Safety and protection

The developer of a cuprous antimicrobial film that can be applied to screen covers for mobile devices, doorhandles and push panels, and fabrics used for personal protective equipment (PPE) has rece

A range of industrial personal protective equipment (PPE) – including coveralls, gowns, caps, full hoods, shoe covers and boots – is to be unveiled at A+A by RadiciGroup of Gandino, Italy.

A treatment for textiles developed by Livinguard AG of Zug, Switzerland⁽¹⁾, has been shown to be effective a

The market for clothing that protects from chemicals is set to grow faster than many other performance-apparel segments, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%, during 2021–2026 according

An artificial leather treated with a long-lasting antibacterial agent has been launched by Teijin Cordley Ltd, a business unit of Teijin Frontier. 

Dutch PPE Solutions of Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is producing meltblown filter media using a polypropylene (PP) manufactured from renewable feedstocks by Borealis of Vienna, Austria.  

Well-ventilated buildings and tight-fitting face masks will be essential to control the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic as variants of the SARS Cov-2 virus evolve to spread more effi

A waterborne coating that completely inactivates SARS Cov-2 – the virus responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic – and could be applied to face masks has been developed by

A fabric made of polyamide (PA) 6.6 fibres embedded with active zinc ions absorbs virus-containing moisture droplets and effectively inactivates 99% of virus particles – including the SARS Cov-

A chemical process that can render cotton fabrics resistant to fire without affecting the properties that make them comfortable to wear is being developed by researchers at Empa in Dübendorf, Switz

Developer of bio-based antimicrobial coatings for textiles, NordShield of Espoo, Finland, has secured investments totalling more than €4.2 million in its latest financing round, which concluded on

The Biden Administration has awarded a contract worth US$6.5 million for the supply of polyester (PES)-tipped swabs for home- and mass-testing kits, which are used in the fight against the human co

A range of interlinings, tapes and thermal insulation materials for workwear and protective clothing has been launched by Freudenberg Performance Materials of Weinheim, Germany. 

A coating for leather that can inactivate the SARS Cov-2 virus responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic has been developed by Brazilian companies JBS Couros and Nanox.  

A laboratory dedicated to the testing of face masks has been opened in Helsinki, Finland, by SGS. 

A line capable of producing 20 million surgical face masks a year is to be installed at Textilcord in Steinfort, Luxembourg. 

As populations look to protect themselves during the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic, they are generating up to 7200 t of medical waste every day, much of which is accounted for by disposable

Insecticide-free clothing that prevents mosquitos from biting its wearer has been developed by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, USA. 

An antimicrobial additive that has been proven effective against the 229E strain of human coronavirus (a surrogate for SARS-Cov-2, which is responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19)

Wearable biosensors that can be customised to detect the presence of pathogens – such as the SARS Cov-2 virus responsible for the human coronavirus (covid 19) pandemic – and toxins, and al

A three-dimensionally (3D) knitted antimicrobial face mask that can filter particles of 3 µm and above in size from the air has been launched by SP Science Ltd of Bury, UK. 

A pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of a closed-loop system for the recycling of single-use face masks has been undertaken by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Ener

A range of antimicrobial polyamide (PA) fabrics that are elastic, soft to the touch and comfortable to wear has been launched by Maglificio Ripa of Spino d'Adda, Italy. 

The US Senate's passage of the Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)

A highly breathable fabric developed by Toray Industries for the production of disposable personal protective clothing has been proven in testing to reduce the chance of its wearer suffering from h

Materials and methods that reduce the environmental impact of the production of face masks have been showcased by Indorama Ventures (IVL), DyeCoo and Stoll through the Easy Mask project.

Producer of needled nonwovens, NOWOtex GmbH & Co KG, can now manufacture polypropylene (PP) filter media for face masks following the commissioning of a meltblowing line at its facility in Eich

Antimicrobial surface wipes made from natural, biodegradable fibres and supplied in recyclable packaging have been launched by Aero Healthcare UK of Horsham. 

An antimicrobial spray that can be applied to textile products such as face masks has been launched by Bio-Gate AG of Nuremberg and Bremen, Germany.

The US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has passed legislation that will require federal agencies to issue long-term contracts to US manufacturers of personal protective

A pilot line for the development of meltblown nonwovens has been installed at the Nonwoven Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) in Leeds, UK, where it will be used for sampling, prototyping a

A manufacturer of seating for mass-transportation applications, Franz Kiel GmbH, will use a long-lasting surface treatment capable of killing the virus (SARS-Cov-2) responsible for the hum

Sintx Technologies reports that it has filed numerous applications for US and international patents to protect its silicon nitride-based technologies, including antimicrobial coatings

A surgical mask coated with a thin layer of copper that rapidly deactivates bacteria and viruses – including the SARS-Cov-2 virus responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic

A laboratory dedicated to the development of masterbatches for the production of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is being constructed in Guangzhou, China, by polymer manufacturer Avient and

An antimicrobial biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) laminating film inactivates and inhibits the proliferation of the SARS-Cov-2 virus responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19)

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.   

A general-purpose face mask (Work Week) made from a bicomponent spunbond (Captur) has been launched by Aries of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

A self-sanitising glove designed to help prevent viruses and bacteria being transmitted through touch has been launched by uvex Safety Ltd of Farnham, UK.

Partners in Germany have transformed a luxury coach into a mobile testing and vaccination centre, which is fitted with an air-purification system from Mann+Hummel that can filter viruses from the a

A law requiring hospitals to create and maintain a three-month stockpile of N95 face masks, gowns and other items of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been implemented in California, USA.

The Biden Administration has awarded a pair of contracts for the manufacture of over 17 million re-usable face masks, for use in community health centres, food pantries and soup kitchens across the

Natural leather treated with an antimicrobial finish has been launched for use in the aviation, bus, coach and rail sectors by Muirhead of Glasgow, UK.

Flammability in Textiles and Polymers is the latest addition to in the Digital Labs series of educational online events being organised by the American Association of Textile Chemists and

An antimicrobial spunbond–meltblown–spunbond (SMS) filtration media suitable for the production of face masks has been launched by HeiQ's newly established Advanced Filtration Media business unit.

Self-sanitising textile signage for use in such as shops and showrooms has been launched by Marler Haley of Wellingborough, UK.

A plasma-based method for the decontamination of single-use face masks – which could enable them to be re-used –  is being developed by researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK.

A nanocoating that enables air filters to capture airborne or aerosolised droplets of liquid containing SARS-Cov-2, without inhibiting the flow of air through them, is now being used by su

A washable, comfortable and antiviral polyester (PES) textile from Toray Industries of Tokyo, Japan, has been proven effective against the SARS-Cov-2 virus responsible for the human corona

One of the UK's largest retailers, Worksop-based Wilko, has launched a scheme for the collection and recycling of single-use face masks.