News

A polyethylene (PE)-based fabric that could become the basis for garments which keep people cool in hot climates without the need for air conditioning has been developed by researchers at Stanford

Teijin Ltd is to acquire North American automotive composites supplier Continental Structural Plastics Holdings (CSP) Corp for US$825 million. 

BASF has announced that it will be reducing its European production capacity for caprolactam by 100 kt – to 400 kt – over the next 18 months. 

Imagine IM of Rosebery, New South Wales, Australia, has completed the first independent field trials of its imgne X3 conductive geotextiles enhanced with graphene in Melbourne, Victoria.

Disposable diapers comprising breathable elements made of low-cost nonwoven webs with improved barrier properties are disclosed by Procter & Gamble.

A compression garment (11) that provides relief from perspiration has been developed by Covidien of Mansfield, Massachusetts, USA.

A novel monofilament suture that offers improved knot security and flexibility is disclosed in US Patent 9 393 343 by Samyang Biopharmaceuticals.

Japan’s Oji Holdings has reportedly entered Myanmar’s disposable diaper market, joining such competitors as Unicharm and Kimberly-Clark, according to Nikkei Asian Review (3 September 2016)

Polish researchers from the Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (IWNIRZ) in Poznan, the Faculty of Material Technologies and Textile Design at the Lodz University of Technology, Poznan

Start-up LeMond Composites has secured a licensing agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the latter’s method for slashing the cost of producing carbon fibre. 

A three-dimensionally (3D) printed composite trim-and-drill tool has received the title of ‘largest solid 3D printed’ item by Guinness World Records. 

Sigvaris, a provider of graduated compression devices, has completed the acquisition of BiaCare of Holland, Michigan, USA.

For the development of durable aircraft floor brackets for its ARJ21 regional jet, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) is using the materials and services of Victrex. 

Stratasys Inc of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, has developed two pieces of additive manufacturing technology for producing composite structures: Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator; Infinite-Build 3D

An improved non-adherent wound dressing has been developed by Brightwake of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.

Solvay has inaugurated a new carbon fibre production line at its Piedmont Facility in South Carolina, USA—doubling its production capacity.  

A wound drainage dressing that covers a wound to which low pressure or a vacuum is applied is disclosed by Medela in US Patent 9 408 755.

Owens Corning has announced plans to invest US$110 million to increase the production capacity of its composites operations in India.

Sweden-based SCA plans to split the group into two listed companies in 2017.

Demand in the US for composites reinforced with carbon, aramid and S-glass fibres will rise by 5.3% per year to a value of $10.0 billion in 2020, according to a recent report from Freedonia Group.