End-Use Markets
COVID-19 Update: Sukano announces masterbatches for PET and PA fibers have antiviral effect
With the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading worldwide, International Fiber Journal is tracking stories relevant to the textile fiber industry. Facemasks, personal protective equipment, medical supplies and wipes are among the fiber-intensive technologies particularly relevant to the COVID-19 response effort. And as manufacturers of these technologies and others struggle to meet global demand in the face of the …
Student Spotlight: Reusable textiles for liquid and virus repellency
Anthony John Galante is pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is conducting research on microbe repellent surfaces at the Lab for Advanced Materials in Pittsburgh (LAMP). His research focuses on the application of surfaces with different functionalities such as self-cleaning, stain-resistance, bacteria-repellency and virus repellency. Galante’s interest in …
Agrotextiles expand the landscape in the fight against food insecurity
The coronavirus pandemic could see around 265 million people suffering from acute hunger by the end of the year unless swift action is taken to ensure food supply chains keep running, according to the World Food Programme. This represents a doubling of the 130 million estimated to suffer from food shortages in 2019. The COVID-19 …
Mixed messages – the UK is at odds with the rest of Europe once again, this time over flushability
The further development of plastic-free and flushable products will be key themes at INDA’s World of Wipes (WOW) 2020, which will now be an all-virtual event Aug. 24-27. For my own presentation at the event, I provided the half-jokey title “London: Why do all the problems start in the pesky UK’s capital?” back in January. …
From fiber to finished product – optimizing efficiency in converting for hygiene & personal care
There are important considerations relative to fiber characteristics and how they impact the converting processes chosen for the manufacture of personal care products. Discussing examples specific to diaper, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products, the following will focus on converting practices to boost throughput, improve efficiency and enhance brand image. Trends in the industry relative …