Enabling breakthrough technologies using nanofiber expertise
By Haydn Kriel, R&D Manager; Dr. Megan Coates, Senior Scientist; and Dr. Eugene Smit, CEO, The Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company (Pty.) Ltd. (SNC)
Nanofibers have a range of applications in medicine, cosmetics, environmental monitoring, energy generation and the manufacture of smart materials. The high surface area-to-volume ratio of these nanomaterials is highly beneficial for drug delivery and catalysis, and their controllable pore sizes, that can be tailored to selectively exclude components like bacteria or pollutants, makes nanofiber webs ideal for filtration, tissue engineering and wound care. Nanofibers are also versatile in that additives can be encapsulated within the fibers or coated on to the surface. The choice of the polymer and the nanofiber dimensions can be changed to obtain specific material properties.
Application of high-productive and high-efficient needle punching equipment in superfine fiber synthetic leather
By Du Xiaojing, HI-TECH HEAVY INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
DuPont first introduced the synthetic leather Corfam made of synthetic fiber-based nonwoven in the 1960s. In the following decades, the fast-growing global economy and improving living standard boosted the growth of nonwoven-based synthetic leather similar to natural leather in structure and performance. Today, needle punched synthetic leather substrate has become the main material for synthetic leather products, with its compact three-dimensional structure, interlaced structure similar to the collagen protein of natural leather, fine simulation, excellent physical performance, and low production costs.
ITA’s cellulose aerogels go Into space
Many people dream about sending a rocket into space. Together with the German Aerospace Center or DLR, and the RWTH Aachen Institute of Textile Engineering, ITA for short, five RWTH students were able to fulfill this dream this year as part of the REXUS program. In the REXUS program student teams from across Europe can …
Worldwide protective products adds Dyneema Diamond Technology in spun yarn form to protective gloves portfolio
Worldwide Protective Products and DSM Dyneema announced in October a completion of a technology licensing agreement enabling Worldwide to bring to market protective work gloves made with Dyneema® Diamond Technology, the world’s most advanced material for cut protection. Working with Dyneema Diamond Technology allows Worldwide to capitalize on the material’s unique properties that deliver extreme …
Huntsman Textile Effects commemorates 50th anniversary of its Mexico manufacturing facility
Atotonilquillo, Mexico and Singapore — Huntsman Textile Effect is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its primary manufacturing facility in the Americas. The plant in Atotonilquillo, Mexico is one of Textile Effects’ global centers producing dyes and chemicals for customers in the Americas and around the world. “Huntsman Textile Effects is proud to celebrate this momentous …