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Fibres, filaments and yarns

Unifi Inc has begun construction of an additional facility at its Recycling Center in Yadkinville, North Carolina, USA.

Two companies have won funding to develop graphene-enhanced sizings for carbon fibres.

A plant dedicated to the production of nickel-coated fibres has opened in Cleveland, Utah, USA.

By mimicking the molecular structure of spider silk, engineers in Canada are adapting three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to make tough micron-scale polymer fibres in a one-s

A polyester (PES) fibre with a low melting point for bonding comprising a proportion of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is now available from Fiberpartner  ApS.

The Lenzing lyocell fibre Tencel has become the first fibre to be medically tested according to the Fordergemeinschaft Korpervertragliche Textilien (FKT) test method criteria for body compatibility an

Polypropylene (PP) staple fibres with a unique trilobal cross-section are now available from Beaulieu Fibres International (BFI).

A dyeable meta-aramid (m-aramid) fibre with excellent thermal-resistance made its debut during the Intersec exhibition held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 18-20 January 2015.
European polypropylene (PP) staple fibre supplier Beaulieu Fibres International (BFI) has announced the full commercial availability of its Meraklon Trilobal PP fibres for the global hygiene market (t
Two US companies are collaborating in an attempt to make staple fibres that can be detected with X-ray radiation or metal detectors.
Kelheim Fibres is developing a viscose fibre that reflects infra-red (IR) radiation.
A cost-effective process for converting standardmodulus polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibres into intermediate- and high-modulus (IM and HM) carbon fibres has been developed by UHT Unitech Co o
At Outlook 2014 (24-26 September) in Barcelona, Spain, Austria-based fibre maker Lenzing released the results of consumer tests using Tencel Biosoft, an ultra-soft hydrophobic Lyocell fibre type, in t

Production technologies create opportunities for nanofibres

The rapid development of technology for producing nanofibres is creating opportunities for nonwovens in a variety of high-performance applications, particularly filtration. Adrian Wilson reviews the current state-of-the-art.

An Indian company claims to have developed and commercialized a technology (Flexsil) for permanently bonding silver to textile substrates in order to make them antibacterial and electrically conductiv
A cellulose fibre for nonwovens that can be composted after use will be launched at the forthcoming Index14 in Geneva, Switzerland (to be held on 8-11 April 2014).
Wellman International of Mullagh/Kells, Ireland(1), has introduced a fine fibre (1.7 dtex or lower) made from post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) feedstock derived from plastic bot
Cotton fibre producer TJ Beall and Huntsman Textile Effects have developed a diaper/adult incontinence topsheet made from hydroentangled apertured nonwoven material.
Finnish researchers have developed a novel method for converting cellulose into fibres, which they believe could have "global significance".
Researchers in China are investigating the use of a needleless electrospinning method to make nanofibres of polyethylene oxide (PEO), and claim that the rate of productivity and the quality of the fib
A high-tenacity coated yarn that its developer claims can withstand mechanical stress, high temperatures and contact with aggressive chemicals (such as fuels and hydraulic fluids) is now being sold fo
Wiesbaden, Germany-based SGL Group has announced a partnership with the Gruschwitz Group of Leutkirch, Germany, to develop products, markets and speciality applications for stretch-broken carbon fibre
Asota of Linz, Austria, claims its latest melt-spun polypropylene (PP) staple fibres have a high capacity for storing heat.
BASF has developed a version of its partially bio-based polyamide (PA) 6.10 suitable for making monofilaments.
DuPont Industrial Biosciences of Wilmington, Delaware, USA, says it has developed new apparel applications for its partially bio-based polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) fibre called Sorona.

Fibre manufacturers actively developing technical products

The content of the 52nd Man-made Fibre Congress held in Dornbirn,  Austria, in September 2013, underlined the commitment of fibre manufacturers to developments for a range of technical end-uses and markets, says  Adrian Wilson.

A polyamide (PA) 6.10 staple fibre made substantially from bio-based raw materials has been introduced by the RadiciGroup of Gandino, Italy.
F.A. Kumpers of Reine, Germany, has developed a range of eco-friendly Skinfil dope-dyed viscose fibres for use in the production of medical plaster and bandage materials.
A German project is investigating the feasibility of making fibres from raw materials derived from microorganisms.

Innovation continues to thrive among fibre manufacturers

More than 1250 exhibitors will be present in Frankfurt, Germany, for the latest, and biggest, Techtextil (11–13 June 2013). Editor Nick Butler has surveyed them all to give our readers exclusive advance notice of the most important innovations that will be on display, as well as to gauge the mood of the industry. In this first article, he looks at developments among fibre, filament and yarn manufacturers.

At the IDEA 2013 International Engineered Fabrics Conference & Expo held in Miami, Florida, USA, in April 2013, viscose speciality fibres manufacturer Kelheim Fibres of Kelheim, Germany, presented
TissueGen, a developer of biodegradable polymer technology for implantable drug delivery based in Dallas, Texas, USA, has launched Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibre products, including pharmaceuti
A German company claims to have demonstrated the viability of commercially manufacturing an artificial silk fibre.
Eastman Chemical Co of Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, launched its latest microfibre (called Cyphrex) at IDEA 2013 International Engineered Fabrics Conference and Expo (Miami, Florida, USA; 22-25 April).
Servizi Ospedalieri is now supplying several hospitals in Italy with surgical clothing made from Smartcel Sensitive fibre.
AGY of Aiken, South Carolina, USA, has expanded its range of sizing systems in order to enable its glass fibres and yarns to be used with a wider variety of polymers.
AMSilk has produced Biosteel, described as the world's first competitive man-made spider-silk fibre and made entirely from recombinant silk proteins.
A super-hydrophobic filament yarn with a permanent, built-in self-cleaning effect is the result of collaboration between three German organizations.
A carbon nanotube (CNT) fibre that looks and acts like textile thread, and conducts electricity and heat like a metal wire is the result of work by a multinational team.
Any woven structure can now be identified readily by means of the incorporation of Microtaggant Security Yarns, according to the yarn's developer, Microtrace LLC of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Sewing thread manufacturers rise to the industry’s challenge

Sophisticated sewing threads must be developed to meet the needs of a broad range of applications for technical textiles. Niki Tait looks at how manufacturers are responding to this challenge and describes some of the special threads now available.

A Japanese company claims to have developed a way to make a carbon-fibre nonwoven that is thin and flexible.
A method to produce fine polypropylene (PP) fibres that can be used to make nonwovens with good mechanical properties is disclosed by Total Research & Technology's Feluy Research Center of Seneffe
A Chinese company has proposed a way to make solventspun bamboo fibres that have a high wet modulus.
A method for making uniform filaments of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with good mechanical properties is revealed by a Chinese company that claims its process is quick and require
A company in Norway has begun selling a sports garment based on a fleece that is made from polyester (PES) entirely recycled from plastic bottles collected in its own country.
A lyocell fibre that was used in its initial trials to help to mop up the spill caused by the disaster on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 has now been introduced for
A Canadian company has successfully completed its final pre-production trials for the commercial-scale manufacture of a flax fibre intended for industrial, medical, energy-related, composite and texti
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
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
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