Advances in Textiles Technology (February 2020) · TEXTILES Advances in Textiles Technology is...

February 2020 An international newsletter on textiles technology edited by:

James Bakewell

AutomotiveSGL sees big future for fuel-cell components

SGL Carbon and the Hyundai Motor Group are to extend

an agreement that sees the former supply nonwoven gas-

diffusion layers for use in the latter’s fuel cells.

Under the new agreement, SGL Carbon of Wiesbaden,

Germany, will substantially ramp-up the production and

delivery of its Sigracet-branded materials. These will be

used in the hydrogen fuel cell-powered NEXO from

Hyundai of Seoul, South Korea.

In the medium-term, SGL Carbon plans to increase its

current sales of fuel-cell components by more than five

times to approximately €100 million a year. The

company supplies approximately 200 customers around

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TechnicalT E X T I L E S

Advances in Textiles Technology is published monthly by International Newsletters Ltd and is part ofTechnical-Textiles.Net, available online: https://www.technical-textiles.net

Highlights this month: full contents listing on page 2…

Lyocell fibres made by Lenzing using pre- and post-consumer cotton waste have been employed toproduce bedding 3

An oxidation process yields cheap carbon fibre in highervolumes than is possible using conventional processes,according to the results of a technical audit 4

Coal-tar pitch is to be transformed into high-valuecarbon fibre through a project funded in part by theUS Department of Energy 5

A pair of bio-based finishes – one featuring an odour-controlling antimicrobial and the other cooling phase-change materials – has been launched by Devan 6

A method for the analysis of microfibre sheddingfrom textiles has been developed by Hohenstein ofBönnigheim, Germany 6

Freudenberg Group has completed its acquisition ofFilc, a producer of needlepunched nonwovens andlaminated materials 9

SGL Carbon plans to increase sales of components for fuel

cells, such as this Sigracet gas-diffusion layer, by more than

five times to approximately €100 million a year.

http://www.technical-textiles.net


the world with gas-diffusion layers for use in fuel cells.

As a result of growing demand, SGL has gradually

increased its production capacity for these materials at

its plant in Meitingen, Germany.

According to market estimates, up to 20% of all electric

vehicles in the world will be powered by hydrogen fuel

cells by 2030. In addition to use by the transport sector,

there will also be a significant increase in the use of

stationary fuel cells.

SGL Carbon has been involved in the research and

development (R&D) of components for fuel cells since

the 1990s. Gas-diffusion layers regulate the flow of gas

within the fuel cell, and carry water and heat away. They

have a significant impact on the power density and the

efficiency of the fuel cell. SGL Carbon’s Sigracet gas-

diffusion layers were first used commercially in 2012, in

the Hyundai iX35.

Contact: Andreas Pütz, Vice President of

Corporate Communications and Marketing, SGL

Carbon. Tel: +49 (611) 6029-100.

Email: [email protected];

http://www.sglcarbon.com

Asahi Kasei targets North Americanautomotive industry

In an effort to strengthen its marketing activities

in North America, particularly in the automotive

industry, Asahi Kasei has opened an office in Novi,

Michigan, USA.

The company manufactures and sells resins, battery

separators, electronic components, and textiles for

automotive interiors in North America.

Novi is close to Detroit, the centre of the North

American automotive industry. By concentrating its

automotive marketing operations there, Asahi Kasei of

Tokyo, Japan, says that it will be better able to form

partnerships with automotive original equipment

manufacturers (OEMs) and tier-one suppliers located

on the continent.

https://www.technical-textiles.net ©2020 International Newsletters Ltd

Advances in Textiles Technology February 2020

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Automotive 1 SGL sees big future for fuel-cell components 2 Asahi Kasei targets North American automotive industry

Fibres, filaments and yarns 3 Unifi reveals expanded range of yarns produced from

recycled bottles 3 Recycled cotton used to produce lyocell bedding 4 Partnership to construct US$1.3-billion plant for

dissolving wood pulp in Brazil

Composites 4 LeMond low-cost carbon fibre oxidation process

verified by audit 5 Turning coal-tar pitch into carbon fibre

Finishing 6 Devan reveals bio-based finishes for bedding at Heimtextil

Testing and standards 6 Microfibre-shedding test developed by Hohenstein 7 Instrument verifies performance of quick-drying fabrics

Performance nonwovens 8 Airlaying technology for the production of

sustainable nonwovens

Recycling 9 Partnership to recycle polyurethane foams from mattresses

Business news 9 Freudenberg completes purchase of Filc10 3M completes sale of ballistic-protection business

Smart textiles10 Smart-textile pioneers join forces12 Smart-textile electrocardiography monitors match

performance of gel electrodes

Contents February 2020

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In 2018, the company unveiled a concept car(1) that

featured 35 of its materials, including components made

from cellulose nanofibre-reinforced composites,

microstructured synthetic leathers, three-dimensionally

(3D) knitted fabrics and advanced nonwovens.

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, November 2018, Concept

car is showcase for textiles technology, page 7;

https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/74397

Contact: Sebastian Schmidt, Asahi Kasei

Europe GmbH. Tel: +49 (211) 28068-139.


https://www.asahi-kasei.eu; or: Public Relations,

Asahi Kasei. Tel: +81 (3) 3296-3008.


http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp

Fibres, filaments and yarnsUnifi reveals expanded range of yarnsproduced from recycled bottles

A cationic-dyeable polyester (PES) yarn and an

expanded range of yarns made from plastic bottles

recovered from the ocean have been unveiled by Unifi(1)

of Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.

The cationic-dyeable PES yarn, part of Unifi’s Repreve

brand made from recycled plastic bottles, enables solid-

coloured and mottled (heather) effects to be produced.

The company says that the yarns demonstrate deep and

bright colours, and high colourfastness, and can be used

in a variety of constructions, including weaves, knits and

warp-knits. Further, the company claims that the dyeing

of these yarns may consume less energy than some

traditional disperse dyeing processes, as it employs

lower temperatures.

Senior Vice President of Global Innovation for Unifi,

Meredith Boyd, says: “We have worked diligently to

develop a 100% Repreve replacement for virgin

cationic-dyeable fibres that is globally available. The

popularity of heathers in apparel is bigger than ever.”

Unifi says that it continues to see strong interest in its

Repreve Our Ocean products since their launch(2). The

Repreve Our Ocean programme aims to divert post-

consumer bottles that would otherwise likely find their

way into the oceans. This version of Repreve specifically

uses bottles collected from coastal regions in areas of

the world that do not have recycling infrastructures

or programmes.

Boyd continues: “People around the globe are asking,

‘how can we save our oceans from plastic pollution?’

We listened and carefully designed meaningful

processes to address this problem directly. We are

finding swimwear brands are particularly interested in

Repreve Our Ocean.”

Unifi highlighted these developments on its stand at

the Outdoor + Snow Show in Denver, Colorado, USA, on

29–31 January 2020.

See also:(1)Technical Textiles International, September 2012, Unifi

takes the lead in the production of recycled polyester, page 33;

https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/462(2)Technical Textiles International, August 2019, Outdoor

Retailer continues to hold the torch for sustainability, page 21;


Contact: Sharon Roberts, Executive Assistant,

Investor Relations, Unifi Inc. Tel: +1 (336) 316-

5505. Email: [email protected];

http://www.unifi.com

Recycled cotton used to producelyocell bedding

Lyocell fibres made by Lenzing using pre- and post-

consumer cotton waste have been employed to

produce bedding, which were shown by the company

on its stand at Heimtextil.

Lenzing has previously used its Refibra recycling

technology to produce lyocell fibres (Tencel) from

a mixture of virgin wood pulp and a substantial

proportion (up to 30%) of cotton scraps from garment

©2020 International Newsletters Ltd https://www.technical-textiles.net

February 2020 Advances in Textiles Technology

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production. In December 2019, the company of

Lenzing, Austria, announced that it had developed the

technology further to enable up to 10% of this recycled

content to be post-consumer cotton waste(1). Lenzing

claims that it can produce thousands of tonnes of each

type of fibre, as dictated by demand.

The company says that the fibres, which it calls Tencel x

Refibra, are breathable, possesses good moisture-

management properties, and are smooth and strong—

making them highly suitable for the production

of bedding.

Lenzing invited students from European universities,

such as the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano in

Italy, the University of the Arts London in the UK

and Aalto University in Finland, to create bedding

collections using the fibres. The Head of Global

Business Development Home & Interiors at the

company, Ebru Bayramoglu, says: “We are very

excited to present the best three collections at our

booth during Heimtextil and the students will be happy

to share their way of thinking with the public about

sustainable fibres.”

Heimtextil took place in Frankfurt, Germany, on

7–10 January 2020.

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, January 2020, Producing

lyocell fibres from post-consumer cotton waste, page 3;


Contact: Filip Miermans, Vice President Corporate

Communications and Investor Relations, Lenzing

AG. Tel: +43 (7672) 701-2743. Fax: +43 (7672)

918-2743. Email: [email protected];

http://www.lenzing.com

Partnership to construct US$1.3-billion plant for dissolvingwood pulp in Brazil

The world’s largest plant for the production of

dissolving wood-pulp, a key ingredient for the

manufacture of cellulosic fibres, is to be built near

São Paulo in Brazil.

The plant – a joint venture between Lenzing of Lenzing,

Austria, and Duratex of São Paulo – will have an annual

production capacity of 500 kt, will start-up in the first

half of 2022 and will supply Lenzing exclusively. It will

cost approximately US$1.3 billion to put into operation.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lenzing, Stefan

Doboczky, says: “With this investment, we will become

more competitive, act more independently and

subsequently strengthen our market position.”

The joint venture has 44 000 Ha of plantations certified by

the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) of Bonn, Germany,

to provide the necessary biomass for the plant. Lenzing

says that these plantations operate in accordance with its

guidelines for the sourcing of wood and pulp. Further,

energy for the plant will be generated using renewable

sources; excess energy will be fed into the public grid.

Lenzing owns a 51% stake in the joint venture, while

Duratex owns the balance. Plans for the plant were first

revealed in 2018(1).

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, August 2018,

Partnership plans to build US$1-billion plant for dissolving

wood pulp in Brazil, page 11;


Contact: Filip Miermans, Vice President Corporate

Communications and Investor Relations, Lenzing

AG. Tel: +43 (7672) 701-2743. Fax: +43 (7672)


http://www.lenzing.com; or:

http://www.duratex.com.br

CompositesLeMond low-cost carbon fibreoxidation process verified by audit

An oxidation process being commercialised by LeMond

Carbon yields cheaper carbon fibre in higher volumes



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than is possible using conventional processes, according

to the results of a technical audit undertaken by Bureau

Veritas (BV).

The audit was conducted on a pilot line at Deakin

University’s Carbon Nexus facility in Geelong, Victoria,

Australia. In 2017, LeMond of Oak Ridge, Tennessee,

USA, signed an exclusive US$44-million deal to license

technology developed at Deakin that reduces the energy

and capital investment required for the oxidation of

carbon fibre by 70% and 75%, respectively(1).

LeMond says that the rapid oxidation process enables it

to produce carbon fibre with lower embodied energy

than any standard polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon

fibre available today.

BV of Paris, France, examined two production runs

of 24-k standard-modulus (SM) carbon fibre and

determined that oxidation took under 15 minutes and

under 20 minutes, respectively.

The resulting fibre tows demonstrated tensile moduli in

excess of 270 GPa and tensile strengths of around

3.5 GPa, according to testing undertaken by BV at its

laboratories in Pessac, France. This testing was carried

out according to the D4018-17 standard(2) published

by ASTM of West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA

The line at Deakin has an annual capacity of 100 t a year

and is currently producing samples for trials with

LeMond’s target customers from several industries.

In 2016, LeMond Carbon signed a licensing agreement with

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the latter’s

method for slashing the cost of producing carbon fibre.

While conventional carbon fibres are produced

from a PAN precursor, the ORNL carbon fibres are

produced from a comparatively cheap precursor for

textile-grade acrylic fibres(3).

See also:(1)Advanced Composites Bulletin, July 2017, LeMond

Composites signs second carbon fibre licensing deal, page 1;


(2)Standard test methods for properties of continuous filament

carbon and graphite fiber tows.(3)Advanced Composites Bulletin, September 2016,

LeMond Composites to slash the cost of carbon fibre with

Oak Ridge technology, page 3;


Contact: Dean Hendrickson, Chief Executive

Officer, LeMond Carbon. Tel: +1 (800) 203-5724.


https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-hendrickson-

45a9698; https://www.lemond.cc; or:

https://group.bureauveritas.com

Turning coal-tar pitch into carbon fibre

Coal-tar pitch is to be transformed into high-value

carbon fibre for use in aircraft, automobiles, sporting

goods and other high-performance applications through

a project funded in part by the US Department of

Energy (DoE).

As part of the US$1.8-million project, researchers at

the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy

Research (CAER) in Lexington, USA, will work with

partners to convert coal tar – a by-product from the

production of coke for the steel industry – into

mesophase pitch, a liquid crystalline material, which can

then be spun and thermally converted to carbon fibre.

The researchers will develop simplified processes for

the melt-spinning of the mesophase pitch to produce

green (not yet carbonised) multifilament fibres, and

methods for their subsequent continuous thermal

processing, or oxidisation. The CAER team will then

create woven preforms from the fibres, and chopped

carbon fibres for incorporation into thermoplastics

suitable for injection moulding.

The other partners on the project are distiller of coal

tar, Koppers Inc of Pittsburgh and Materials Sciences

LLC of Horsham, both in Pennsylvania, USA.

The Associate Director for Materials Technologies at

CAER and the principal investigator on the project,



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Matt Weisenberger, says: “Being able to efficiently

upgrade a coal by-product into high-value carbon fibre

for composites would be a terrific benefit to Kentucky’s

and the nation’s manufacturers. It would add

significantly to the coal value chain.”

CAER claims that it is home to the largest carbon

fibre production line at any academic institution in

North America.

Contact: Matthew Weisenberger, Adjunct Assistant

Professor, Materials Engineering, College of

Engineering, University of Kentucky.

Tel: +1 (859) 257-0322.


https://caer.uky.edu; or: http://www.koppers.com;

or: http://www.materials-sciences.com

FinishingDevan reveals bio-based finishes forbedding at Heimtextil

A pair of bio-based finishes – one featuring an odour-

controlling antimicrobial and the other cooling phase-

change materials (PCMs) – was launched at Heimtextil by

Devan Chemicals of Ronse, Belgium.

The company claims that its antimicrobial finish (called

BI-OME Natural) is made entirely from natural

ingredients, is recyclable and biodegradable, prevents

the formation of odours in textiles and is wash-durable.

In developing the finish, Devan says that it was inspired

by plants and flowers that produce antimicrobial

chemicals to defend themselves against bacteria, fungi

and mould. As such, the active ingredients in BI-OME

Natural are linseed oil obtained from the dried seeds of

the flax plant, and a derivative of chrysanthemum seeds.

The company claims that the finish will be of particular

interest to the bedding industry, where increasingly

stringent regulations on recycling are being introduced.

BI-OME Natural will feature at Heimtextil in collections

of bedding manufacturer Standard Fiber of Las Vegas,

Nevada, USA.

Tones of Cool Bio, meanwhile, is a cooling finish that

encourages a textile to which it is applied to dissipate

heat from the body of its user. Devan says that the

PCMs used in Tones of Cool Bio have been certified as

sustainable and natural by the German Institute for

Standardization (DIN) of Berlin. They take the form of a

crystalline wax or an oily liquid (depending on the

temperature to which they are exposed) and are less

flammable than traditional paraffin-based PCMs.

The use of Tones of Cool Bio is currently limited to

bedding, and it will feature in the Heimtextil collections

of Standard Fiber, Tisseray of Rillieux-la-Pape, France,

and Comfy Quilts of Wilmslow, UK.

Devan launched its first bio-based product, a flame-

retardant called Bio-flam, in May 2019(1).

Heimtextil took place in Frankfurt, Germany, on

7–10 January 2020.

See also: (1)Advances in Textiles Technology, June 2019, Devan unveils

bio-based finish for textiles, page 3;


Contact: Felix Vanassche, Marketing Assistant,

Devan Chemicals NV. Tel: +32 (55) 230110.


http://devan.net

Testing and standardsMicrofibre-shedding test developedbyHohenstein

A method for the analysis of microfibre shedding from

textiles has been developed by Hohenstein of

Bönnigheim, Germany.

The method is based on the dynamic image analysis of

wastewater and can be used to quantify the shedding

behaviour of textiles. Hohenstein says that it produces

previously unattainable data that will have practical

implications throughout the supply chain for the

development of textiles. Dynamic image analysis is non-



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destructive, allowing additional tests, such as filtration,

to be performed for further analysis. Filtration is the

most commonly used method to date for the analysis of

fibre shedding, and involves filtering the wastewater

from textile laundering, then weighing the

remaining particles.

The method is the result of four years of research at

Hohenstein, and was recently the subject of an article

published in Water by lead researcher Jasmin Haap(1).

The research team developed, refined and validated an

analytical method for measuring shed mass to quantify

the number, length, diameter and shape of the fibres

within it. Further analysis can reveal the distribution of

these attributes and even generate separate results for

cellulosic and non-cellulosic fibres.

Using this data, researchers can now quantify

precisely the types of fibre and textile constructions

that contribute most to the release of microfibres,

enabling informed decisions to be made regarding the

development of textiles that shed fewer fibres.

This analysis is currently available exclusively

through Hohenstein.

Synthetic microfibres are released by textiles into water

during mechanical stress, particularly washing.

Wastewater containing microfibres eventually flows

through sewage systems into larger bodies of water.

Along the way, synthetic microfibres attract harmful

substances and pollutants from the environment,

harming sea life and entering the food chains of larger

fish and humans.

In November 2019, Hohenstein joined industry body

the Microfibre Consortium of Bristol, UK, as a

contributing research member.

See also:(1)Water, 2019, 11(10), 2088, Microplastic fibers released by

textile laundry: A new analytical approach for the determination

of fibers in effluents, https://doi.org/10.3390/w11102088

Contact: Isabel Schober, Marketing and

Communications, Hohenstein. Tel: +49 (7143) 271-

708. Email: [email protected];

https://www.hohenstein.com; or:

https://www.microfibreconsortium.com

Instrument verifies performance ofquick-drying fabrics

A testing instrument for determining the drying rate of

textiles has been launched by James Heal of Halifax, UK.

The instrument (ProDry) is able to replicate accurately

conditions of use in order to verify that quick-drying

fabrics are performing effectively.

The company claims that the instrument offers

an accurate and user-friendly way of testing the

drying rate of performance fabrics and can be used

in the development of base-layer garments, football

kits, running gear, gym gear, socks and fabrics

for footwear.

The time it takes for a fabric to dry is an important

consideration for textiles worn next to the skin,

especially during intensive sporting activities where

perspiration is likely. If the garment remains damp,

perspiration cannot easily evaporate, making the

wearer uncomfortable.

ProDry tests to Test method 201 drying rate of fabrics:

Heated plate method from the American Association

of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.

Using ProDry, a textile specimen is placed on a heated

plate to simulate the temperature at which human

skin begins to perspire. Water is applied to the

hotplate underneath the specimen to simulate

perspiration. When the specimen is wet, the

temperature of the heated plate decreases. As the

specimen dries, the temperature of the plate gradually

begins to increase. These changes in temperature are

recorded and a drying rate is calculated.

An adjustable temperature sensor ensures that tests

comply with the AATCC standard regardless of how

thick the fabric is.



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The instrument:is able to record the temperature for

every second of the test so that these points can be

added into a graph on test completion.

Innovation Director at James Heal, Neil Pryke, says:

“ProDry is helping manufacturers and brands assess

important dry rates of their fabrics and materials by

replicating the real conditions they endure to verify that

quick-drying fabrics are doing the job expected of them.

ProDry provides unparalleled insight into evaporation,

and how garments such as activewear will dry if damp

through rain or sweat.”

ProDry forms part of James Heal’s Performance Testing

Range, which also includes the AquAbrasion Wet

Abrasion Tester, the TruRain Bundesmann Tester and

the WickView Dry Rate Tester.

Contact: James Heal. Tel: +44 (1422) 366355.


https://www.james-heal.co.uk

Performance nonwovensAirlaying technology for theproduction of sustainable nonwovens

An airlaying machine recently purchased by The

Nonwoven Innovation and Research Centre (NIRI) in

Leeds, UK, will be used in the pilot-scale manufacture of

nonwovens from natural fibres.

The machine has been supplied by Dan-Web Machinery

of Galten, Denmark(1), and its potential for the

development of sustainable nonwovens was key

to NIRI’s decision to invest in it.

The company’s Business Director, Matt Tipper, says:

“With the EU Directive on single-use plastics,

the nonwovens industry is focused on experimenting

with processes that work towards increased sustain-

ability. Manufacturers are exploring airlaid technologies,

as these use a high percentage of natural fibres;

predominantly fluff pulp, which is cost-effective,

biodegradable and renewable.”

NIRI says that the equipment will be of particular

interest to its clients in the medical and hygiene

sectors, where airlaid fabrics are mostly used.

Further, the filtration and automotive industries are

revisiting airlaid technology as they look to reduce their

reliance on synthetic fibres for the production

of nonwovens.

Airlaid fabrics display: high isotropy; high loft (if

required); high porosity (95–99%); high absorbency and

wicking rate; soft handle; appropriate tensile strength;

good resilience (recovery from compression); high

resistance to heat.

These properties make airlaid nonwovens suitable for

the production of diapers, table cloths, nappies,

feminine hygiene and incontinence products, insulation,

wet and dry wipes for domestic and industrial

applications, medical textiles (including disposable

gowns, curtains, dressings and bedsheets), filtration

media interlinings, shoe linings, wadding, geotextiles,

roofing felts, insulation felts, automotive components

and filters.

The airlaying machine, which has been supplied by Dan-Web

Machinery of Galten, Denmark, will be used for the pilot-

scale manufacture of nonwovens from natural fibres.


Tipper continues: “In combination with NIRI’s carding,

spunmelt and wetlaid web-formation lines, as well as

chemical, thermal, hydroentanglement and needlepunch

bonding capability, we have the ideal pilot-scale facilities

for prototyping products across a plethora of industries

with a host of end-users.”

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, December 2019, UK

research institute invests in airlaying machine, page 5;


Contact: Matthew Tipper, Business Director, The

Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute.

Tel: +44 (113) 350-3829.


http://www.nonwovens-innovation.com; or:

Dan-Web Machinery A/S. Tel: +45 8743-9500.

Fax: +45 8743-9595. Email [email protected];

http://www.dan-web.com

RecyclingPartnership to recycle polyurethanefoams from mattresses

The improvement and expansion of programmes for

mattress recycling in the USA are the goals of a long-

term research partnership established by Covestro and

the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) California.

Covestro of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, says that the

partnership will develop technologies for the recycling

and end-of-life processing of mattresses, particularly

those made using polyurethane (PU) foam.

Covestro has extensive expertise concerning the

research, development, design and production of PU

materials found in mattresses. It plans to leverage this

expertise in its work with the MRC, which has its

headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.

MRC develops and implements mattress recycling

programmes, and works to create accessible and

efficient networks for the collection and recycling of

mattresses via subsidiaries in California, Connecticut

and Rhode Island. The partnership with Covestro forms

part of the MRC’s overall research initiative to improve

the ways in which discarded mattresses are recycled,

and identify new markets for materials reclaimed

from them.

Today, there are several applications for PU foam

recycled from mattresses, such as carpet backings.

Contact: Tara Majdalani, Marketing

Communications Manager, Covestro. Tel: +1 (412)


https://www.covestro.us; or: Mattress Recycling

Council. Tel: +1 (855) 229-1691.

https://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org

Business newsFreudenberg completes purchaseof Filc

Freudenberg Group has completed its acquisition

of Filc, a producer of needlepunched nonwovens

and laminated materials for the automotive and

construction industries.

Filc will be integrated into Freudenberg Performance

Materials of Weinheim, Germany, and will continue

trading under its own name for the time being. Filc has

its headquarters in Škofja Loka, Slovenia, and operates

two other production sites in the country, in Mengeš

and Lendava, as well as a sales office in Dayton, Ohio,

USA. It employs approximately 360 people.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Weinheim-based

Freudenberg Group, Mohsen Sohi, says: “With the

acquisition [of Filc], we want to further strengthen our

performance materials business, and expand our

portfolio and technological footprint in Europe.”

The CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials,

Frank Heislitz, says that his company’s composites business

will benefit from Filc’s needlepunch technologies, while

Filc’s adhesive coating capabilities will enable Freudenberg



9


to offer new products to the construction industry.

Further, Freudenberg will broaden its expertise in acoustic

materials, used in the construction and automotive

industries, through the acquisition. Freudenberg Group

revealed its intention to acquire Filc in December 2019(1).

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, January 2020,

Freudenberg Group strengthens performance materials

business with acquisition of Filc, page 9;


Contact: Holger Steingraeber, Director Global

Communications, Freudenberg Performance

Materials Holding SE & Co. KG.

Tel: +49 (6201) 806640. Email:

[email protected];

https://www.freudenberg-pm.com

3M completes sale of ballistic-protection business

3M has completed the sale of its ballistic-protection

business to Avon Rubber Plc for US$91 million.

Avon Rubber of Melksham, UK, may have to pay a

further sum of up to US$25 million to 3M of St Paul,

Minnesota, USA, depending on the outcome of pending

tenders submitted by the ballistic-protection business.

The business sells ballistic helmets, body armour and flat

armour made from a variety of materials, including

composites and ceramics, and related accessories. It has

annual global sales of approximately US$85 million.

Avon Rubber sells chemical, biological, radiological and

nuclear respiratory protection systems to the military,

law enforcement, and fire and rescue services.

Approximately 280 3M employees are expected to join

Avon Rubber as a result of the sale, which was first

announced in August 2019(1).

See also:(1)Advances in Textiles Technology, September 2019, Avon

Rubber agrees to buy 3M’s ballistic-protection business, page 9;


Contact: Bruce Jermeland, Vice President, Investor

Relations, 3M. Tel: +1 (651) 733-1807.

https://www.3m.com; or: Paul McDonald, Chief

Executive Officer, Avon Rubber Plc. Tel: +44

(1225) 896848. https://www.avon-rubber.com

Smart textilesSmart-textile pioneers join forces

Smart-textiles specialist Myant of Toronto, Ontario,

Canada, has entered into a joint venture with Osmotex

AG of Thalwil, Switzerland, to commercialise the

latter’s Hydro_Bot active membrane technology.

Hydro_Bot actively draws sweat away from its wearer’s

skin and/or inner garments. Combining this technology

with those of Myant for textile-based sensors and

actuators could lead to the development of new

systems for sweat/moisture management and thermal

regulation, the partners believe.

Osmotex says that in laboratory conditions, every

square metre of a Hydro_Bot membrane allows for the

passage of up to 200 litres of fluid through it every

hour. The technology is based on osmosis, a process

that it accelerates through the application of a voltage of

around 1.5 V across the membrane, which has a

thickness of 20 µm. The membrane is coated on both

sides with a thin layer of gold, deposited using a plasma

treatment. The coatings form the electrodes required

to apply the voltage. The use of gold coatings makes the

membrane more expensive, but they have proven to be

significantly more durable than cheaper silver ones.

When the voltage is applied to the membrane, the

resulting electrostatic force draws salt ions in the

sweat through the pores to the outside. In turn, the

attraction of the salt ions to the molecules of the

surrounding liquid drag these through as well. The

membrane can be integrated into garments within

various functional layers.

When used in conjunction with Myant’s existing

technologies for heat-producing textiles and for the



10


knitting of passive moisture-wicking structures,

Hydro_Bot could be used to regulate body temperature

in applications such as personal protective equipment

(PPE) for workers in heavy industries, protective gear

for workers in hot climates, performance wear for

cold climates, such as snow suits and skiing apparel,

footwear, motorcycling apparel. In addition to

apparel, they could also be used in moisture-

management technologies for the automotive and

healthcare markets.

Managing Director and Chairman of the Board

for Osmotex AG, Joacim Holter, says that Myant’s

ability to integrate Hydro_Bot technology into its

own and its capabilities for mass-production make it an

ideal partner.

See also:

Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology, December 2019,

Osmotex partners for industrial-scale production of Hydro_Bot,

page 5; https://www.technical-textiles.net/node/75235

Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology, February 2019, Biometric

shirt launched at Computer Electronics Show, page 12;


Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology, February 2018, Stoll and

Myant plan smart fabrics revolution, page 3;




11

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The Hydro_Bot membrane actively draws sweat away from

its wearer’s skin and/or inner garments.


mailto: [email protected]

Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology, March 2017, Moisture

management based on electro osmosis, page 12;


Contact: Trine Teigland, Marketing and Sales

Manager, Osmotex. Tel: +41 (79) 832-8893.


http://hydrobot.com; or: Brian Fung, Director of

Marketing, Myant. Tel: +1 (416) 423-7906, x 401.


http://www.myant.ca

Smart-textile electrocardiographymonitors match performance ofgel electrodes

Smart textile-based heart-rate monitors that perform

as well as the traditional electrodes used for such

applications are being developed by researchers

from Draper of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the

University of Colorado Boulder, both in the USA.

University of Colorado Boulder PhD candidate,

Katya Arquilla designs sensor systems for

human spaceflight. She has examined the feasibility of

monitoring electrocardiography (ECG) using sewn

textile electrodes instead of traditional gel electrodes

in a three-lead, chest-mounted configuration. She

says: “The critical question is whether a sewn textile

electrode can perform ECG monitoring to the same

fidelity for the desired metrics as a traditional electrode.

Commercially available wearables are usually incapable

of detecting the full ECG waveform, and we wanted to

close that gap.”

The team looked into current options, but were

unsatisfied with their performance. Electrodes based on

conductive inks, which can be printed onto fabric

surfaces, have a tendency to crack, causing breaks in

their conductive surfaces and changes in their electrical

resistance during movement. Planar-fashionable circuit

boards (P-FCBs), which can also be printed onto fabric

surfaces, were also explored, but require advanced

methods to manufacture the conductive paste

necessary for their production.

The alternative devised by the University of Colorado

Boulder and Draper team involves the fabrication of

what it describes as dry electrodes that can be directly

integrated into clothing. According to Arquilla, the

resulting device does not suffer from the issues of digital

noise and poor positioning associated with its motion

across moving human skin that can have detrimental

impacts on the performance of conventional textile-

based devices. She continues: “The device ultimately

should be able to provide accurate signals from a

person who is walking, running or climbing stairs.”

The performance of the smart fabric was found to be

undiminished after a series of validation tests, including

evaluations of its ECG-monitoring performance,

comfort surveys, stretch testing and washing. Full

results of the research will be published in the

journal Sensors.

Contact: Allie Anderson, Assistant Professor,

College of Engineering and Applied Science,

University of Colorado Boulder.

Tel: +1 (303) 492-8511.


https://www.colorado.edu/aerospace/allie-anderson;

or: Dan Dent, Media Relations Manager, Draper.

Tel: +1 (617) 258-2464.


http://www.draper.com



12

The performance of this smart fabric-based electrocardio-

graph was found to be undiminished after a series of

validation tests.


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