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Fibres, filaments and yarns

Industrial-scale process for solvent-spun bamboo

1 November 2012
A Chinese company has proposed a way to make solventspun bamboo fibres that have a high wet modulus.
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Carbon nonwoven can store hydrogen

1 November 2012
A Japanese company claims to have developed a way to make a carbon-fibre nonwoven that is thin and flexible.
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Uniform filaments of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

1 November 2012
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
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Polyester fleece made entirely from recycled bottles

1 October 2012
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.
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Hydrophobic, compostable lyocell for wipes and hygiene products

1 October 2012
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
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Flax fibre closes in on commercialization

1 September 2012
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
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High-tenacity, low-creep polyester

1 August 2012
A method for making high-tenacity polyester with low creep is disclosed in US Patent 2012/0165496.
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Energy-efficient method to make microfibrillated cellulose

1 August 2012
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
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'Low environmental impact' yarn for high-performance medical fabrics

1 August 2012
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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100% chitosan yarn for biomedical applications

1 August 2012
Researchers in Dresden, Germany, have produced the world's first fibres made from 100% chitosan, according to a report by the Forschungskuratorium Textil (FKT).
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Lenzing and Naturally Advanced Technologies sign development agreement for flax/cellulose blends

1 June 2012
A joint development agreement aims to evaluate the blending of flax with cellulose (modal and lyocell) fibres.
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Fibre developed for long-lasting, deepwater moorings

1 June 2012
DSM of Urmond, The Netherlands, has developed a new version (DM20) of its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre (Dyneema), specifically for the production of ropes for deepwater moor
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Expanded range of chopped strand glass for reinforcing thermoplastics

1 May 2012
A specialist manufacturer of reinforcements for thermoset and thermoplastic composites, PPG Industries Fiber Glass Americas of Cheswick, Pennsylvania, USA, has added three more chopped strand glass-fi
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Textiles that contain high amounts of temperature-regulating materials

1 May 2012
A European research project has led to the development of multicomponent and cellulose fibres that contain large amounts of phase-change materials (PCMs) capable of regulating temperature.
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Reinforced polyvinyl alcohol is tougher than spider silk and aramid

1 April 2012
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres made by spinning a solution containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and flakes of graphene oxide are tougher than spider dragline silk and para-aramids, claims an Australia-b
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Antimicrobial wound contact layer

1 April 2012
Paul Hartmann has disclosed an antimicrobial wound dressing (30) with a wound contact layer (31) that both absorbs exudate and supports the healing process by releasing an active ingredient.
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Improving the skin with medical compression stockings

1 April 2012
The use of Tencel C in medical compression stockings has been shown to improve skin physiology.
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ConvaTec introduces Aquacel Extra wound dressing in the USA

1 April 2012
ConvaTec has launched Aquacel Extra wound dressing with strengthening fibre in the USA. The dressing is composed of two layers of Hydrofiber Technology stitched together.
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Quick-Med expands Nimbus technology into advanced dressings

1 April 2012
Life sciences company Quick-Med Technologies has amended the license previously granted to India's Viridis BioPharma to include a new antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing that utilizes Quick-Med's
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Glass reinforcement for long lightweight rotor-blades

1 April 2012
Composite manufacturers seeking to make long lightweight rotor-blades for high-power wind turbines now have another choice of glass fibre with which to reinforce the matrix.
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Regenerated cellulose to provide superior thermal insulation

1 April 2012
Two German partners are investigating how to exploit a key property of functionalized regenerated-cellulose fibres to improve the moisture management of thermally insulating clothing.
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Positive effect recorded for chitosanmodified regenerated cellulose

1 March 2012
Researchers at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf of Hamburg, Germany, have demonstrated that the modification of Tencel lyocell fibre with chitosan has a positive effect on infection.
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Uniform and low linear-density polytrimethylene terephthalate

1 March 2012
A spun-drawn method for making poly(trimethylene arylate) fibres, such as polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), that have low and uniform linear densities is the subject of US Patent 2012/0028528.
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Small polyether imide fibres that retain good thermal properties

1 March 2012
An amorphous polyether imide (PEI) fibre with a linear density small enough to make nonwovens and textile fabrics is the subject of European Patent EP 2 412 850.
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Fluorescent regenerated cellulose for safety and protection applications

1 March 2012
Fluorescent cellulose fibres for use in reflective safety clothing have been developed by Lenzing AG of Austria.
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Silk-like fibres from Canadian milkweed

1 February 2012
A Canadian project aims to develop cheap silk-like fibres from milkweed, a crop suitable for growth in the province of Quebec.
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Teijin's fine-filament aramid yarn

1 February 2012
A yarn based on fine aramid filaments made its debut at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) and Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 17-20 January 2012.
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Fulgar explores manufacturing and selling Rhodia's bioactive yarn

1 January 2012
Rhodia Fibras of Santo Andre, Brazil, and Fulgar of Castel Goffredo, Italy, say they are talking about ways to manufacture and sell a textile yarn based on polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) in Europe.
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Hollow polyester with modified cross-section absorbs moisture and provides thermal insulation

1 January 2012
A lightweight polyester fibre with a highly modified cross-section can rapidly absorb moisture, such as sweat, as well as providing bulk, and thermal shielding and insulation, according to its Japanes
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Unique structure of carbon nanofibre gives it novel properties

1 January 2012
Two partners from Japan, have developed a carbon nanofibre that they claim is highly conductive and has an unprecedented structure.
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Zinc oxide additive makes cellulose antimicrobial

1 December 2011
The Hohenstein Institute of Bonnigheim, Germany, has adapted its environmentally friendly cellulose-forming technology called Alceru in order to produce antimicrobial fibres.
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Flame-retardant viscose

1 December 2011
A flame-retardant (FR) viscose fibre called Verdi was revealed by Kelheim Fibres of Germany at the recent Man-made Fibers Congress held in Dornbirn, Austria, 14-16 September 2011.
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Strong metal yarns

1 November 2011
A strong metal-fibre yarn that can still be processed readily is the subject of US Patent 2011/0240626.
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Compact electrospinning apparatus

1 November 2011
An electrospinning apparatus that has a smaller tip than usual reduces the volume of polymer required and lowers the potential difference that must be applied between the tip and the collecting plate
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Commercial machinery for the production of nanofibres

1 November 2011
A 1.1-m wide commercial production system that can continuously make nanofibres will be launched at the Filtration 2011 show in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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All-black aramid from Teijin retains its physical properties

1 October 2011
Production of an all-black version of an aramid fibre has started at Teijin Aramid's plant in Emmen, The Netherlands, for the first time.
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Polyamide 6.6 fibre from Rhodia Fibras makes blood flow better

1 October 2011
Rhodia Fibras of Sant Andre, Brazil, has introduced a polyamide 6.6 yarn that it says helps to stimulate the microcirculation of blood.
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Heating and drawing filaments

1 September 2011
Various innovations and enhancements to the components and godet rolls used for heating and drawing synthetic filaments will be displayed at ITMA 2011 by Retech of Meisterschwanden, Switzerland.
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Short-staple spinning machinery

1 September 2011
Rieter (Textile Systems) of Winterthur, Switzerland, will be widely represented at ITMA 2011 by its various divisions and subsidiaries: Rieter (Textile Systems); Rieter Germany; Rieter Czech Republic;
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Texturing and winding technical yarns

1 September 2011
Oerlikon Barmag from Remscheid, Germany, is introducing an automatic texturing machine, the eAFK, which it says combines features from the existing eFK, AFK and MPS series, along with a new modular de
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Winding technical yarns

1 September 2011
Cezoma - Uniemach of Uden, The Netherlands, specializes in winding, including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), aramid and carbon mono- and multifilament yarns.
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Rotary filtration of melts

1 September 2011
For the latest versions of its RSFgenius Melt Filtration System range (75, 90, 150, 175 and 200), Gneuss has redesigned the melt channel's geometry to increase the active filtration area by between 30
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Twisting and cabling

1 September 2011
Oerlikon Saurer of Arbon, Switzerland, claims its new two-for-one twisting machine (Allma TC2; see also, below) can processes all materials in the count range of 235 to 60 000 dtex and can run at prod
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Filament yarns

1 September 2011
At ITMA 2011, Oerlikon Textile Components from Wattwil, Switzerland, will introduce the latest version of its Heberlein MultiJet, which is able to handle up to 32 threads, surpassing the current 12-th
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Fibres with unusual cross-sections

1 August 2011
Two US partners, Armark Authentication Technologies and Hills Inc, are developing fibres with unusual crosssectional shapes involving some nano-scale features.
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Solving the problem of joints in the production of carbon fibre

1 August 2011
A production method for carbon fibre that circumvents many of the problems caused by the joints that hold together the lengths of the precursor is the result of work by Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd.
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Strong polyacrylonitrile-based precursor generates little fuzz in carbon fibre production

1 August 2011
A polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor for high-quality carbon fibre has been developed by Toray Industries of Tokyo, Japan.
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Cooling monofilament wins Avantex Innovation Award

1 July 2011
Monofilament producer Luxilon Industries has received a prize for a monofilament yarn that can cause the surface of fabrics to cool by up to 3.7degC.
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Xanofi seeks funds to process nanofibres commercially

1 July 2011
Xanofi of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, is looking for US$1.5 million in order to move from a proof-of-concept phase to the full commercial production of nanofibres.
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Microwave-assisted plasmas make carbon fibres quickly and cheaply

1 June 2011
The use of microwave-assisted plasma to process polymer precursors into carbon or graphite fibres is under investigation by researchers working for UTBattelle LLC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
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