TEXTILES.ORG
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) presents the Advanced Textiles Conference Oct. 18-19 in Charlotte, N.C. The special two-day event is in conjunction with IFAI’s Expo running through Oct. 21.
A special focus on automotive textiles, specific performance capabilities and applications will be covered in sessions throughout the day Tuesday, Oct. 18. Joachim Starke, product and process planning, BMW launches the days sessions with an address at 8:00 a.m.
Sessions following will discuss developments in materials, such as bio-based foams, nonwovens in automotives, materials designed for safety, materials for acoustics, and phase change materials for thermal control in interiors. Market-relevant performance, “lightweighting,” and the impact of changing airbags from Nylon 6,6 to polyester will also be covered in Tuesday’s sessions.
An Intro to Testing course will be offered twice, and with added lab time participants can earn an Intro to Testing Certificate. Participants who complete the entire testing track and additional lab time can earn a Textile Testing Essentials Certificate from North Carolina State University (NCSU). This can be used as credit toward the university’s continuing education program. Visit www.ifaiexpo.com/testing for details.
A Materials/Business track offered in the morning both days includes sessions on navigating the EPA, water repellency without fluorine, omni-repellency and odor removal, applying high performance conductive coatings, testing of fire-blocking barrier fabric, heat transfer in textiles, carbon and oxide ceramic fibers, recycled pyromex in nowovens and others.
Additionally, “campfire sessions” will offer free educational opportunities on the show floor.
Campfire topics for advanced textiles include filtration, Tencel® in technical applications, smart textiles and the Internet of People, flame retardancy, comfort and performance demands, government markets, and cyber security.
Young professionals (under age 40) are invited to a special happy hour on October 20 at 5:30, and a “headshot lounge” will have free, professional photography available during show floor hours.
For complete information and to register, visit www.ifaiexpo.com/advancedtextiles.