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Smart textiles

Surface waves for personal networks

1 March 2013
The phenomenon of 'Zenneck surface waves' is being tipped as an effective new method for developing smart clothing that will allow wearable devices to effectively transmit large amounts of data betwee
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New blends of Kevlar and Nomex in Lion ranges

1 March 2013
DuPont and Lion have collaborated on a new clothing range for firefighters and first responders - the first to feature advanced blends of Kevlar filament, Kevlar staple and Nomex fibre.
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Composing the score for spider's silk

1 March 2013
Research by MIT's Markus Buehler has helped explain that the strength of spider silk arises from its unusual hierarchical arrangement of protein building blocks.
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Body armour at the next level

1 March 2013
In collaboration with European Special Forces, TenCate Advanced Armour has developed a new generation of ultra lightweight portable anti-ballistic shields, designed to provide personnel with the best
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Silk protein for stable vaccine transport

1 March 2013
Vaxess Technologies, a Cambridge-based company founded by students from across Harvard University has received $70,000 to support its plan to commercialise new technology that uses silk to stabilise r
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Grand Award for Teijin

1 March 2013
Japan's Teijin has produced the world's first 300-700 nm ultra-fine polyester nanofibre based on proprietary bicomponent technology.
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China patent protection for Alexium

1 March 2013
The Chinese patent office has granted Alexium's patent, 'Method for Attachment of Silicon-containing Compounds to a Surface and for Synthesis of Hypervalent Silicon-compounds' (Chinese Patent Applicat
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Curtains for pollen with new polyester fabric

1 March 2013
Teijin Frontier, the Teijin Group's fibre-product converting company, has developed a new polyester curtain fabric that traps double the amount of pollen as conventional polyester curtain fabric, help
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Surface waves create personal networks

1 March 2013
UK researchers are developing a way to exploit a physical phenomenon, known as Zenneck surface waves, as a method for transmitting large amounts of data between wearable devices.
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Washable yarn can contain integrated microelectronics

1 March 2013
Researchers in the UK have created a machinewashable prototype garment that has lightemitting diodes (LEDs) embedded within the cores of its yarns.
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First integrated printed electronic system with rewritable memory

1 February 2013
The first proof-of-concept prototype of an integrated printed electronic tag based on rewritable memory has been produced.
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Multi-zone mat for switching control

1 February 2013
Tapeswitch, a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive products, safety light curtains and accessories based in Chorley, Lancashire, UK, has introduced a new four-zone switch mat for control and signalling
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Bionic suit demonstrated at California hospital

1 February 2013
A man who lost the use of his legs in a 2010 accident has become one of the first people to begin using the bionic suit designed by Ekso Bionics and now available at Huntington Hospital in Southern Ca
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Printed photovoltaics poised for growth

1 February 2013
The emerging market for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) offers a new way to develop revenue streams for both the building industry - which is still plagued by low housing starts and new buil
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Suzhou Nanopolis grand opening

1 February 2013
With the grand opening of the Euro1.5 million Nanopolis Suzhou on January 18, 2013, the Chinese region's over 200 nanotech venture companies have a new base both for centralised incubation facilities
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PU circuit board in baby alarm suit

1 February 2013
A romper suit with an integrated sensor system that will warn parents if their sleeping baby stops breathing has been developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microinte
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Alternative route to nanofibre photocatalysis

1 February 2013
A new world patent has been secured for the production of nanofibre mats coated with a nanogrid of visible spectrum photocatalysts for the absorption, recovery and oxidative degradation of hydrocarbon
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New future for G24 Innovations

1 February 2013
Having secured a first major order for its solar powered shades and blinds from the Las Vegas MGM Grand, one of the world's biggest hotel chains, G24 Innovations, based in Cardiff, UK, unfortunately w
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Reebok-CCM and MC10 to launch sports impact indicator

1 February 2013
A wearable sports impact indicator which identifies impacts to the head during play will be commercially launched in North America early this year by Reebok-CCM Hockey.
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Tissue regeneration with nanofibre nonwovens

1 February 2013
A new world patent relating to nonwovens containing the growth and differentiation factor protein GDF-5 has been secured by the German companies Biopharm GmbH, based in Heidleberg, and nonwovens leade
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Expansion for Biofelt manufacturer

1 February 2013
Biomedical Structures (BMS), the developer of biomedical textiles for medical devices and other advanced clinical applications is expanding its facilities in Warwick, Rhode Island, USA.
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Lenzing partnership targets electrode technology

1 February 2013
Cellulosic fibre leader Lenzing AG has announced a new joint co-operation with Nanocarbons LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to develop and explore the use of new activated carbons in electrode
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Introducing Aeroclad super insulation

1 February 2013
The Aeroclad blanket is a flexible new high-temperature insulation material being introduced by Cabot Corporation, of Boston, Massachusetts, for use in a wide range of industrial applications such as
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Industrial potential breakthrough in CNT fibre production

1 February 2013
Working with Teijin Aramid in The Netherlands, researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, have successfully spun carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into a 'super fibre' that has all the strength and high
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Smart technology is now more accessible

1 February 2013
International Newsletters is offering readers a free three-month trial of the monthly newsletter and online news service Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology.
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Colour-changing fibre detects strain

1 February 2013
A transatlantic collaboration of researchers has developed a fibre that changes colour when it is strained.
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Sefar acquires monofilament supplier

1 February 2013

Smart fabrics specialist Sefar, headquartered in Heiden, Switzerland, has acquired a majority stake in its long-time supplier Sider Arc, based in in Cornaredo, Italy.

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Thin-film adhesive sensors for future vision

1 February 2013
Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing electronic components that are thinner and more flexible than before. They can even be wrapped around a single hair without damaging the electronics.
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CNT muscles for reactive fabrics

1 January 2013
An international research team has developed a new artificial muscle with exciting possibilities for use in self-powered intelligent textiles that could automatically react to environmental conditions
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Alexium adopts FR treatment for conventional ovens

1 January 2013
Over the past six months, Alexium's non-halogenated FR chemistry for nylon has been developed so that it can now be applied by standard heat curing oven, in addition to the company's proprietary micro
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Wearables and the 'X-Ray of Psychiatry'

1 January 2013
Since the early days of wearable computing, health-related applications have been the main driving force.
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Wearable Technologies 2013

1 January 2013
The 2013 Wearable Technologies Conference will again be held alongside the ISPO sports show in Munich, Germany, on February 4th, featuring new developments for sport, health and fitness and consumer a
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Cellulose advantages for composites

1 January 2013
Thermoplastic composites employing sustainably sourced cellulose fibres as their reinforcement additive are being launched by Weyerhaeuser, headquartered in Federal Way, Washington, USA.
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Piezomorphic linings enhance comfort

1 January 2013
Research scientists at the University of Bolton have led the development of a new material which undergoes dramatic changes in shape on simple stretching or compression.
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SAP expansion for agriculture

1 January 2013
The superabsorbent polymers which have been combined with nonwovens to make today's nonwoven absorbent hygiene products so effective are being extended to agricultural use.
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Laser and enzymes project

1 January 2013
A collaborative research project between De Montfort University (DMU) and Loughborough University is investigating the colouring and patterning of textiles using enzymatic and laser processing technol
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Nonwovens driving auto growth

1 January 2013
Nonwovens are being employed increasingly in vehicles because of their low weight and low cost, according to a new report which predicts the use of textiles in the automotive industry is set for signi
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Mitsubishi opts for V-Lap

1 January 2013
Teijin's V-Lap lightweight, sound-absorbing polyester nonwovens have been selected for use in the floor carpet of the new Mitsubishi Outlander, a midsize crossover vehicle launched in Japan in October
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Carpet wastewater as a new performance material

1 January 2013
Dordan Manufacturing, a resins manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, has introduced the first thermoformed sample of the algae-plastic developed by Algix, of Bogart, Georgia.
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Supercapacitors with that essential stretch

1 January 2013
For textiles with built-in electronics to function over longer periods of time, all of the components need to be flexible and stretchable.
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Biobased fabrics from recycled PEF

1 January 2013
Avantium has demonstrated that its PEF - polyethylene furanoate - can be successfully turned into fibres for the nonwovens and textiles industries.
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Philips and Desso to add LED signage to flooring

1 January 2013
Philips has teamed up with carpet manufacturer Desso to develop solutions that combine LED lighting with light transmissive carpet.
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Funding for biomass nanofibre manufacturer

1 January 2013
CelluComp, based in Burntisland, Scotland has secured GBP2.4 million in new funding from Soffinova Partners Green Seed Fund, Scottish Enterprise through its investment arm, the Scottish Investment Ban
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Nanofibre route to synthetic fuels

1 January 2013
Inexpensive, and easy to fabricate carbon-based nanofibre materials are the key to a new 'co-catalyst' system that can convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide as a useful starting material for synth
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Self-powered intelligent textiles based on nanotube yarn

1 January 2013
Scientists in Australia are part of a global team developing a new artificial muscle, which also has potential for use in self-powered intelligent textiles that could automatically react to environmen
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Sensor technology tested on adult incontinence products

1 January 2013
Sensor technology has been used to create the SmartBrief, described as an "intelligent adult brief" by Lynn Wilson, founder of The CareGiver Partnership, a US retailer of incontinence products.
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Light capture potential of spider silk

1 December 2012
The incredibly high strength of spider's silk as a material has long been something scientists have attempted to emulate. Now physicists are exploring its ability to also very effectively catch light.
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Fluorescent pH-sensitive nanoparticles indicate bacterial growth

1 December 2012
German researchers have developed a simple way to monitor changes to pH values in food caused by bacterial metabolism, based on the fluorescence of nanoparticles embedded in an agarose growth medium,
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Mushroom packaging picks up prize

1 December 2012
The 2nd annual Durable Product Award was claimed by Ecovative Design at the RISE conference held by US nonwovens body INDA in Baltimore, Maryland, from October 23-25.
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Ultem for advanced FR aircraft seating

1 December 2012
At the recent Aircraft Interiors Show, in Pittsfield, MA, USA, (September 25-27) Sabic Innovative Plastics and National Nonwovens showcased the jointly-developed Ultra-Protechtor fire blocker brand.
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