Innovations in Fibres, Textiles, Apparel and Machinery
Innovations allow companies to differentiate their products and become more competitive. Recent developments in fibres and yarns include a novel biodegradable linear polylactic acid fibre from Toray which offers excellent textile performance. Textronics has produced an ingenious composite fibre which overcomes the difficulty in providing electrical functionality on fibres that have a curved surface.
In fabrics, a water-repellent swimwear material which “never gets wet” has been developed by coating polyester with a plastron layer of silicone nanofilaments. MMI-IPCO’s unitary thermal fabrics provide variable insulation over different areas of the body, and contain phase change or biomimetic materials.
Cass and Crew have developed a seamless upper-body garment which enhances a woman’s upper body shape but avoids bulges, while Karen E Jones has invented a garment which lifts and shapes the lower body. The company myShape has patented a system which enables the fit of a garment to be tailored remotely to suit an individual customer, Frank D Bryant has a hood which rotates with the wearer’s head, and Nike has patented a method for concealing unsightly drawstrings.
Kimberly-Clark has addressed the problem of inadequate dye exhaustion when applying direct dyes to cellulose fibres by using a polyvinylamine together with an anionic polymer to provide a chemical bridge between the dye and the fibre. The technique also improves the fibre’s wet strength. A sophisticated printing technique has been developed by Anthony M Vassell to enable multiple images to be printed on the back or front of garments worn by sports supporters. Kris T Ziakas has devised an off-beat method for distressing garments using gunfire.
Other textile treatments include an acrylic from Nano-Tex which renders synthetic fibres hydrophilic, giving much greater comfort during wear. A number of treatments for carpets and medical wear have been developed, including one from Milliken which reduces odours and a novel fluorochemical dirt-repellent additive from 3M. Milliken has also used fluorochemicals in a new stain-release technique.
Tubular Textile Machinery has a mechanised cost-saving concept for controlling the quantity of chemicals used in textile treatments. Tr?tzschler has invented a device for quantifying debris particles during fibre manufacture, and Ardmel Automation has an ultrasonic or laser seaming apparatus for joining fabric panels in waterproof garments without using sewing thread. A Taiwanese device helps in removing coloured fibre debris from circular knitting machines when yarn colours are changed.
In fabrics, a water-repellent swimwear material which “never gets wet” has been developed by coating polyester with a plastron layer of silicone nanofilaments. MMI-IPCO’s unitary thermal fabrics provide variable insulation over different areas of the body, and contain phase change or biomimetic materials.
Cass and Crew have developed a seamless upper-body garment which enhances a woman’s upper body shape but avoids bulges, while Karen E Jones has invented a garment which lifts and shapes the lower body. The company myShape has patented a system which enables the fit of a garment to be tailored remotely to suit an individual customer, Frank D Bryant has a hood which rotates with the wearer’s head, and Nike has patented a method for concealing unsightly drawstrings.
Kimberly-Clark has addressed the problem of inadequate dye exhaustion when applying direct dyes to cellulose fibres by using a polyvinylamine together with an anionic polymer to provide a chemical bridge between the dye and the fibre. The technique also improves the fibre’s wet strength. A sophisticated printing technique has been developed by Anthony M Vassell to enable multiple images to be printed on the back or front of garments worn by sports supporters. Kris T Ziakas has devised an off-beat method for distressing garments using gunfire.
Other textile treatments include an acrylic from Nano-Tex which renders synthetic fibres hydrophilic, giving much greater comfort during wear. A number of treatments for carpets and medical wear have been developed, including one from Milliken which reduces odours and a novel fluorochemical dirt-repellent additive from 3M. Milliken has also used fluorochemicals in a new stain-release technique.
Tubular Textile Machinery has a mechanised cost-saving concept for controlling the quantity of chemicals used in textile treatments. Tr?tzschler has invented a device for quantifying debris particles during fibre manufacture, and Ardmel Automation has an ultrasonic or laser seaming apparatus for joining fabric panels in waterproof garments without using sewing thread. A Taiwanese device helps in removing coloured fibre debris from circular knitting machines when yarn colours are changed.
SUMMARY
DEVELOPMENTS IN FIBRES AND YARNS
Toray has developed a polylactic acid resin for use in producing biodegradable fibres
Toray's development
Essential features of the Toray development
Minimising the amount of tin present
Minimising the amount of monomer present
Relative viscosity between 2.7 and 3.9
Properties of yarns produced
Manufacturing process
Textronics has developed energy active composite yarns incorporating planar filaments
Existing types of electrically conductive textiles
The Textronics development
Formation of the functional filament
DEVELOPMENTS IN FABRICS
A water-repellent clothing fabric which "never gets wet" has been developed using nanotechnology
MMI-IPCO has developed single layer thermal fabrics for garments and upholstery which vary the degree of insulation over different areas of the body
MMI-IPCO's development
DEVELOPMENTS IN APPAREL
A seamless upper body support garment which eliminates back lines and bulges has been developed
A new body-shaping garment lifts and supports the buttocks and is compatible with today's form-fitting fashions
A new head covering for hooded jackets offers unobstructed vision
Nike has designed a device for hiding a drawstring in clothing myShape has patented a system for specifying garment dimensions and matching the fit of garments to individual customers
DEVELOPMENTS IN DYEING AND COLORATION
Kimberly-Clark has developed a new method for improving the dyeing of cellulose materials
The chemistry
Apparel carrying multiple images has been developed for sports team supporters
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTILE TREATMENTS AND FINISHES
Hydrophilic finish for fibrous substrates from Nano-Tex
Milliken has developed an improved approach to the treatment of carpet odours
3M has developed a dirt repellent treatment for use on carpets and medical nonwovens which are made from melt spun fibres
Milliken has patented a textile finish for improving liquid repellency and stain release
The treatment
Quantities
Application
Innovations in Fibres, Textiles, Apparel and Machinery
Tubular textile machinery has patented a new method for controlling chemical treatments used in fabric processing
The current situation
The development
DEVELOPMENTS IN APPAREL FINISHING
Gunfire is used in a new method for distressing a garment
The development
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTILE AND APPAREL MACHINERY
System for detecting undesirable particles in textile fibre during production
Apparatus using ultrasonic or laser seaming for joining fabric components without the use of thread
Drawbacks of existing ultrasonic technologies
Pai Lung has developed a device for removing yarn debris from circular knitting machines during colour changes
The problem
The solution
DEVELOPMENTS IN FIBRES AND YARNS
Toray has developed a polylactic acid resin for use in producing biodegradable fibres
Toray's development
Essential features of the Toray development
Minimising the amount of tin present
Minimising the amount of monomer present
Relative viscosity between 2.7 and 3.9
Properties of yarns produced
Manufacturing process
Textronics has developed energy active composite yarns incorporating planar filaments
Existing types of electrically conductive textiles
The Textronics development
Formation of the functional filament
DEVELOPMENTS IN FABRICS
A water-repellent clothing fabric which "never gets wet" has been developed using nanotechnology
MMI-IPCO has developed single layer thermal fabrics for garments and upholstery which vary the degree of insulation over different areas of the body
MMI-IPCO's development
DEVELOPMENTS IN APPAREL
A seamless upper body support garment which eliminates back lines and bulges has been developed
A new body-shaping garment lifts and supports the buttocks and is compatible with today's form-fitting fashions
A new head covering for hooded jackets offers unobstructed vision
Nike has designed a device for hiding a drawstring in clothing myShape has patented a system for specifying garment dimensions and matching the fit of garments to individual customers
DEVELOPMENTS IN DYEING AND COLORATION
Kimberly-Clark has developed a new method for improving the dyeing of cellulose materials
The chemistry
Apparel carrying multiple images has been developed for sports team supporters
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTILE TREATMENTS AND FINISHES
Hydrophilic finish for fibrous substrates from Nano-Tex
Milliken has developed an improved approach to the treatment of carpet odours
3M has developed a dirt repellent treatment for use on carpets and medical nonwovens which are made from melt spun fibres
Milliken has patented a textile finish for improving liquid repellency and stain release
The treatment
Quantities
Application
Innovations in Fibres, Textiles, Apparel and Machinery
Tubular textile machinery has patented a new method for controlling chemical treatments used in fabric processing
The current situation
The development
DEVELOPMENTS IN APPAREL FINISHING
Gunfire is used in a new method for distressing a garment
The development
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTILE AND APPAREL MACHINERY
System for detecting undesirable particles in textile fibre during production
Apparatus using ultrasonic or laser seaming for joining fabric components without the use of thread
Drawbacks of existing ultrasonic technologies
Pai Lung has developed a device for removing yarn debris from circular knitting machines during colour changes
The problem
The solution
