analytic power, the fibres infuture could sense and alert people inreal time to health changes such as arespiratory decline or an irregularheartbeat, or deliver muscle activationdata or heart-rate data to athletesduring training.

The fibre is controlled by a small externaldevice, so the researchers now plan todesign a microcontroller that can beincorporated into the fibre itself.

See also:(1)Nature Communications, 12, 3317 (2021),Digital electronics in fibres enable fabric-based machine-learning inference,https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23628-5

Yoel Fink, Professor of Materials Science,Joint Professor of Electrical Engineeringand Computer Science, MassachusettsInstitute of Technology.Tel: +1 (617) 258-6113.Email: [email protected];http://www.affoa.org


The fibre, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and shown here on a green

fabric, can collect and store data on body temperature over several days, and enables the type

of activity its wearer is undertaking to be inferred in real time with a high degree of accuracy.

Andritz receives repeat orderfor hydroentanglement line

Less than nine months after ordering itsfirst hydroentanglement line for theproduction of nonwoven roll goods fromAndritz Group (see also, page 7), ZhejiangSaintyear Textile Co Ltd has placed anorder for a second.

Andritz of Graz, Austria, says that this secondline, which will be dedicated to the manu -facture of wipes, is scheduled for start-up inthe third quarter of 2022 and will have aproduction capacity of up to 2.8 tonnes anhour. The line will include opening andblending machinery from Cours, France-based Laroche – which was acquired byAndritz in early 2021(1) – two inline TT cards,a JetlaceEssentiel hydroentanglement unitand a neXdry through-air dryer.

Zhejiang Saintyear Textile Co Ltd, which isbased in Hangzhou, China, says that thefirst hydroentaglement line it orderedfrom Andritz will start operating in themiddle of 2022.

See also: (1)Andritz to buy Laroche,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75971

Michael Buchbauer, Head of CorporateCommunications, Andritz AG.Email: [email protected];https://www.andritz.com


Avgol to invest in Russian production facilityAvgol is to make a three-tier investment atits facility in Uzlovaya, Russia, that it sayswill enhance its ability to supply existingmarkets for its nonwovens and will help itexpand into new areas.

The largest element of the investment willbe the addition of a high-speed, high-capacity RF5 production line(1) fromReifenhäuser Reicofil (see also, page 1)of Troisdorf, Germany, which will boostproduction capacity for high-loftnonwovens and will support thedevelopment of new technologies,according the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Avgol – of Tel Aviv, Israel – TommiBjornman. He continues: “Serving thegrowing baby diaper, adult incontinenceand feminine hygiene markets alongwith satisfying sustained demand formeltblown filtration and medicalmaterials, this investment enables Avgolto deliver an improved degree of servicewhile consolidating and strengtheningour existing position.”

Further, Avgol will install a meltblowingline and a laminating line at the facility.Bjornman continues: “The RF5 line,meltblown line and laminationcapabilities will provide us with apowerful set of platforms as a base fromwhich to provide high-value products forour customers.”

This investment will make the Uzlovayafacility Avgol's second-largest after its sitein Mocksville, North Carolina, USA.

See also: (1)Technical Textiles International, May 2017,Reifenhäuser reinvents its industry-standardline for nonwovens, page 76;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/73283

Avgol Ltd.Tel: +972 (3) 906-1555. Fax: +972 (3) 936-4376.Email: [email protected];https://www.avgol.com

Tanja Kühn-Söndgen, Communications,Reifenhäuser Reicofil GmbH.Tel: +49 (2241) 93261-480. Fax: +49 (2241) 93261-744.Email: [email protected];http://www.reicofil.com

Avgol’s facility in Uzlovaya, Russia.

Absorbent nonwoven pads ensure safety and reliability of batteriesNonwoven pads that, when fitted insidebattery packs, can absorb fluids thatwould otherwise shorten the lifespan andhinder the performance of lithium-ionbatteries have been launched byFreudenberg Performance Materials ofWeinheim, Germany.

Liquid carried in air can condense insidebattery packs and coolants can leakfrom the systems used to maintain theirtemperatures. In both cases, FreudenbergPerformance Materials says that its BatteryPack Liquid Absorbers can capture andretain these liquids quickly and reliably.The pads comprise cover layers of athermally bonded polyester (PES) non -woven sandwiching layers of a hydrophilicnonwoven covered in a highly absorbentcoating. The pads have a liquid-absorptioncapacity of 30 l.m–2, are resistant to

temperatures of up to 230°C in the shortterm and 110°C in the long term, and haveachieved an HB rating when testedaccording to the UL 94 standard fromUnderwriters Laboratories (UL) ofNorthbrook, Illinois, USA.

Freudenberg Performance Materials addsthat the modular design of the pads allowsfor their absorption capacity to be scaled-up easily—limited only by the spaceavailable. Further, the size and the shape ofthe pads can be tailored to the specificneeds of a given application. The GeneralManager of the company, Thomas Petzel,says: "As liquid-cooling systems areprevailing to deliver efficient thermalmanagement for high-power batteries, webelieve that our Battery Pack LiquidAbsorbers will become a must-have safetycomponent of future high-voltage systems.”

Holger Steingraeber, Director of GlobalCommunications, FreudenbergPerformance Materials Holding SE & Co KG.Email: [email protected];https://www.freudenberg-pm.com

A Battery Pack Liquid Absorber and, inset, its

multilayered structure.

Nonwovens update

Nonwoven Innovation & Research Institute invests in pilot meltblowing line

A pilot line for the development ofmeltblown nonwovens has been installedat the Nonwoven Innovation & ResearchInstitute (NIRI) in Leeds, UK, where it willbe used for sampling, prototyping andproof-of-concept testing.

Supplied by Fibre Extrusion Technology(FET) Ltd, also of Leeds, the laboratoryand pilot line is capable of processingsuch as engineering polymers, high-temperature polymers, corrosive andaggressive polymers, as well assustainable and biomedical polymers. TheChief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIRI,Matthew Tipper, says: “We were mindfulwhen specifying the new equipment that

we wanted to invest in the most flexibleand adaptable technology available, toenable the development of a wide rangeof nonwoven structures—with thepotential to develop unique filament andmechanical properties to further facilitateour clients’ [research and development]R&D and prototyping.”

The line features a computerised controlsystem that enables process parameters,such as temperature, pressure, speed andrecipe, to be monitored and managed. Itenables the quality of the output of agiven process to be verified, generates awide range of reports, and displays data,sounds alarms and logs events so thecause and effect of parameter changescan be determined.

NIRI's clients will use the system todevelop such as new items of personalprotective equipment (PPE) and medicaldevices for use in the fight against thehuman coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

NIRI’s New Business Development Manager,Ross Ward, adds: "We are keenly interestedin exploring the wider opportunities formeltblown nonwovens, such as developingproducts from bio-derived polymers,

chemically recycled polymers and novelmasterbatches with enhanced functionality.This latest investment will help us facilitatethe rapid development of innovativeand commercially viable products forour customers.”

Ward will speak at Smart Nonwovens (High-performance Applications of Nonwovens),which will be held during INDEX in Geneva,Switzerland (and online) on 20 October2021 (see also, Inside front cover).

See also:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyTUlpdQwo&feature=emb_logo

Matthew Tipper, Chief Executive Officer,The Nonwovens Innovation & ResearchInstitute.Tel: +44 (113) 350-3829.Email: [email protected];http://www.nonwovens-innovation.com

Richard Slack, Managing Director, FibreExtrusion Technology Ltd.Tel: + 44 (113) 253-7676. Fax: + 44 (113) 253-6006.Email: [email protected];http://www.fetuk.com


Ahlstrom-Munksjö unveils nonwovens for use in ceiling constructionA range of nonwoven backing and facingmaterials for use in the construction ofceilings has been launched by Ahlstrom-Munksjö of Helsinki, Finland.

Called FibRoc Ceiling, the range comprisesnonwovens made using wet-laid andfoam-forming processes from: glass andcellulose–glass blends for mineral wool-and wet felt-based ceilings(1); glass,cellulose–glass blends and cellulose–polyester (PES) blends for plasterboardceilings(2); glass and cellulose–glass blendsfor perforated wood and metal ceilings(3).

Ahlstrom-Munksjö's Vice President,Nonwovens, Pierre Mary, says that thesenonwovens help to ensure that theacoustics of a given room are comfortableand that they can be treated to be flame-retardant. Further, they can be manu -factured using formaldehyde-free bindersand can be tailored to the individualneeds of a customer.

The company adds that the range willevolve over time as new products areadded. The nonwovens are manufacturedat its plants in: Karhula, Finland; Tver, Russia;Brignoud, France; Stalldalen, Sweden.

See also:(1)https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/construction-and-furniture-materials/performance-materials-for-durable-construction/fibroc_ceiling_sell_sheets_mineral_wool_web.pdf

(2)https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/construction-and-furniture-materials/performance-materials-for-durable-construction/fibroc_ceiling_sell_sheets_plasterboard_web.pdf

(3)https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/construction-and-furniture-materials/

performance-materials-for-durable-construction/fibroc_ceiling_sell_sheets_metal_wood_web.pdf

Ahlstrom-Munksjö completes line re-buildin China; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76237;and: Ahlstrom-Munksjö to invest in US linefor glass-fibre nonwovens;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76226;and: Ahlstrom-Munksjö works to increaseproduction capacity at plant in Belgium;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76294

Pekka Helynranta, Vice President, GlassFiber Tissue, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.Tel: +358 (50) 571-0458.Email: [email protected]

Pierre Mary, Vice President, Nonwovens,Ahlstrom-Munksjö.Tel: +33 (6) 8780-0149.http://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/fibroc-ceiling

Nonwovens update

The meltblowing line will be used to

develop such as new items of personal

protective equipment and medical devices.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö launches filtration media for electric vehiclesA range of filtration media for use inelectric vehicles (EVs) has been launchedby Ahlstrom-Munksjö of Helsinki, Finland.

Called FiltEV, the range features mediafor the cabin air, transmission andbattery-cooling systems of EVs. FiltEVParticulate Cabin comprises particulatefilters for the removal of coarse, fine andultrafine particles – including bacteriaand viruses – from cabin air, andmultilayer carbon media that can bothfilter particles and remove gases(1). FiltEVCooling features air-filtration media foruse in battery cooling systems and three-layer wetlaid media for filtering oil(2).Finally, FiltEV Transmission featuresglass microfibre media with optionalprotective scrims and synthetic three-layer media for filtering particles fromtransmission fluids(3).

According to the Head of BusinessDevelopment for Ahlstrom-Munksjö'sIndustrial Filtration and New Vehiclesbusiness, Cedric Vallet, the company plansto launch filter media for use in the air-intake systems of fuel cells in the nextfew months.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö estimates that all-electric vehicles will account for 25% of

light-vehicleproduction in 2030.It adds that demandfor filtration mediafor use in EVs isexpected to growby around 35% peryear up until 2030,when it will beworth approxi -mately €100 million.

See also:(1) https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/filter-media/fitev_cabin_air_sell_sheet_a4_web.pdf

(2)https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/filter-media/filtev_cooling_sell_sheet_a4_web.pdf

(3)https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/globalassets/products/filter-media/filtev_transmission_sell_sheet_a4_web.pdf

This issue, Electric vehicles present newopportunities for textile suppliers, page 17.

Cedric Vallet, Head of BusinessDevelopment, Industrial Filtration andNew Vehicles, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.Tel: +33 (674) 405004.Email: [email protected];https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/filtev-battery-electric-vehicles


Nonwovens update

DiloGroup to supply web-forming and needling line for automotive parts

DiloGroup is to supply a second web-forming and needling line to ZhejiangHuajiang Science and Technology Co Ltdof Hangzhou, China, for the processing ofblends of glass and polypropylene (PP)fibres—used in the manufacture of glassfibre-reinforced thermobonded parts forautomotive interiors.

DiloGroup, of Eberbach, Germany, saysthat the line comprises systems for fibrepreparation, web-forming, carding andcrosslapping, and needling. The fibre-preparation system from DiloTemafa isadapted to ensure that glass and PPfibre are blended homogeneously,while the Baltromix blending systemfeatures precise weighing pans andprovides accurately dosed fibre materialto the collecting apron. The fibrematerial is opened and blended in acarding willow.

DiloGroup says that it can also provideequipment for the recycling of wastefibres generated during the productionprocess. These fibres can be collectedfrom the stations in the fibre preparationand web-forming systems.

The company adds that the efficiency of aglass fibre-processing line depends largely

on ensuring that dust is removed from itscomponent systems, and that, as a generalcontractor, DiloSystems can carry-out thistask. At the double-doffer card, a fancy rollerenables webs to be formed without excessfibre being left within the card clothing wire.Blowing nozzles can be installed in theneedleloom to clean the perforated plates,stripper and bed plates, while the dustexhaust is separated at a filter station. Usingair lines, recycled fibres can be re-introducedat the beginning of the line.

See also:Manufacturer of artificial leather orders threelines from DiloGroup; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76296

Andrea Wunder, Marketing Department,Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG.Tel: +49 (6271) 940-239.Email: [email protected];https://www.dilo.de/en

The infeed side of Dilo's double

needleloom with blowing nozzles at the

stitching plates.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö

estimates that all-

electric vehicles will

account for 25% of

light-vehicle

production in 2030.

DuPont launches para-aramid nanofibre for battery separatorsA para-aramid nanofibre (called KevlarMicroCore) for the production ofseparators for lithium-ion batteries hasbeen launched by DuPont of Wilmington,Delaware, USA.

The company says that, unlike othermaterials currently used for themanufacture of battery separators(that allow for the passage of chargedions between the anode and cathode atthe same time as preventing electricalshort circuits between them), thosemade from Kevlar MicroCore areinherently non-flammable and willnot shrink—even at temperatures ofup to 300°C.

Global Market Manager for DuPont Auto -motive, Carlo Fiorella, says: “When used inbattery separators, Kevlar MicroCore canhelp prevent the biggest safety issue for[electric vehicle] EV batteries—thermalrunaway. Testing has shown that itmay also enable EV batteries to chargefaster and deliver higher accelerationpower, addressing two key performanceconcerns for both consumers andEV manufacturers.”

DuPont is working with separatormanufacturer Nippon Kodoshi (NKK) Corpof Tokyo, Japan, to commercialise thenanofibre. Kevlar MicroCore will be usedto produce NKK's TopNove separators forlithium-ion batteries.

Preliminary results of independentresearch undertaken at YamagataUniversity in Japan suggest that, incertain conditions, TopNove separatorsmade from the nanofibre performbetter than incumbent separators, suchas those made from ceramic-coatedmicroporous films.

DuPont says that Kevlar MicroCorecould also be used for the productionof separators for batteries in theaerospace, defence, medical andutilities industries.

See also:This issue, Electric vehicles present newopportunities for textile suppliers, page 17

Jennifer McMahon, MarketingCommunications Lead,DuPont Automotive.Email: [email protected];https://www.dupont.com


Nonwovens update

Nonwovenn positions itself for post-pandemic growth Over the last 12 months, technical fabricmanufacturer Nonwovenn reports that,it has invested £7 million in its head -quarters and production facility inBridgwater, UK.

The company has purchased the freeholdof the site where it has operated since2003, securing its future, and has investedin a new 1-kt-a-year chemical bonding

line with which it can increase itsproduction capacity and manufacturenew fabrics for the packaging andindustrial sectors.

Nonwovenn.Tel: +44 (1278) 428500. Fax: +44 (1278) 429499.Email: [email protected];https://nonwovenn.com

Nonwoven for protective clothing is proven to reduce heat-stressA highly breathable fabric developed byToray Industries for the production ofdisposable personal protective clothinghas been proven in testing to reducethe chance of its wearer sufferingfrom heat-stress in comparison withconventional fabrics.

Livmoa 3000 comprises an electrostaticallycharged nonwoven (called TorayMicron)meltblown from fine polypropylene (PP)fibres, which is sandwiched between twolayers of spunbond fabric.

Under supervision from AssociateProfessor of Advanced Textile and KanseiEngineering at Shinshu University (inNagano Prefecture, Japan), TomonoriSakoi, Toray of Tokyo, Japan, conductedevaporative thermal-resistance testing onLivmoa 3000.

Evaporative thermal-resistance testing isused to determine the ease with whichperspiration evaporates through a fabricand indicates the impact this has on

generating heat stress. It is carried-out bylaying moist fabric on a heating plate setto 20°C. The sample fabric is then placedon top of the moist fabric and a weak flowof air is applied across its surface. Bydetermining the level of heat evaporationthrough the sample, its evaporativethermal-resistance can be calculated.

The test found that that in wet bulbglobe temperature (WBGT) testing –which is used to measure the heat-stressexperienced by a person in direct sunlightand takes into account: temperature,humidity, wind speed, sun angle andcloud cover (solar radiation) – clothingmade from Livmo 3000 could be assigneda correction value of 0°C, meaning thathas no more effect on heat-stress thanregular work clothes and would reduceheat-stress experienced by its wearer incomparison with general-purposeprotective clothing.

Further, it was found that Livmoa 3000is significantly more permeable to air

than commerciallyavailable single-layerand spunbond–meltblown–spunbond (SMS)nonwoven fabricswith equivalentdust-protectioncapabilities usedto produceprotective clothing.

Haruna Komoda, CorporateCommunications, Toray Industries.Email: [email protected];https://www.livmoa.toray/en/dustproof/3000_001.html

Tomonori Sakoi, Associate Professor,Department of Advanced Textile andKansei Engineering, Shinshu University.http://soar-rd.shinshu-u.ac.jp/profile/en.uVAUjFkV.html

A protective suit made

from Livmoa 3000.

Tyre reinforcements producedfrom recycled plastic bottles

Two companies in Clermont-Ferrand,France, have demonstrated that a high-tenacity polyethylene terephthalate (PET)fibre produced from recycled bottlescould be used to reinforce tyres.

The fibres were produced by the dev -eloper of an enzymatic process for therecycling of PET, Carbios, and have beenvalidated by tyre producer Michelin. Withsome 1.6 billion car tyres sold worldwideevery year by tyre manufacturers, theproduction of fibres for tyre reinforcementconsumes 800 kt of PET each year, acc -ording to Carbios. Meeting that demandusing the company’s technology wouldenable the recycling of nearly three-billionplastic bottles annually.

Carbios notes that conventionalthermomechanical processes for therecycling of plastics do not yield rawmaterials suitable for the productionof plastics for high-performanceapplications. The monomers producedfrom its process, however, oncerepolymerised into PET, meet Michelin’srequirements for use in its tyres—demonstrating high breakage-resistance,toughness and thermal stability.

Carbios has been working since 2015to develop a process that combinesenzymes and plastics to transform wastePET back into two purified monomers—terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethyleneglycol (MEG). These monomers can thenbe repolymerized into PET with virgin-like properties.

Carbios is currently operating at pilot scale,and counts the quantities it produces incubic metres, but by September 2021, thecompany says it will start a demonstrationplant in Clermont-Ferrand and, by early2025, plans to be ready to open anindustrial-scale plant with an annualproduction capacity of somewherebetween 35 and 75 kt.

Benjamin Audebert, Head, InvestorRelations, Carbios.Tel: +33 (4) 7386-5176.Email: [email protected];http://carbios.fr

Michelin.https://www.michelin.com

Superabsorbent polymers from bio-based acrylic acidBio-based feedstocks are being used byNippon Shokubai Europe (NSE) NV ofAntwerp, Belgium, to produce asuperabsorbent polymer (SAP).

The company, a subsidiary of NipponShokubai of Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, hasbeen awarded an ISCC Plus sustainabilitycertificate from ISCC System GmbH ofCologne, Germany, for the manufactureof a SAP using acrylic acid derived frombiomass-derived propylene andconventional propylene. The amount of bio-based content in the SAP is quantified usinga mass-balancing approach, which allowsfor the volume of a feedstock to be trackedthrough a production system so that theamounts used in the final product can beaccounted for accurately. NSE adds that thequality of the bio-based SAP is equivalentto that of products manufactured entirelyfrom petroleum-derived feedstocks. NSEproduces both acrylic acid and SAP.

Nippon Shokubai is in the process ofdeveloping technologies for the recyclingof SAPs from used disposable diapers(1).

See also:(1)Recycling superabsorbent polymers fromused disposable diapers,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75924

Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd.Tel: +81 (3) 3506-7605.Email: [email protected];https://www.shokubai.co.jp


Sustainability update

Lyocell fibre produced using citrus-fruit wasteA lyocell fibre is being manufacturedusing pulp sourced from wood and by-products of the processing of citrus fruitby Lenzing Group and Orange Fiber.

Called Tencel Limited Edition x OrangeFiber, the fibres are produced using thesame closed-loop process used for themanufacture of Lenzing's standard Tencelfibres. Lenzing, of Lenzing, Austria, andOrange Fiber, of Catania, Italy, arecurrently using the fibres to create acollection of fabrics, which the latter willunveil in October 2021.

Collections produced from Tencel LimitedEdition x Orange Fiber will have dedicatedmarketing materials, such as co-brandedswing tags, which will provide consumerswith information regarding the processand materials used for their manufacture.

Vice President of Global Research andDevelopment at the Lenzing Group, GertKroner, says: “By upcycling waste materialssuch as orange peels in our products, weare taking proactive steps towards a moresustainable future and minimising theenvironmental impact of waste.

Rita Ng, Head of Global MarketingServices, Lenzing.Tel: +1 (852) 3718 5675.Email: [email protected];http://www.lenzing.com

Enrica Arena, Chief Executive Officer,Orange Fiber.Email: [email protected];http://orangefiber.it

In addition to the news reported onthese pages, the latest developments intechnologies for the sustainablefinishing of textiles will be discussed atthe World Congress on Textile Coatingspecial edition: Conference on SustainableFinishing of Textiles, which will be heldonline on 30 September–1 October and7–8 October, 2021 (see also, page 23).

Jill Gwinnutt, Marketing Manager,International Newsletters Ltd.Tel: +44 (330) 133-5450.Email: [email protected];https://www.technical-textiles.online/STF

Tencel Limited Edition x Orange Fiber is manu -

factured from wood pulp and by-products of the

processing of citrus fruit.

Cleaning granulates support the development of bio-based fibresCleaning granulates from Dreychem arebeing used by IFG Asota(1) to clean itsextrusion equipment to help ensurethat it produces high-quality fibresfrom biopolymers.

IFG Asota of Linz, Austria, is a research anddevelopment (R&D) centre operated byIndustrial Fibres Group (IFG; see also, page11, which has its headquarters in Danderyd,Sweden, and manufactures meltspunstaple fibres from polypropylene (PP),polyethylene (PE) and polyamide (PA).

The products manufactured on the pilotplant installed at IFG Asota change often,meaning that the extruders need to becleaned frequently between productionruns. R&D Manager at IFG Asota, AndreasWeinberger, says: "With the fibre diametersdown to less than 20 µm, even the tiniestcontaminants in the melt can causeproduction problems. Especially when the

machine has been idle for a certain time,rinsing with the usual polymer is notenough to reliably remove all the depositsand agglomerates". He adds that this isparticularly the case if biopolymers, suchas polylactic acid (PLA), are beingprocessed, as they tend to degrade rapidlyat elevated temperatures. Weinberger usesDreyclean LT cleaning granulates fromDreychem of Moormerland, Germany, for thetask. He says that they have proved to be soefficient that, "since we started using them,we have had significantly fewer problemssuch as fibre breakages. Apart from that, ourexperience shows that, following their use,processing temperatures in the extruder ofup to 20°C lower are sufficient for achievingthe same throughput. This improves thequality of the bio-based fibres and lowers theenergy consumption."

Another benefit of using Dreyclean LT, saysWeinberger, is a reduction in wastage when

starting production of a new fibre. Heexplains: "Biobased plastics such as PLAare very much more expensive thanconventional thermoplastics used for meltspinning. This, plus our overall shorterrunning times per batch, make the materiallosses until a stable process is reached asignificant economic factor.."

See also:(1)International Fibres Group opens researchand development centre,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75137

Kerstin Brunken, Dreychem GmbH.Tel: +49 (49) 5489-4434. Fax: +49 (49) 54955-9807.Email: [email protected];https://www.dreychem.com

IFG Asota.Tel: +43 (732) 6985–0.https://fibresgroup.com



Solvay launches partially bio-based polyamide yarn

A partially bio-based polyamide (PA) 5,6yarn has been launched by Solvay ofBrussels, Belgium. Called Bio Amniand produced at the company's textileindustrial unit in Brazil, the developmentof the yarn forms part of Solvay’s responseto demands from the textile industry formore sustainable products.

With the launch of Bio Amni, sustainableproducts will now account for 30% ofSolvay's global PA portfolio, a figure whichthe group plans to increase to 50% in thenext three years.

Solvay has launched several PA products forthe textiles industry in recent years. In 2020,in response to the outbreak of the humancoronavirus (covid-19) pandemic, thecompany unveiled an antiviral andantibacterial PA, called Amni Virus-Bac OFF(1).

See also:(1)Antiviral and antibacterial polyamide yarn,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75914

Luciane Nogueira, CommunicationsManager, Solvay. Tel: +55 (11) 99986-6917.Email: [email protected];https://www.solvay.com

YKK to use sustainable finishing technologyAs it looks to limit the environmentalimpact of its operations, global fasteningsmanufacturer YKK is to use a perfluorinatedcompound (PFC)-free finish to make its zip-fasteners water-repellent, after signing alicensing agreement with the developerof the technology, Green ThemeTechnologies (GTT).

GTT, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA, saysthat no water is required to apply the finish,called Empel, to fabrics. By contrast, it addsthat traditional finishes are applied usingwater baths, generating trillions of litres ofpolluted water each year that regularly getdischarged into streams and oceans aroundthe world. Fabrics treated with Empel arehighly water-repellent and – as the finishbonds uniformly to the fibres from whichthey are made – they remain supple andbreathable. Category Manager, YKK GlobalMarketing Group, Mike Maekawa, says: “TheEmpel technology will allow us to create anew generation of water-protective zippersthat perform better, have better flexibilityand are more sustainable.”

The process for the application of the Empeltreatment starts with a hydrocarbonmonomer base, which can be rolled ontothe face of a fabric using conventionaltextile-coating machinery. Rolls of coated

fabrics are then placed into curing podswhere they are pressurised to ensure thatevery fibre is coated evenly with the finish.Finally, recirculated steam is used to heatthe pressurised rolls of fabric, convertingthe monomers in the base into polymersthat bond molecularly to the fibres. Oncethis process is complete, no further washingis required, and it generates no hazardousdischarge or waste, and is non-toxic.

YKK has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

See also:Technical Textiles International, Winter2020, Saving every last drop—dyersinnovate to save precious resources, page 15;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76002

Jessica Cork, Communications, YKK Corpof America.Tel: +1 (770) 261-6123.Email: [email protected];https://www.ykk.com

Gary S. Selwyn, Chief Executive Officer,Green Theme Technologies Inc.Tel: +1 (505) 200-2693.Email: [email protected];https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-s-selwyn-phd-181a1b1;https://greenthemetek.com

Apply Carbon to establishcarbon-fibre recycling facilityApply Carbon is to establish a facility torecycle carbon fibres following itsacquisition of ELG Carbon Fibre's short-fibre business in May 2021(1).

Apply Carbon – which is based inLanguidic, France, and is part of ProcotexCorp of Dottignies – has a 15 600-m2

production facility in Plouay, France, withan extra 90 000 m² of space in which toexpand. Equipment and stocks of carbonfibre are currently being transferred to thisfacility from ELG Carbon Fibre's formerheadquarters in Coseley, UK.

Procotex Corp aims to make high-qualityrecycled fibres, including carbon, aramid,polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and uni -directional (UD) flax and other naturalfibres. In 2011, it acquired Apply Carbon, acompany with expertise in milling andcutting technical fibres.

See also:(1)ELG Carbon Fibre becomes Gen 2 Carbon,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76227

Bruno Douchy, Communications,Procotex Corp SA.Tel: +32 (5) 648-3838.Email: [email protected];https://en.procotex.com

Gen 2 Carbon.http://www.gen2carbon.com

Producing elastic fibres from polylactic acid blendsMethods for increasing the elasticity ofpolylactic acid (PLA) fibres, which couldenable them to be used in place ofelastane in the production of clothing, arebeing developed by researchers at theTransfer Center for Plastics Technology(TCKT) GmbH in Wels, Austria.

Through the BioModFiber project, theresearchers blended PLA with materials ofhigher elasticity, such as polybutylenesuccinate (PBS) and thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU), and various peroxidesand chain-extenders were added to theblends using a reactive extrusion process.Fibres were then produced from theseblends via melt spinning, after which theywere characterised through tensile testing.

Fibres made from a 60/40 blend of PLA andPBS, and modified with the additive Joncryl(from BASF of Ludwigshafen, Germany),demonstrated an elongation-at-fracture of107%—almost double that of fibres madefrom an unmodified 60/40 PLA/PBS blend.

Fibres made from a 90/10 blend of PLAand TPU, and modified with a peroxidecrosslinker and a stabiliser demonstratedan elongation-at-fracture of 193%—again,almost double that of fibres made from anunmodified blend.

Martina Prambauer, Transfer Center forPlastics Technology GmbH.Email: [email protected];https://www.tckt.at



Microfilament fabrics made using post-consumer recycled polyesterFreudenberg Performance Materials haslaunched a version of its hydroentangledmicrofilament fabric (Evolon) thatis produced substantially fromrecycled materials.

The company, of Weinheim, Germany,reports that the fabric (Evolon RE) ismanufactured from an average of 70%recycled polyester (PES), which it sourcesfrom post-consumer polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) bottles. It adds thatthe fabric, which is available in basisweights of 80–300 g.m–2, demonstratesthe same mechanical properties asstandard Evolon fabrics, making it suitablefor the production of such as durable,washable wipes and technical packaging.

Freudenberg Performance Materials saysthat, since Evolon was launched in 1999, ithas worked continuously to make theproduct, and the process used for itsmanufacture, more sustainable. Nosolvents or chemical binders are usedduring the manufacture of Evolon, forinstance, and in 2003, the company set-upa system for reprocessing the water usedin the hydroentanglement process.

To produce Evolon fabrics, bicomponentfilaments are spun and then hydro -entangled using high-pressure water jets,before being split to generate micro -filaments. Unlike nonwovens based onstaple fibres, these fabrics do not releasefibres or lint, because of the integrity ofthe long filaments.

Further, the microfilaments ensure thefabrics are strong, mechanically stable andisotropic, as well as forming a structurethat can hold impregnated liquids well.

See also:Fabrics made from recycled polyesterfor sportswear; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76222

Holger Steingraeber, Director of GlobalCommunications, FreudenbergPerformance Materials Holding SE & Co KG.Tel: +49 (6201) 806640.Email: [email protected];https://www.freudenberg-pm.com

Freudenberg is using polyester sourced from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles

(left) to produce Evolon microfilament textiles (right).

Avgol and Algaeing to develop algae-based dyes for nonwovensNonwovens manufacturer, Avgol, anddeveloper of algae-based dyes and fibres,Algaeing, are to develop algae-basedproducts for the dyeing of polyolefinbased spunbond and meltblown fabrics.

Algaeing, of Berlin, Germany, and BeitYizhak, Israel, has developed an algae-based dye formulation that it says can beapplied to all types of fabrics and iscompletely biodegradable.

The company is able to produce a widerange of colours, many of which replicatethose currently used for nonwovens, andadds that the dyes are skin-friendly andthat their use reduces the consumptionof water and fertilisers significantlycompared with the use ofconventional dyes.

Algaeing and Avgol, of Tel Aviv, Israel,have been working together since 2020and have demonstrated the suitability of

the dyes for application to nonwovensthrough proof-of-concept and proto -typing programmes.

The companies, which are now preparingfor the next steps to commercialise thetechnology, say that they will concentrateinitially on nonwovens for use in thehygiene, medical and personal protectiveequipment (PPE) markets—specifically,body-liner materials for absorbenthygiene products (AHPs) and componentsfor face masks and face coverings.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ofAvgol, Shachar Rachim, says that the useof Algaeing’s technology supports hiscompany's efforts to use materials thatare more readily recyclable andbiodegrad able. He adds: “Having anorganic colorant that can be removedduring the recycling process and has nonegative impact when released into theenvironment if undergoing biodegrad -

ation, supports polyolefins as future-proof resins.”

Avgol recently entered into a partnershipwith Polymateria Global of London, UK,and Indorama Ventures of Bangkok,Thailand, to produce nonwovens frombiodegradable polyolefins(1).

See also:(1)Technical Textiles International, Summer2021, Partners to develop biodegradablesynthetic fibres and nonwovens, page 35;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76193

Avgol Ltd.Tel: +972 (3) 906-1555. Email: [email protected];https://www.avgol.com

Oded Krebs, Co-Founder and ChiefExecutive Officer, Algaeing.Email: [email protected];https://www.algaeing.com



Additive enables thermoregulating fibres to biodegrade in landfills

Cocona Labs reports that it can incorporatean additive into its therm oregulating fibresand yarns (called 37.5) that enables themto biodegrade in landfills.

In testing undertaken according to theD5511 standard(1) published by ASTMInternational of West Conshohocken,Pennsylvania, USA, 37.5 polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) staple fibresembedded with the additive biodegradedby 78% after 726 days in an acceleratedlandfill environment. Cocona Labs, ofBoulder, Colorado, USA, says that this dataindicates that the fibres will break-downby 50–80% over the productive lifetime ofthe average US landfill site (80-100 years).

It caveats these findings by adding thatthe stated rate and extent of degradationwill vary by landfill and fabric type, andthe material might not continue todegrade after this time. Conventional PETdoes not biodegrade.

The additive is embedded into the fibres,enhancing the ability of microorganismsalready present in landfills to bind tothem and break them down. Unlike otherproducts on the market, the additivedoes not cause the fibres to fracture intosmaller pieces of microplastic that thenremain unchanged. The fibres are convertedinto by-products at the molecular level,some of which could be captured and re-purposed in modern landfills.

37.5 technology comprises active carbonparticles that are permanently embeddedin fibres and help the body's naturalcooling mechanism, sweating, byremoving the moisture vapour from themicroclimate next to the skin.

The addition of the particles increasesthe fibre's surface area by up to 800%,and their presence accelerates theconversion of sweat to vapour and the rateof removal of the vapour, significantly

increasing the rate of drying, Cocona Labsclaims. Moreover, the hotter the wearer gets,the greater the driving force removing themoisture from the microclimate.

By working to keep the microclimate atthe optimum relative humidity, 37.5 helpsto keep the core temperature close to anideal of 37.5°C, leaving the wearer morecomfortable and able to exercise forlonger. Cocona says fabrics using 37.5technology dry up to five-times faster thanuntreated ones and, because the additivesare derived from natural materials, thetreatment does not cause skin irritation. Inaddition, the additives never wash outfrom the yarn and their performance doesnot degrade over time.

See also:(1)ASTM D5511, Standard test method fordetermining anaerobic biodegradation ofplastic materials under high-solidsanaerobic-digestion conditions, https://www.astm.org/Standards/D5511.htm

Preston Brin, Vice President of GlobalMarketing, Cocona Labs.Tel: +1 (316) 644-4339.Email: [email protected];https://www.thirtysevenfive.com

Cocona Labs' 37.5 thermoregulating

fibres and yarns have been used in the

production of such as waterproof jackets

for mountain runners.

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Award for developers of electromagnetic radiation-attenuating yarn

The developers of an aluminium-coatedmultifilament basalt yarn that, when usedto produce fabrics, could shield parts incars, mobile telephones and buildingsfrom electromagnetic interference (EMI),have been presented with an award fortheir achievement.

Fabrics produced from the yarn, calledAluCoat, are cheaper and easier to producethan the metal-fibre fabrics currently usedfor EMI shielding, according to FibreCoat ofAachen and Deutsche Basalt Faser GmbH of

Sangerhausen, both in Germany. Thepartners were awarded the overall prizeat the 17th IQ Innovationspreises Mittel -deutschland, an online event broadcast fromLeipzig, Germany, on 24 June 2021.

The partners say that, in comparison with theproduction of metal yarns, 1500 m of AluCoatcan be produced per minute, instead of fivemetres, and that the energy required for theproduction of AluCoat is 90% lower. As aresult, AluCoat costs around twenty timesless to produce than metal yarns.

AluCoat was launched commercially on1 January 2021 in a range of titers(1) and canalso be used to manufacture heat sinks forbatteries and electric diverters in filters, asconductive elements in smart textiles and asa reinforcement for cast aluminium. AluCoatis also available in fabric and nonwovenforms in a wide range of areal weights.

FibreCoat says that the yarn has anelectrical conductivity of 100 Ω.m andcan be used in working temperaturesof up to 400°C. It is highly thermallyconductive. Further, it delivers 80–120 dBof attenuation to high and low fre -quencies of electromagnetic radiation.

See also: (1)Aluminium-coated yarn attenuateselectromagnetic radiation,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75954

Robert Brüll, Chief ExecutiveOfficer, FibreCoat.Tel: +49 (241) 802-3275.Email: [email protected];https://www.fibrecoat.de

Deutsche Basalt Faser GmbH.Tel: +49 (3464) 2767-690. Email: [email protected];https://www.deutsche-basalt-faser.de

Rollable camouflage sheet can make soldiers nearly undetectable

A camouflage sheet renders soldiersvirtually invisible to the naked eye andthermal imaging equipment, claims itsdeveloper, Polaris Solutions of GivatHaim, Israel.

Developed in partnership with Israel’sMinistry of Defense (MoD), the Kit 300sheet is made from a thermal visualconcealment (TVC) material that, accord -ing to Polaris Solutions, comprises"metals, polymers and microfibres". Thesheet weighs around 500 g and can be

carried as a small roll. Soldiers can wrap itaround themselves when on the moveand can join their sheets together to builda barrier that resembles rock when theyset-up a position.

It can also be used as a stretcher; a farlighter solution than the current set-upwhere a member of an infantry squad hasto carry a dedicated stretcher weighingseveral kilogrammes.

The Head of the MoD Directorate forDefense Research and Development(DDR&D)’s Detectors and ImagingTechnology Branch, Gal Harari, toldJanes(1) that there had been littleinvestment in infantry camouflage inrecent years, while the functionalityof night-vision systems has improvedand their use has proliferated. Indeed,their use by the Lebanese groupHizbullah during the 2006 war led to

the founding of Polaris Solutions to finda countermeasure.

See also:(1)https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/new-israeli-camouflage-sheet-unveiled

Technical Textiles International, December2019, Military funding continues to be a bigboost for innovation, page 11;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75255

Technical Textiles International, October2018, Textile innovations continue to helpkeep military personnel safe, page 41;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/74369

Asaf Miller, Chief Technology Officer andCo-Founder, Polaris Solutions.Tel: +972 (54) 755-7420.Email: [email protected];https://polarisolutions.com


Developed by

Polaris Solutions,

the Kit 300 sheet is

made from a

thermal/visual

concealment

material and can

be carried as a

small roll.

The Chief Executive Officer of FibreCoat, Robert Brüll (left), and the Managing

Director of Deutsche Basalt Fiber GmbH, Georgi Gogoladze.

Safety and protection update

Durable, inherently flame-retardant fabric

A durable, stretchable and inherently flame-retardant (FR) fabric for the production ofprotective clothing for workers in such aselectric power stations has been launchedby Daletec of Dalekvam, Norway.

Called Extreme X, the fabric lasts three-timeslonger than standard modacrylic–cottonblend FR fabrics in standard abrasion testing,owing to the use of polyamide (PA) fibres(Cordura) from Invista of Wichita, Kansas,USA. Further, Daletec says that the fabric:

maintains its FR performance even after•extensive washing (at 75°C and above);grants freedom of movement owing to•its stretchability;provides a high arc-protection rating•(9 cal.cm–2), as certified according to abroad range of European norms;is dimensionally stable and possesses•high tear-strength;is comfortable, owing to its high air-•permeability and soft handle.

Brand Manager for Daletec FR Fabrics,Erlend Hesjedal-Johannessen, says:“Ultimately, Daletec Extreme X has beenengineered for comfort, for protectionand to last. It is designed to stand-up tothe hazards workers face, as well as resisttearing and abrasion. The longer a fabriclasts, the longer the wearer has protectionin the work environment and the longerthe garment can remain in use.”

Daletec.Email: [email protected];https://www.daletec.com

Cindy McNaull, Business DevelopmentDirector, Cordura, Invista.Tel: +1 (704) 900-8768.Email: [email protected];http://www.invista.com;http://www.cordura.com



Gloves protect goalkeepers from finger injuries

Gloves designed to prevent goalkeepersin association football from overstretching– and thereby injuring – their fingerswhen making saves are being developedby researchers at the Institute of TextileTechnology and Process Engineering(DITF) in Denkendorf, Germany.

According to a researcher at the Tech -nology Center Knitting Technologies atthe DITF, Hans-Helge Böttcher, the gloveneeds to protect the goalkeeper’s fingersfrom large mechanical forces whileremaining flexible enough not to affecttheir sensory perception. Conventionalgloves worn by goalkeepers can be fittedwith plastic splints or so-called fingerframes, but these are not always effectiveand can affect flexibility, and thereby theathlete’s control of the ball.

The glove developed at the DITF featurestextile structures with specific force-elongation properties that absorb forceapplied at the fingertips and transfer it tothe wrist cuff. These structures are sewnonto the glove from the finger end-jointof the outer hand to the finger end-jointof the inner hand and their lengths can beadjusted to the size of the wearer's hand.An appropriate amount of tension canalso be set for each individual finger. The

wrist is enclosed by a cuff made of astrong, elastic material and, with the helpof load-bearing textile structures, transferstensile forces to the forearm via channelsin the palm.

To test the efficacy of the gloves, arig comprising a ball-cannon and adummy hand on which the glove canbe placed was set-up at the DITF. Thecannon shoots balls from differentangles at speeds of 20–120 km.h–1 anda pressure cell installed behind theglove is used to determine the residualimpact force of the ball striking the hand.The testing indicates that the gloveprevents the fingers of its wearer fromover-extending.

The research project will be completed inSeptember 2021 and the researchersbelieve the technology could be common -place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, whichwill be held in Qatar on 21 November–18 December 2022.

Oswald Rieder, Head, Technology CenterKnitting Technologies, Institute of TextileTechnology and Process Engineering.Tel: +49 (711) 9340-269.Email: [email protected];https://www.ditf.de

The gloves have been tested on a rig comprising a ball-cannon and a dummy hand

on which the glove can be placed.

Extreme X provides a high arc-protection

rating for workers in such as power stations.

Klopman launches productsthrough virtual showroom

More than twelve new fabrics for theproduction of workwear have been unveiledin a virtual showroom that is being hostedonline by Klopman of Frosinone, Italy.

It has supplemented the flame-retardant(FR) fabrics in its K-Flame range with aseries of high-performance products. Thecompany's Greenwear range has beenexpanded with two high-visibilityprotective fabrics, made using recycledpolyester (PES) and cellulosic fibre,respectively. It has also launched a rangeof four-way stretch fabrics. Klopman’svirtual showroom can be accessed at:https://virtualshowroom.klopman.com

Klopman International.Email: [email protected];https://www.klopman.com


DSM partners with mills for production of Dyneema fabrics Royal DSM of Heerlen, The Netherlands,has entered into partnerships withseven mills that will manufacture fabricsusing its ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene (UHMWPE), Dyneema.

The mills, which DSM refers to as its premiummanufacturing partners (PMPs), are: HwaSung International of Busan, South Korea; IBQFabrics of Barcelona, Spain; Naveena Denimof Lahore, Pakistan; Feinjersey Group ofGötzis, Austria; VDS Weaving of Oudenaarde,Belgium; Fuchshuber Techno-Tex inLichtenstein, Germany; Gayon of HainingCity, China. DSM says that each of the millshas met specific criteria regarding their abilityto develop and manufacture high-qualityfabrics using Dyneema. It adds that the PMPswill enable the quicker development andproduction of a wider range of fabrics, thanwould otherwise be possible.

The Global Business Director, Consumer &Professional Protection, at DSM ProtectiveMaterials, Marcio Manique, says: “We areconfident that our partnership will ensurethe continuous growth of our Dyneemaofferings for various end-use marketsworldwide and look forward to exploringadditional opportunities, including theintroduction of more sustainable alternativeswith bio-based Dyneema fibre(1).”

See also: (1)DSM to launch partially bio-based ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene,https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75499This issue, Industry urgently needs to developsupplies of sustainable raw materials, page 24.

Claire Theunissen, Communications, DSM.Email: [email protected];http://www.dsm.com

Senate passage of Innovation and Competition Act is welcomedThe US Senate's passage of the Innovationand Competition Act (USICA)(1), whichincludes measures to help build adomestic supply chain for themanufacture of personal protectiveequipment (PPE), has been welcomed bythe US National Council of TextileOrganizations (NCTO) of Washington,District of Columbia. The industryassociation has, however, expressedconcerns about some aspects of the act.

Designed to help address the risingmilitary, geopolitical and economiccompetition that the USA experiencesfrom China, the act will enable hundredsof billions-of-dollars to be spent onscience and technology projects by arange of US government agencies. Itincludes the Make PPE in America Act(2),which will require the US Departmentsof Homeland Security, Health andHuman Services and Veterans Affairsto issue long-term contracts to USmanufacturers of PPE for the supply ofthese goods.

Sponsored by US Senators Rob Portman(Republican) and Gary Peters (Democrat),the Make PPE in America Act is designedto ensure that the US has all the PPE itrequires, for the present and for any futurepandemic, while creating domesticmanufacturing jobs.

Senator Portman says that the humancoronavirus (covid-19) pandemic hasmade it evident that the USA should notrely on foreign countries for the supplyPPE. He adds that long-term contracts"give producers the certainty to know thattheir investment in the USA will be worthit because the government will be thereto buy the PPE they produce.”

The NCTO led an industry and labourcoalition supporting the inclusion of theMake PPE in America Act in the USICA. It is,however, unhappy with a provision addedto the USICA just before it was passed thatwould see normal tariffs and penaltiesassessed on imports of PPE suspended fortwo years.

The President and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the NCTO, Kim Glas, says: "Doingso would allow China to maintain itsstranglehold on the US PPE market,while working at cross-purposes withother provisions of the bill designed toincentivise much-needed investment indomestic PPE manufacturing. USmanufacturers retooled production andhave significant idle capacity."

Glas adds that the Biden Administrationneeds to keep these tariffs in place to"support US businesses and workers whoabide by higher labour, environmental

and production standards... Thisprovision is the absolute wrong messageto send to American manufacturersand its workforce.”

The Biden Administration recentlyawarded a pair of contracts for themanufacture of over 17 million re-usable face masks, for use in communityhealth centres, food banks andsoup kitchens across the USA, to UScompanies, Parkdale Mills and FerraraManufacturing Inc(3).

See also:(1)https://www.rpc.senate.gov/legislative-notices/s1260_the-united-states-innovation-and-competition-act

(2)https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4578?r=6&s=1

(3)Technical Textiles International,Summer 2021, Biden Administrationpurchases over 17 million US-made facemasks, page 8; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76167

Kimberly Glas, President and ChiefExecutive Officer, National Council ofTextile Organizations.Tel: +1 (202) 822-8028. Fax: +1 (202) 822-8029.http://www.ncto.org


Antimicrobial knitted face masks can withstand 100 washesA three-dimensionally (3D) knittedantimicrobial face mask that can filterparticles of 3 µm and above in size fromthe air has been launched by SP ScienceLtd of Bury, UK.

Called the Silver Life Face Covering, thegeneral-purpose mask is knitted from ablend of cotton and polyester (PES) yarns.Antimicrobial silver particles areincorporated into the fibres of the PESyarn as they are extruded, enabling themask to retain its antimicrobial effectsafter 100 washes by machine attemperatures of up to 40°C usingbiological or non-biological washingpowder, or by hand in warm water using asuitable washing solution. The maskcannot, however, be tumble-dried.

The antimicrobial efficacy of themask has been tested according toseveral standards, including the18184:2019 standard(1) published bythe International Organization forStandardization (ISO) of Geneva,Switzerland, the 30 standard(2) fromthe American Association of TextileChemists and Colorists (AATCC) ofResearch Triangle, North Carolina, USA,and Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS)L 1902(3) published by the JapaneseStandards Association of Tokyo.

SP Science guarantees Silver Life FaceCoverings for up to 100 washes or twoyears of use and says that they reducethe environmental burden associatedwith use of single-use face masks.

See also:(1)ISO 18184:2019, Textiles — Determinationof antiviral activity of textile products,https://www.iso.org/standard/71292

(2)AATCC 30, Antifungal activity, assessmenton textile materials: Mildew and rotresistance of textile materials,https://members.aatcc.org/store/tm30/491/

(3)JIS L 1902, Textiles-Determination ofantibacterial activity and efficacy of textileproducts,https://global.ihs.com/doc_detail.cfm?document_name=JIS%20L%201902&item_...

SP Science Ltd.Email: [email protected];https://www.silverlifemasks.com


Electrospun wound dressing indicates infection by glowingAn electrospun dressing that fluoresceswhen the wound to which it is applied isnot healing properly is being developedby researchers at RMIT University inMelbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Integrated into the nanofibres of thedressing are nanosheets of antibacterialand antifungal magnesium hydroxide thatglow brightly when exposed to a sourceof ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as a UVlight. Crucially, the fluorescence of thenanosheets alters in response to changesin the pH of the environment to whichthey are exposed. This means that theycould be used to determine whether awound is acidic, indicating that it is in theprocess of healing, or alkaline, suggestingthat infection is setting in. Further, theresearchers claim that the dressing ischeaper to produce than typical silver-based antimicrobial dressings, but is aseffective at fighting bacteria and fungi forup to a week after its application.

A Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow atRMIT and one of the authors of a paperdescribing the work(1), Vi Khanh Truong, saysthat, currently, in order to check how awound is healing, its dressing must beremoved, which can be painful and cancreate a vector for pathogens. He continues:"The smart dressings we have developednot only fight bacteria and reduceinflammation to help promote healing, [butthey also] have glowing sensors to track

and monitor forinfection. Beingable to easily see ifsomething is goingwrong would reduce the need for frequentdressing changes and help to keep woundsbetter protected."

The researchers claim that magnesiumhydroxide nanosheets can be integratedeasily into any biocompatible nanofibre,which means they can be incorporatedinto standard cotton bandages. Lab -oratory tests showed the nanosheets werenon-toxic to human cells, while destroyingemerging pathogens such as drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus andCandida auris. Further, Truong says thatthe process used to make the fluorescentnanosheets would be simple to scale-upfor mass production.

He adds: “Normally, antimicrobial wounddressings start to lose their performanceafter a few days, but our studies show thesenew dressings could last up to seven days,

and because magnesium is so abundantcompared with silver, our advanceddressings could be up to 20 times cheaper.”

The research team is keen to work withclinicians to develop the technologyfurther through such as pre-clinical andclinical trials.

See also:(1)ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021,Volume 13, Issue 24, pp 27904–27919,Fluorescent magnesium hydroxidenanosheet bandages with tailoredproperties for biocompatible antimicrobialwound dressings and pH monitoring,https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c05908

Vi Khanh Truong, Postdoctoral Fellow,RMIT University. Email: [email protected];https://www.rmit.edu.au

The fluorescence of

the bandage under

ultraviolet light

changes in response

to the pH of the

wound to which it is

applied, enabling it

to be used as a tool

to track healing.

Medical textiles update


Face masks feature biosensors that can detect SARS Cov-2 virus

Wearable biosensors that can becustomised to detect the presence ofpathogens – such as the SARS Cov-2 virusresponsible for the human coronavirus(covid 19) pandemic – and toxins, andalert their wearer, have been developedby researchers in the USA.

In a recent paper(1), the researchers – atthe Wyss Institute for Biologically InspiredEngineering at Harvard University and theMassachusetts Institute of Technology,both in Cambridge – report that they haveincorporated the biosensors into standardface masks so that they can be used todetect the presence of the SARS Cov-2virus in the wearer's breath. The button-activated biosensors give results within 90minutes of exposure and to degrees ofaccuracy comparable with standardnucleic acid-based diagnostic tests, suchas polymerase chain reactions (PCR). AResearch Scientist at the Wyss Instituteand the co-first author of the paper, PeterNguyen, says that the cost and speed ofthe biosensor are similar to those of cheapantigen tests. He continues: “In addition toface masks, our programmable biosensorscan be integrated into other garmentsto provide on-the-go detection ofdangerous substances including viruses,bacteria, toxins and chemical agents.”

The wearable sensors are based ontechnology created several years ago inthe laboratory of Wyss Core Facultymember and senior author Jim Collins. In

2014, he showed that proteins and nucleicacids needed to create synthetic genenetworks that react to specific targetmolecules could be embedded into paper,and he used this approach to createpaper-based diagnostics for the Ebola andZika viruses. In 2017, Collins developedanother cell-free sensor system, known asSHERLOCK, which allows for the detectionof nucleic acids. These cell-free sensors arefreeze-dried and remain stable for manymonths, until they are rehydrated. Whenactivated by water, these sensors caninteract with their target – which can beany ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribo -nucleic acid (DNA) sequence, as well asother molecules – and produce a signalsuch as a change in colour.

More recently, Collins and his colleaguesbegan working on incorporating thesesensors into synthetic textiles, with thegoal of creating a laboratory coat forhealthcare workers or others who mightbe exposed to pathogens. The researchersembedded their freeze-dried componentsinto a small section of this synthetic fabricand surrounded them with a ring ofsilicone elastomer to prevent them fromevaporating or diffusing away from thesensor. To demonstrate the technology,the researchers created a jacketembedded with about 30 of thesesensors. They showed that a small splashof liquid containing viral particles,mimicking exposure to an infectedpatient, can hydrate the freeze-dried cellcomponents and activate the sensor. Thesensors can be designed to producedifferent types of signals, including acolour change that can be seen with thenaked eye, or a fluorescent or luminescentsignal, which can be read with a handheldspectrometer. The researchers alsodesigned a wearable spectrometer thatcould be integrated into the fabric, whereit can read the results and wirelesslytransmit them to a mobile device.

Then, the covid-19 pandemic struck.Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wyss Instituteand co-first author, Luis Soenksen, says:“We wanted to contribute to the globaleffort to fight the virus, and we came-upwith the idea of integrating [sensors] intoface masks to detect SARS Cov-2. Theentire project was done under quarantineor strict social distancing, starting inMay 2020."

To researchers embedded freeze-driedSHERLOCK sensors into a face mask. Aswith the wearable sensors, the freeze-dried components are surrounded bysilicone elastomer. In this case, the sensorsare placed on the inside of the mask, sothey can detect viral particles in thebreath of the person wearing the mask.The mask also includes a small reservoir ofwater that is released at the push of abutton when the wearer is ready toperform a test. This hydrates the freeze-dried components of the SARS Cov-2sensor, which analyses accumulatedbreath droplets on the inside of the maskand produces a result within 90 minutes.

The researchers can also swap-in sensorsfor the detection of other pathogens,including influenza, Ebola and Zika, orsensors they have developed to detectorganophosphate nerve agents.

In the paper, the researchers demonstratethat a network of fibre-optic cables can beintegrated into the sensors to detectfluorescent light generated by thebiological reactions, indicating thedetection of the target molecule with ahigh level of accuracy. This digital signalcan be sent to a smartphone applicationthat allows the wearer to monitor theirexposure to a vast array of substances.

The team is searching for partners to enablethe mass production of the face-maskdiagnostic for use during the covid-19pandemic, as well as for detecting otherbiological and environmental hazards.

See also:(1)Nature Biotechnology, 2021, Wearablematerials with embedded synthetic biologysensors for biomolecule detection,https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-021-00950-3

https://player.vimeo.com/video/529526393

James J. Collins, Founding Core Facultyand Lead, Living Cellular Devices, WyssInstitute for Biologically InspiredEngineering, Harvard University, andTermeer Professor of MedicalEngineering and Science and Professor,Department of Biological Engineering,Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Email: [email protected];https://www.collinslab.mit.edu


The wearable freeze-dried cell-free

sensor can be integrated into any

standard face mask. The wearer pushes

a button on the mask to release a small

amount of water into the system, which

provides results within 90 minutes.

System developed for the closed-loop recycling of single-use face masksA pilot project to demonstrate thefeasibility of a closed-loop system for therecycling of single-use face masks hasbeen undertaken by the FraunhoferInstitute for Environmental, Safety, andEnergy Technology (UMSICHT), SABIC andProcter & Gamble (P&G).

Billions of disposable face masks havebeen used throughout the humancoronavirus (covid-19) pandemic andthose that are not disposed of thought -lessly in public spaces are currently sent tolandfill or incinerated. They could,however, represent a valuable feedstockfor new materials if a suitable recyclingprocess was developed and the necessaryinfrastructure for their collection was putin place.

As part of the pilot project, P&G ofCincinnati, Ohio, USA, collected used facemasks worn by employees or given tovisitors at its manufacturing and researchsites in Germany. Although those masksare always disposed of responsibly, therewas no route in place to recycle themefficiently. To help demonstrate how thisproblem could be solved, specialcollection bins were set-up, and thecollected used masks were sent toFraunhofer UMSICHT in Oberhausen,Germany, for further processing in adedicated research-scale pyrolysis plant.

The Head of the Recycling ManagementDepartment at Fraunhofer UMSICHT,Alexander Hofmann, says: “The masks

were firstautomaticallyshredded and thenthermochemicallyconverted topyrolysis oil.Pyrolysis breaksthe plastic downinto molecularfragments underpressure and heat,which will alsodestroy any residualpollutants orpathogens, such asthe coronavirus[SARS-Cov-2].”

The pyrolysis oil was then sent to SABICof Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it wasused as feedstock for the production ofpolypropylene (PP) resin. The resins wereproduced using the mass-balanceapproach, which allows for the volume ofa feedstock to be tracked through aproduction system, so that the amountsused in the final product can beaccounted for accurately.

Finally, the PP was supplied to P&G, whereit was used to produce nonwovens. P&GSenior Director Open Innovation,Hansjörg Reick, says: “This pilot projecthas helped us to assess if the closed-loopapproach could work for hygiene- andmedical-grade plastics. Of course, furtherwork is needed, but the results so far havebeen very encouraging.”

The entire pilot project was developedand implemented within only sevenmonths and the potential of transferringthe principles established through itto the recycling of other feedstocksand chemical products is beingevaluated through the FraunhoferCluster Circular Plastics Economy (CCPE),a partnership between six of theFraunhofer institutes and ledby UMSICHT.

The latest developments in technologiesfor the sustainable finishing of textiles willbe discussed at the World Congress onTextile Coating special edition: Conferenceon Sustainable Finishing of Textiles, whichwill be held online on 30 September–1 October and 7–8 October, 2021 (seealso, page 23).

Banu Kukner, Communications, SABIC.Tel: +31 (652) 341679.Email: [email protected];https://www.sabic.com

Alexander Hofmann, Head ofDepartment Recycling Management,Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental,Safety, and Energy Technology.Tel: +49 (9661) 8155-435.Email: [email protected];https://www.umsicht-suro.fraunhofer.de

Siân Morris, Europe Senior Director,Corporate and ScientificCommunications, Procter & Gamble.Mobile (cellular): +44 (7) 82353-7253.Email: [email protected];https://www.pg.co.uk



Antimicrobial additive can be applied through launderingAn antimicrobial additive that has beenproven effective against the 229E strain ofhuman coronavirus (a surrogate for SARS-Cov-2, which is responsible for the humancoronavirus (covid-19) pandemic) and canbe applied to fabrics during launderinghas been launched by Cosmo SpecialityChemicals of New Delhi, India.

Called Cosmotex AVB, the biodegradable,silver-free additive inactivated 99.9% ofthe virus when tested according to theISO 18184:2019 standard (from theInternational Organization for Standard -ization (ISO) of Geneva, Switzerland)(1) byBiotech Testing Services of Mumbai, India.It inhibits the growth of bacteria, mould

and mildew, and algae. Further, Cosmosays that the additive retains thisefficacy after 50 laundering cycles, iscompatible with detergents and doesnot hamper the colour-fastness offabrics. It is suitable for application tosuch as garments, home furnishingsand bed linen.

See also:(1)ISO 18184:2019, Textiles — Determinationof antiviral activity of textile products,https://www.iso.org/standard/71292.html

Cosmo Speciality Chemicals.Email: [email protected];https://www.cosmochem.in

Production of nonwovens

for new masks In-house collection of used masks

Pretreatment of

masks and

fabrication of

pyrolysis oil

Production

ofcircular

poly propylene

A closed-loop system for the recycling of single-use face masks has

been developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental,

Safety, and Energy Technology, SABIC and Procter & Gamble.



Impregnated textile patch used to stem bleeding during surgery

Liver-surgery patients could soon beprotected from heavy bleeding by ahaemostatic patch made using anadvanced textile-impregnation technology.

GATT Technologies BV of Nijmegen, TheNetherlands, says that its GATT-Patch hasbeen used for the first time to treatbleeding in a patient undergoing liverresection surgery as part of a study ledby Radboud University Medical Center(UMC), also in Nijmegen. GATT-Patchis a flexible, fibrous gelatin sheet,impregnated with particles of syntheticactivated polyoxazoline polymer usinga process developed by Fibroline ofLyon, France.

Fibroline’s patented process uses alter -nating electrical fields to drive drypowders into substrates and, because noheat is required, is suitable for use withmaterials that might otherwise bethermally degraded.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fibroline,Jérôme Ville described the news as “amilestone”, being the first time a medicalproduct treated using the company’stechnologies has been implanted in ahuman. “Our technology portfolio hasbeen optimised over the last year to meetmedical technology standards.”

Nancy Hummel, who is responsible formedical textile developments at Fibroline,

adds: “We are able to guarantee a veryclean powder processing and avoid anycross-contamination between differentformulations, while obtaining the desiredpowder distribution into the porousmedia. This allows us to work withprogressively more challengingcustomers in many areas of medical andhygiene use.”

Fibroline is working with a separatestrategic partner to develop anothermedical product, which is scheduled for aUS launch in late 2022.

Fibroline’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO)•Joric Marduel gave a presentation aboutthe company’s technology at the WorldCongress on Textile Coatingheld online inFebruary 2021 and now available ondemand (see also, Inside back cover);Jérôme Ville will present the very latest•developments using the technology atSmart Nonwovens — High-performanceNonwovens Seminaron 20 October 2021in Geneva, Switzerland (see also, Insidefront cover).

Jérôme Ville, Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Fibroline. Tel: +33 (4) 2829-8540.Email: [email protected]

Nancy Hummel, Medtech ProjectManager, Fibroline. Email: [email protected]

Joric Marduel, Chief Technology Officer(CTO), Fibroline. Tel : +33 (4) 2829-8536. Mobile/cellular: +33 (6) 8161-0548.Email: [email protected];https://www.fibroline.com

Geert van Gansewinkel, Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO), GATT Technologies BV. Tel: +31 (24) 378-1536. Email: [email protected];https://www.gatt-tech.com/gatt-patch

Professor Dr Hans de Wilt, RadboudUniversity Medical Center (UMC).https://www.radboudumc.nl/patientenzorg

Antimicrobial spray can be applied to textilesAn antimicrobial spray that can be appliedto textile products such as face masks hasbeen launched by Bio-Gate AG ofNuremberg and Bremen, Germany.

Containing silver microparticles thatremain as a coating after its liquidcomponent has evaporated, the spray hasbeen shown to inactivate envelopedviruses, such as SARS Cov-2 (responsiblefor the human coronavirus (covid-19)pandemic), MERS Cov and influenza. Itsuse helps, for instance, to reduce thespread of viruses while putting on andtaking off masks.

The spray is available in Germany underthe brand name Vitalia and is sold by Bio-

Gate’s customer Dr. Kleine Pharma GmbHof Bielefeld.

The spray is also sold under the brandBioEpiderm in online pharmacies andin retail pharmacy stores in Germany.In North America, the product is soldas PurLif.

Bio-Gate AG.Tel: +49 (911) 4775-23100. Fax: +49 (911) 4775-23101.http://www.bio-gate.de

Karl Richter, RFH BioTek Inc (Bio-GateAG's North American representative).Tel: +1 (416) 407-6120.Email: [email protected]

GATT-Patch is a fibrous gelatin sheet impregnated with particles of synthetic activated

polymer, which has been used to stem bleeding in a patient undergoing liver surgery.

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Spread-tow fabrics contribute to success of Ingenuity Mars helicopterThe National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA)’s Ingenuity Marshelicopter, which features carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rotor blades, hasnow completed ten flights over theMartian surface.

Ingenuity was transported to Mars on theunderside of the Perseverance rover andits blades – together with the substrate forits solar panel and parts of the box on itsbottom – are made using spread-towcarbon fibre reinforcements (TeXtreme)from Oxeon of Borås, Sweden.

Founded in 2003, Oxeon has developedand patented a method of weaving tapesthat can range in widths in both warp andweft directions. The weaving process isgentle and flexible, and enables theconversion of many types of fibrous tapes,including glass, aramid, carbon and evenbrittle materials such as boron andceramic, into customised fabrics.

The tape-weaving technology canbe used to produce spread tows ofcarbon fibre that have a thin profile. As a result, says Oxeon, compositesmanufacturers can pack more fibre into agiven volume, or use fewer fibres(resulting in components that are up to20–30% lighter in weight), than theywould using yarns to achieve the samemechanical properties.

Further, the company says that TeXtreme-reinforced composites have smoothersurfaces than conventional composites asa result of the greatly reduced number ofinterlacing points, increased fibre floatsand a reduction in crimp. TeXtreme alsoallows the reinforcement of complexgeometries. In many cases, one ply ofsuch a material can be used instead of twocross-plied unidirectional (UD) sheets and

the stable structure makes the materialeasy to handle.

Oxeon says that, in the case of Ingenuity, theuse of TeXtreme enables the production ofthinner and lighter-weight components,and plays a major role in suppressing anymicrocracking that might occur as a result ofthe parts being exposed to the extremes oftemperature experienced on Mars—therebypreventing their subsequent failure.

Technical textiles have been a key enabler ofNASA's Mars 2020 mission. A high-performance textile developed by HeathcoatFabrics of Tiverton, UK, for the production ofparachutes, for instance, enabled thePerseverance rover to land safely on Mars(1).

See also:(1)Technical Textiles International, Spring2021, High-performance fabric delivers asoft landing on Mars, page 22;https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/76094

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kNx9hcrUpww

Andreas Martsman, Vice President -Marketing and Sales, Oxeon AB.Tel: +46 (33) 205971. Fax: +46 (33) 205979.Email: [email protected];http://www.oxeon.se

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter is seen here in a close-up taken by Mastcam-Z, a

pair of zoomable cameras aboard the Perseverance rover.

Members of the NASA Mars Helicopter team inspect the flight model of the Ingenuity

Mars helicopter prior to the mission. The distinctive chequerboard surface finish of

TeXtreme can be clearly seen on the helicopter's blades.

Composites update


Composites update

NCC unveils automated fibre-placement, automated tape-laying machine

A cell that can be used for bothautomated fibre-placement (AFP) andautomated tape-laying (ATL) processeshas been installed at the UK's NationalComposites Centre (NCC) in Bristol.

The cell, created in partnership withElectroimpact of Deeside, UK, can beused to carry-out ATL and AFP processesindividually or together to create largestructures with complicated geometries,and is intended for medium-to-large-scale manufacturing. It is the finalmachine to be installed as part of an 18-month, £36.7-million programme tofit ten automated systems for themanufacture of composite parts at theNCC. Funding for the programme wasprovided by the Aerospace TechnologyInstitute (ATI) of Cranfield, UK, and theWest of England Combined Authority(WECA) Local Enterprise Partnershipsof Bristol.

The AFP process head can work with eighttows, each measuring 12.7 mm in width,and can be equipped with either aninfrared (IR) heater with which to tacklayers of thermoset composites together,or humm3 flash technology, which hasbeen developed by Heraeus NoblelightLtd of Cambridge, UK, and has been used

at the NCC to tack thermosets at lowtemperatures (30-60°C), high-temperaturethermoplastics and bindered dry fibres.The ATL head, meanwhile, can deposittapes of the same materials of 75, 200or 300 mm in width and employsthe same heating systems as theAFP head.

Vertical and horizontal rotators allow forcomplex tools to be used to create suchas convex and concave panels, large-diameter pipes, spars and barrel/towerstructures. The rotators enable comp -onents of up to 4.6 m in diameter, and 7 min length, to be manufactured.

The cell's flat tables also allow for theproduction of parts at smaller scales, forsuch as material-testing samples andprototypes. The modular design of the cellwill enable new components, such asheads, to be added to it as and when theyare developed.

The Head of Technology - Structures,Manufacturing and Materials at the ATI,Alex Hickson, says: "This advancedcombined AFP–ATL automationequipment offers a means to develop abroad selection of future products foraircraft structures and engine applications.”

The ten automated composite-manufacturing systems installed at theNCC also include:

an ultra-high-rate deposition cell that can•produce parts of 5 m in width by 20 m inlength and features a 20-m-long, multi-zoned oven and a verification system;Europe’s largest multiaxial•braiding machine;An overmoulding system that will be•particularly useful for the high-volumemanufacture of parts for such as theautomotive industry.

Jools Granville, CommunicationsDirector, National Composites Centre.Tel: +44 (117) 2443905.Email: [email protected];https://www.nccuk.com

Alastair Gray, Composites Lead (Europe),Electroimpact.Email: [email protected];https://www.electroimpact.com

Heraeus Noblelight.https://www.heraeus.com/en/hng/home_hng/home_noblelight.html

Aerospace Technology Institute. https://www.ati.org.uk

A cell for automated fibre-placement and automated tape-laying processes installed at the UK's National Composites Centre.

Fibre Extrusion Technologybreaks ground on researchand development centreFibre Extrusion Technology (FET) Ltd hasstarted to build a two-storey research anddevelopment (R&D) centre adjacent to itsheadquarters in Leeds, UK.

The company says that its customersfrequently spend several days on-siteparticipating in development trials andtechnical sales meetings, so the R&Dcentre will have a visitor centre thatwill make their stay more efficientand comfortable, and a process dev -elopment laboratory in which testingand product development activities canbe carried out.

Sales, administration and designdepartments will also be housed at thenew facility.

The building of the R&D centre will free-up space in FET's existing facilities, whichwill enable it to increase its productioncapacity by more than 50%.

The refurbishment of the existing facilitieswill be completed by the end of 2021,while the R&D centre will be opened inthe first quarter of 2022.

FET says that the construction work hasbeen driven by substantial growth in itsrevenues – its current order book isworth more than £10 million – and itis taking the opportunity to ensure ithas the necessary infrastructure forfuture growth.

Richard Slack, Managing Director, FibreExtrusion Technology Ltd.Tel: + 44 (113) 253-7676. Fax: + 44 (113) 253-6006.Email: [email protected];http://www.fetuk.com


Zoltek to increase production capacity for carbon fibreManufacturer of low-cost carbon fibre,Zoltek Co Inc of St Louis, Missouri, USA, isto expand production capacity at itsfacility in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Following the expansion, the facility willbe able to produce 13 kt of 50-k PX35carbon fibre each year—taking Zoltek'stotal production capacity for the fibre to28 kt a year.

PX35 is also produced in Nyergesujfalu,Hungary, and is suitable for use in wind-energy and automotive applications.Executive Vice President of Sales for Zoltek,David Purcell, says: “As wind turbines

continue to increase their efficiencies withlonger, lighter-weight blades, we continueto see an increase in demand for ourcarbon fibre. We also see developingapplications in automotive and energystorage. So there are several favourablemacro trends that we expect will continueto support our rapid growth.”

David Purcell, Executive Vice Presidentfor Composite Intermediates andOxidized PAN Fibre, Zoltek.Tel: +1 (314) 291-5110. Fax: +1 (314) 291-8536.Email: david.purcell@[email protected];http://zoltek.com

ELG Carbon Fibre becomes Gen 2 CarbonELG Carbon Fibre Ltd of Coseley, UK, hasdivested its business for the recycling andsale of short carbon fibres to Procotex CorpSA, while the balance of the company –which primarily sells nonwovens madefrom long carbon fibres and thermoplastics– has been purchased by its managementand will now be known as Gen 2 Carbon.

Founded in 2003 as Milled Carbon, ELGCarbon Fibre Ltd started with a pilot plantbased on a continuous pyrolysis process ithad developed for the recycling of carbonfibre. Once the concept was proved,Recycled Carbon Fibre Ltd was set-up in2008 to commercialise this technology.Recycled Carbon Fibre Ltd then became ELGCarbon Fibre Ltd after its acquisition by ELGHaniel of Duisberg, Germany, in late 2011.

In early 2020, the business strategy of ELGHaniel was reviewed by its parent company,Franz Haniel & Cie GmbH of Duisberg,which decided that ELG Haniel shouldfocus on its core business of recyclingmetals and has since sold the company to

Luxembourg-based Aperam SA. Afterconsidering a number of options, ELGCarbon Fibre sold its short-fibre business toProcotex Corp SA of Dottignies, Belgium.Customers of this business will notexperience any interruptions to theirservices. Gen 2 Carbon, meanwhile, willbuild on the business for long carbon fibresand carbon fibre/thermoplastic nonwovensdeveloped under the stewardship of ELGHaniel and Mitsubishi Corp.

ELG’s Managing Director, Frazer Barnes,has become the Chairman and ChiefTechnology Officer (CTO) of Gen 2 Carbon.

Kate Davison, Communications, Gen 2 Carbon. Email: [email protected];http://www.gen2carbon.com

Procotex Corp SA.https://en.procotex.com

ELG Haniel GmbH. https://www.elg.de

Teijin establishes carbon-fibre products facility in VietnamA subsidiary of Teijin of Tokyo, Japan, hasstarted to produce carbon-fibre materials– including prepregs – commercially at afacility in Ha Nam, Vietnam.

Initially, Teijin Carbon Vietnam Co Ltd(TCV) will manufacture these materials foruse in sports and outdoor applications,including fishing, golf, bicycle and ice

hockey equipment, for markets inSoutheast and South Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. The sale of the materialswill be handled by TCV and sales affiliatesof Teijin operating in these markets. Teijinsays that its affiliates in Singapore,Shanghai, China, and Taipei, Taiwan, workto identify applications for its materialsand to service its customers in Asia.

Partnerships between these companiesand TCV will strengthen Teijin’s presencein these regions.

Corporate Communications, Teijin Ltd.Tel: +81 (3) 3506-4055. Fax: +81 (3) 3506-4150.Email: [email protected];http://www.teijin.co.jp

Performance fibres update


Informtion correct at the time thisissue went to press

August 2021Techtextil North America23–25 August 2021Raleigh, North Carolina, USAKristy Meade, Show Director, MesseFrankfurt Inc; Tel: +1 (770) 984-8016, x 2428 [email protected]; https://techtextil-north-america.us.messefrankfurt.com

September 2021Emergency Services Show7–8 September 2021Birmingham, UKDavid Brown, Event Director, Broden Media Ltd; Tel: +44 (20) [email protected]; http://www.emergencyuk.com

Istanbul Textile Machinery Fair8–11 September 2021Istanbul, TurkeyYusuf Akbolat, ECR Fuarcılık Ltd Sti; Tel: +90 (212) 573-0662 [email protected]; https://www.tmeexhibition.com/en/homepage

Aircraft Interiors Expo14–16 September 2021OnlinePolly Magraw, Event Director, Reed Exhibitions; Tel: +44 (20) [email protected]; https://www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

Heimtextil Russia14–16 September 2021Moscow, RussiaEkaterina Tydykova, Messe Frankfurt RUS; Tel: +7 (495) 649-8775, x. [email protected]; https://heimtextil-russia.ru.messefrankfurt.com

Techtextil Russia14–16 September 2021Moscow, RussiaOksana Anikeeva, Director TechtextilRussia, Messe Frankfurt RUS; Tel: +7 (495) 649-8775, x. 125; [email protected]; https://techtextil-russia.ru.messefrankfurt.com

Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress15–17 September 2021OnlineDornbirn Global Fiber Congress Office; Tel: +43 (1) 319-2909-41; Fax: +43 (1) 319-2909-31; [email protected]; http://www.dornbirn-gfc.com

FESPA Mexico23–25 September 2021Mexico City, MexicoLynda Sutton, Marketing Manager,Federation of European ScreenprintersAssociations (FESPA); Tel: +44 (1737) [email protected]; https://mexico.fespa.com

Automotive Interiors27–28 September 2021Aachen, GermanyAndreas Wibowo, Director of BusinessDevelopment, Red Cabin; Tel: +49 (3099) [email protected]; https://automotiveinteriorandintuitivevehicles.redcabin.de

Med-Tech Innovation Expo28–29 September 2021Birmingham, UKMagda Brzegowy, Rapid News; Tel: +44 (1244) 680222 x [email protected]; https://med-techexpo.com

Research, Innovation & Science forEngineered Fabrics (RISE)28–30 September 2021OnlineTracie Leatham, INDA (Association of theNonwoven Fabrics Industry); Tel: +1 (919) [email protected]; https://www.riseconf.net

Cleaning Products US29–30 September 2021Washington, DC, USA and onlineBrittany Norton, Marketing, Smithers; Tel: +1 (330) 762 [email protected]; https://www.cleaningproductsconference.com/cleaning-products-us

Circular Nonwovens Forum30 September 2021Brussels, BelgiumChristelle Tuncki, EDANA; Tel: +32 (2) 740-1820; [email protected]; https://www.edana.org/events

Impact of the Pandemic on theFutureDevelopment and Use ofTechnical Textiles30 September 2021OnlineStefan Schmidt, IVGT eV; Tel: +49 (69) 2556-1723; Fax: +49 (69) 2556-1725; [email protected]; https://eutt.net/5-agenda-09-2021

World Congress on Textile Coatingspecial edition: Conference onSustainable Finishing of Textiles30 September–1 October 2021 and 7–8 October 2021OnlineJill Gwinnutt, Marketing Manager,International Newsletters Ltd; Tel: +44 (3301) [email protected]; https://www.technical-textiles.online/STFSee also, page 23

October 2021Outdoor by ISPO5–7 October 2021Munich, Germany and onlineAleksandra Solda-Zaccaro, Messe München GmbH; Tel: +49 (89) [email protected]; https://www.ispo.com/en/outdoor

FESPA Global Print Expo/ EuropeanSign Expo/ Sportswear Pro12–15 October 2021Amsterdam, The NetherlandsLynda Sutton, Marketing Manager,Federation of European ScreenprintersAssociations (FESPA); Tel: +44 (1737) [email protected]; http://www.fespa.com

INDEX19–22 October 2021Geneva, Switzerland and onlineDelphine Rens, Marketing andCommunications Coordinator, EDANA; Tel: +32 (2) 740-1822; [email protected]; http://www.edana.org

Milipol19–22 October 2021Paris, FranceComexposium; Tel: +33 (1) [email protected]; https://en.milipol.com

Smart Nonwovens (High-performanceApplications of Nonwovens)20 October 2021Geneva, Switzerland and onlineJill Gwinnutt, Marketing Manager,International Newsletters Ltd; Tel: +44 (3301) [email protected]; https://www.technical-textiles.online/NHPASee also, Inside front cover

Events diary


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Index to advertisers

Advertiser pageAndritz 7Brückner Textile Technologies 19Erhardt + Leimer 14IFG International Fibres Group 11Picanol 9Reifenhäuser Reicofil 1Technical Absorbents Ltd Outside back coverTrützschler Nonwovens 13Vandewiele Sweden 4–5Zünd Systemtechnik 17

Forthcoming advertising featuresIssue Advertising features Bonus distribution Order deadline

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BUYER’S GUIDEMedical

Architecture and constructionGeotextiles

Sports and leisureTesting and standards

Distribution at all major events during 2022, including: Heimtextil, JEC World, IDEA, FiltXPO,

Hightex, Techtextil/Texprocess and ITME 29 October

To advertise, contact: Jill Gwinnutt. Tel: +44 (3301) 335450. Email: [email protected] Kay or Maria Box. Tel: +44 (1273) 423512. Email: [email protected]

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONSUsing a cohesive supply chain to develop new concepts and ideas Mascoe Coating SystemsA review of 2020 and the implications for the future of the industry Adrian Wilson, Conference ChairHaptic cushion coatings Huafeng Silicones for the textile industry: applications and advantages ElkemColloidal silica and percentage play for optimum purchase in textile coating Advanced Flexible Composites Inc Digital dyeing technology imogo AB A novel plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition technology for

hydrophobic/oleophobic durable coatings AGC Plasma Technology Solutions Magnet roller coating: a versatile coating system for coating and minimal applications of textiles and nonwovens Monforts Fibroline S-Preg: a new technology for powder coating Fibroline Tactile sensation analyser emtec Electronic GmbH Next generation dyeing and �nishing technologies for a connected low-carbon future - Alchemie Technology UK

A novel �nishing process for nanoparticle binding to a textile interface for improved antiviral performance against Covid-19 Mica NanoTech Ltd Durable transparent treatment that can kill the novel coronavirus A�x Labs

Anti-viral coatings for �lters - University of Houston The sonochemical coating of textiles with antiviral nanoparticles Bar-Ilan University of Israel Making personal protective equipment safe and sustainable - Krüss

From the fabric to the �nishing: an all-round approach to the sustainable production of arti�cial leather with waterborne bio-based polyurethane dispersions Lamberti SpA How to be sustainable in the new European scenario: FAITGREEN experience Fait Plast Energy-e�cient drying technology for textile manufacturing - adphos Digital Printing GmbH A water-saving hybrid manufacturing approach for functionalizing technical textilesSTFI - Saxon Textile Research Institute e.V. Reinforcement and enhancement of composites through cross-laminated nettings made from renewable raw material ANCI SAS and more

To buy online visit www.technical-textiles.net

World Congress on Textile Coating over 16 hours of live talks and group discussions

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technical textiles international (autumn 2021)

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