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August 2012

A method for making high-tenacity polyester with low creep is disclosed in US Patent 2012/0165496.
Design and technology consultancy Cambridge Design Partnership has worked with medical technology startup Flexycast to develop what is described as "the world's first easy-to-use, disposable orthopaed
r-Radyarn, a "low environmental impact" yarn for highperformance fabrics developed by RadiciGroup, could have applications in the medical sector, such as bacteriostatic fabrics, elastic bandages and b
Yarns made from human cellular tissue have been developed by Cytograft Tissue Engineering.
Wound dressings containing complexes of transition metals and alginate for elastase sequestering have been developed by Tissue Technologies.
A surgical drape (10) disclosed in US Patent 8 079 365 has a fenestration (pre-defined opening) uniquely configured to assist in identifying an anatomical point of interest and positioning the fenestr
Researchers in Dresden, Germany, have produced the world's first fibres made from 100% chitosan, according to a report by the Forschungskuratorium Textil (FKT).
An absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, that is claimed to be resistant to warping in the legsurrounding portion has been developed by Unicharm.
UK-based nonwoven material developer Tamicare is to use Vytex Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) as the key raw material for the production of Cosyflex nonwoven dynamic fabric, initially for a range of highen
Andritz has received an order from Taiwan-based nonwovens producer Nan Liu Enterprise to supply the world's widest spunlace line (working width 6.2 m), to be installed at Nan Liu's facility in Pinghu,
A new medical textile company has recently opened its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
ConvaTec announced the US introduction of Aquacel foam dressing at the annual meeting of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) held in June 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Against a background of continuing economic turmoil, European production of nonwovens grew 5.7% in volume in 2011 (compared with 2010) to reach 1.898 Mt (55.740 billion square metres), according to th
A fabric intended for the undergarments of workers requiring heavy outer clothing, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), is designed to rapidly absorb sweat and contain it, keeping the wearer c
Teijin Ltd of Tokyo, Japan, is investing Yen2 billion (about US$25 million) to establish Teijin Product Development China Co Ltd in Nantong.
A USA-based manufacturer of additives for synthetic fibres has introduced a range of masterbatches intended for making long-lasting artificial turf.
Replacement insoles for running shoes made by a Japanbased division of New Balance of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, will in future benefit from the inclusion of a strong nanofibre (Nanofront) of polyest
To protect the health of humans exposed to fragments of glass fibre broken off from filter media, Hollingsworth & Vose of East Walpole, Massachusetts, USA, is developing glass compositions that ar
Andritz Asselin-Thibeau of Elbeuf, France, says it has developed a way to feed webs with heavier basis weights and/or thicknesses to the crosslapper in order to produce drylaid nonwovens with homogene
A combination of treatments with enzymes and chemicals, combined with mechanical processing makes microfibrillated cellulose in a way that requires less energy than existing techniques, according to t
SGL Group of Wiesbaden, Germany, has increased its stake in its recent investment - Lavradio-based Fibras Sinteticas de Portugal SA (Fisipe) - to 97% (see also, Advances in Textiles Technology, July 2
A yarn blend for making fabrics that offer protection from electrical arcs and flames, particularly those from flash fires, while being comfortable to wear is the subject of International Patent Publi
A range of heavy-duty media (XAir) for the air filters of automobile engines has been added to the portfolio of Ahlstrom of Helsinki, Finland.
In what the company describes as a "global discontinuation", Johnson & Johnson is to stop sales of four vaginal mesh implants after a large number of lawsuits relating to the devices alleging comp
Schoeller Textil, a developer and manufacturer of stretch woven functional fabrics and smart textile technologies for activewear, workwear and lifestyle apparel applications, has acquired Christian Es
A method of making a bandage from a knitted fabric is disclosed in US Patent 8 168 849 by Laboratoires Urgo.
The Dry Mountain Lite Mitt manufactured by Trekmates has been awarded the OutDoor Industry Award 2012 in the Accessories category for its innovation, durability and environmental benefits.
Thin Film Electronics, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, has developed and is patenting a low-cost printable protection for ferroelectric memory products.
What is believed to be the world's first one-piece carbon fibre composite car wheel has been developed by Australian company Carbon Revolution.

Applied Nanotech has received a $275,642 contract from the US Army to develop glass fibre-reinforced composite (GFRP) panels to improve the protection of facilities from ballistic and blast threats

The US Army has ordered thousands of additional helmet sensors that can be used to record the severity of head movements and impacts during a combat-related blast or explosion.
L-Glass low-loss glass fibre yarns - originally developed by AGY for electronics applications - are now being evaluated for use in the manufacture of radomes, which have some of the same material prop
Thermoplastics compounder RTP Company, based in Winona, Minnesota, USA, has expanded its line of antimicrobial compounds and additive masterbatches to include new products using BactiBlock technology
Printing three dimensional objects with incredibly fine details is now possible with 'two-photon lithography' which involves fabricating tiny structures on a nanometre scale.
A lithium-ion battery that can be painted on virtually any surface has been developed by researchers at Rice University, in Houston, Texas.
Heliatek has developed transparent solar films which enable tinted windows to generate electricity.
A GBP1.2 million mezzanine investment from Finance Yorkshire's Equity Linked Fund will be used by Peratech to expand its North Yorkshire operations in the UK, build new laboratory facilities and secur
In order to help reduce cycle times in composites manufacturing, Victrex Polymer Solutions and Tissa Glasweberei AG have co-developed new composite fabrics to be marketed under Tissa's brand name Tixp
The Ontex Group, a key player in the European hygiene disposables market with a wide range of products for baby care, feminine care and adult incontinence, plans to close a diaper production plant in
Nanoparticles are now being employed to create products with totally new functionalities, including textiles from which dirt simply runs off or which have an anti-bacterial effect.
Thin Film Electronics, a Norwegian developer of printed electronics, is to develop a flexible sensing platform for the packaging market with Bemis, a Fortune 500 supplier of flexible packaging.
Most common cycling outfits are made from a combination of regular polyester and Spandex, but while providing a good fit and freedom of movement, they don't provide any protection in the event of a cr
Teijin is supplying its high-strength Nanofront polyester nanofibre for use in replacement insoles for running shoes made by New Balance.
What is believed to be the most transparent, lightweight and flexible material ever for conducting electricity has been invented by a team from the University of Exeter.
US companies Zyvex Marine and Pacific Coast Marine are partnering to make the lightest and most durable doors, hatches and other marine closures by employing nano-enhanced carbon fibre.
Engineers from the University of Exeter have developed a new method for making three-dimensional aluminium composites by mixing a combination of relatively inexpensive powders.
Clavella SN2000 is a new fibre developed by Kuraray in Japan which has more than a billion 'micro-craters' per square centimetre on its surface.
Climate catastrophes have caused shortfalls in the supply of natural fibres, there have been increasing difficulties in the wool market and there is a growing global focus on sustainability.
Qipeng Guo at Deakin University in Australia has secured a new patent - WO/2012/065213 - in respect of self healing polymer nanocomposites and a process for their preparation.
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