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Fibres, filaments and yarns

Industry urgently needs to develop supplies of sustainable raw materials

Consumer disapproval and pending legislation are piling pressure on the synthetic fibres industry to change its ways, according to Adrian Wilson.

Amyloid silk hybrid proteins that can be wet-spun into fibres that are stronger and tougher than some natural spider silks have been produced using bacteria by researchers at Washington University

From 2022 onwards, Continental will use polyester (PES) yarns derived from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in the production of carcasses for its tyres. 

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres have been produced using ethylene derived from mixed plastic waste by Royal DSM of Heerlen, The Netherlands, and SABIC of Riyadh, Saudi Arab

A lyocell fibre is being manufactured using pulp sourced from wood and by-products of the processing of citrus fruit by Lenzing Group and Orange Fiber. 

The developer of technology that enables the recycling of cotton-rich textile waste and other pulp-based materials into cellulosic fibres, Infinited Fiber Co (IFC) of Espoo, Finland, has secured €3

The developer of a continuous thread-colouring unit for embroidery machines, Coloreel of Jönköping, Sweden, has secured SEK70 million (approximately €6.9 million) in funding. 

Cleaning granulates from Dreychem are being used by IFG Asota(1) to clean its extrusion equipment to

The developers of an aluminium-coated multifilament basalt yarn that, when used to produce fabrics, could shield parts in cars, mobile telephones and buildings from electromagnetic interference (EM

Methods for increasing the elasticity of polylactic acid (PLA) fibres, which could enable them to be used in place of elastane in the production of clothing, are being developed by researchers at t

A partially bio-based polyamide (PA) 5,6 yarn has been launched by Solvay of Brussels, Belgium. 

A graphene fibre that demonstrates antimicrobial properties is being mass-produced by Huvis of Seoul, South Korea.

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

Woodspin, a joint venture established by Spinnova and Suzano, plans to be able to produce 1 Mt of fibres each year from cellulosic biomass within the next ten years.

Cocona Labs reports that it can incorporate an additive into its thermoregulating fibres and yarns (called 37.5) that enables them to biodegrade in landfills.

NILIT has launched a polyamide (PA) fibre that it says breaks-down in landfills and sea water faster than conventional PA fibres.

A soft-armour vest made primarily from Royal DSM's unidirectional (UD) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, Dyneema) is to be supplied to Sao Paulo police by MKU Ltd.   

The developer of technology that enables the recycling of cotton-rich textile waste and other pulp-based materials – such as used cardboard, rice and wheat straw – into cellulosic fibres with the n

A cross-industry coalition has been established to share knowledge regarding, and develop methods for, the recycling and re-purposing of products made using Royal DSM's ultra-high molecular weight

Threads made from electrically conductive cellulose could enable the environmentally sustainable production of smart textiles, according to the developers in Sweden. 

Developer of a process that enables fibres to be produced from cellulosic biomass, Spinnova, and wood-pulp producer Suzano are to invest approximately €22 million to build a commercial-scale fibre-

Gaston College is planning the construction of a centre for the research and development (R&D) of fibres at its Kimbrell Campus in Belmont, North Carolina, USA.

A joint venture (JV) that will develop and sell apparel made from spider-silk fibres has been established by Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc and MtheMovement.

A range of ballistic body panels made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres is – for its level of performance – the thinnest and lightest currently available, say its US dev

PrimaLoft Inc is increasing the post-consumer recycled (PCR) content of its range of aerogel-enhanced, thermally insulating fibres (Cross Core Series).

 

A high-tenacity lyocell fibre made from cellulose derived from industrial organic and agricultural waste has been developed by Nanollose Ltd and Grasim Industries Ltd. 

 

A viscose fibre embedded with minerals that convert body heat into infra-red (IR) radiation has been launched by Hologenix and Kelheim Fibres. 

A range of seamless garments – including base layers, leggings, tops, sweaters, gloves and helmet liners – warp-knitted from an antimicrobial polyamide (PA) yarn has been launched by CIFRA of Veran

Chemical methods for the recycling of Royal DSM's ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre (Dyneema) are to be developed now that the company has signed an agreement with Clariter.

A fibre that changes colour when exposed to elevated temperatures is being developed for the production of safety ropes by researchers in Switzerland.

Gleistein Ropes has announced that it will use DSM's partially bio-based ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, Dyneema), in place of the conventional version, in all of its ropes. 

Fabrics featuring fibres of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, Dyneema Composite Fabrics) are being used by Moncler of Milan, Italy, for the production of skiwear.  

Fabric made from an antimicrobial polyamide (PA) 6.6 yarn (Sensil BodyFresh) developed by NILIT of Migdal Haemek, Israel, has been shown to reduce the activity of Betacoronavirus 1 by 99.85%. 

Solvay Group of Brussels, Belgium, has launched an antiviral and antibacterial polyamide (PA) yarn.

A range of fibres (Naiaä Renew) produced from 60% wood pulp and 40% recycled waste plastics has been launched by Eastman of Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.

Sateri has opened a US$48-million centre for the research and development (R&D) of lyocell fibres in Rizhao, China. 

A range of strong yarns for the production of strength members in fibre-optic cables has been launched by Coats of Uxbridge, UK. 

PyroTex Industries of Hamburg, Germany, claims to have produced the first fibre capable of deactivating the strain of coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-

Wet-spun carbon-nanotube (CNT) fibres that are stronger than those made from para-aramid and demonstrate an electrical conductivity approaching that of copper are being produced by a team of resear

Fine, soft and translucent lyocell fibres for the production of nonwovens for the beauty industry have been launched by Lenzing.  

The Lenzing Group is delivering fibres from two of its production sites in Austria directly to customers in China by train for the first time.

An antiviral and antimicrobial treatment proven effective against the strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic is to be incorporated into yarns and threads by Coats.

Teijin and Kinoshita Fishing Net Mfg Co Ltd claim to have developed the world's first knotless fishing netting made from an ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) slit-film yarn.

Fibre Extrusion Technology of Leeds, UK, reports that it has taken 50 orders – worth more than US$20 million in total – for the FET-100 Series since its launch in 2015.

A range of antimicrobial polyamide (PA) 6.6 fabrics (Acteev Protect) for the production of face masks, air filters, apparel and upholstery has been developed by Ascend Performance Materials of Hous

A focus on the integrity of fibres pays dividends for Cygnet Texkimp

Custom machinery builder Cygnet Texkimp has built a global business around fibre. Technical Manager Andy Whitham explains why fibre integrity is the essential design element in every piece of machinery Cygnet Texkimp engineers. He shares the company’s approach to fibre handling, and the technical considerations that ensure the integrity of valuable fibres is protected during processing to deliver materials and end-products of the highest quality. 

A US company claims to have created transgenic silkworms capable of producing almost pure spider silk.

Promethean Particles (Promethean) of Nottingham, UK, is working with textile companies and research facilities to explore the anti-viral effects of its copper nanoparticles, which it has developed 

Viscose fibre is being produced from textile waste on a commercial scale by Sateri of Shanghai, China.  

Lenzing says that its increased focus on speciality fibres has enabled it to weather a drastic drop in prices for standard viscose during 2019.

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