Raw Materials
At CIMFC, advanced fibers show the way forward
At the 25th China International Manmade Fiber Conference (CIMFC), 4-5 Sept. in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, China, experts and executives spoke about advanced materials, new manufacturing technologies, investment, and fashion trends relevant to the manmade fiber industry. Based on the talks at the conference, it is clear that advanced materials are expected to boost the …
Are natural fibers poised for a comeback?
It feels like synthetic fibers are under siege. The fabrics used to manufacture a major part of the world’s clothing have been shown to shed microfibers that, when laundered, end up polluting the marine environment. As much as 35 percent of microplastics in the world’s oceans are fibers from synthetic clothing – and this amount …
Rising investments in manmade fiber feedstocks
Synthetic fibers account for more than 60 percent of the world fiber market, and their ongoing growth is supported by comparatively low crude oil prices in recent years despite increasing geopolitical risks in key oil-producing regions. Superior fiber properties and growing awareness on plastic waste currently lead to an unprecedented size of new raw material …
The future of the ‘Forever Molecule’
The history and evolution of “the forever molecule” is both revolutionary and fortuitous. Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, was discovered completely by accident on April 6th, 1938 by a DuPont Chemist, Dr. Roy Plunkett, while he was conducting research on chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. Its first broad commercial use was non-stick cookware in 1960. PTFE has since evolved and is utilized in an extensive array of products that take advantage of its unique properties.
Kelheim Fibres Celebrates 4,000,000 Tons of Viscose Fibers
On Monday April 9, 2018, speciality fibers manufacturer Kelheim Fibres produced their 4,000,000th ton of viscose fibers! The “jubilee ton“ was produced on line 2 and is a Galaxy® fiber – an appropriate coincidence according to production manager Konrad Brunner: “This speciality fiber is made for the tampon industry, one of the most important pillars …