TEXTILES.ORG
Sympatex presents sustainable alternatives portfolio at ISPO 2015
February 11th, 2015
Textile specialists Sympatex Technologies presented numerous combination possibilities from its product portfolio at the ISPO (International Sporting Goods Trade Show) early in February. The ecological alternative among functional textile specialists, the company headquarted in Unterföhring, Germany, offers a sustainable material mix, different treatment options and individualized backings and tapes. Its new Digital Sales Tool offers […]
Commercializing new technologies: The FiberTect® experience
February 10th, 2015
“Applied research deserves Nobel prizes,” proclaimed the editorial of Nature Materials in January 2010. Although, the Nobels are known to be rewarded only to basic discoveries, there are plenty of examples to showcase rewarding research of applied nature—for example, the 2014 award in Physics for blue light LEDs. More and more, academia is emphasizing translational […]
When is a fabric a fabric?
February 10th, 2015
This month, our featured material is not about a specific market area, per se, but rather about the challenge of commercializing new technology in any segment of the industry. There’s enough to talk about here to fill a shelf of encyclopedias (remember those?), so the challenge was to manage the topic, given the expanse of […]
Birdair chosen for field house project
February 6th, 2015
Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., has chosen Birdair’s Tensotherm™ roofing system to cover its 30,300-square-foot John J. Dillon Field House. The facility has four multipurpose basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and is surrounded by a jogging track. The project is set to be completed in time for the beginning of the school year, […]
Multibar lace with 3D and three-color effects from Karl Mayer
February 6th, 2015
The conspicuously inconspicuous catsuit may not be the type of thing to wear for undercover work, but it certainly is a stylish piece for attracting attention. More to the point, textile machinery manufacturer Karl Mayer has succeeded in making a 3D lace with a striking camouflage effect. The fabric for this garment has a semi-geometrical […]
Mesh “lasso” rounds up data in space
February 6th, 2015
If space is the final frontier, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) just sent a mechanical cowboy into orbit around the earth to round up data about the planet’s soil moisture. NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite has three main parts: radar, a radiometer and the largest rotating mesh antenna ever deployed in […]
Temporary tattoo can monitor glucose levels
February 6th, 2015
Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego, have tested a temporary tattoo that both extracts and measures the level of glucose in the fluid in between skin cells. This first-ever example of the flexible, easy-to-wear device could be a promising step forward in noninvasive glucose testing for patients with diabetes. The sensor was developed […]
Textile Effects extends dye lots
February 6th, 2015
The Woodsland, Texas-based Huntsman Textile Effects has extended its range of high-performance TERASIL dyes to provide economical, robust and reliable exhaust dyeing of polyester, polyester/cotton and microfiber and elastane blends. The new TERASIL TC disperse dyes allow mills to improve plant efficiency and productivity with right-first-time performance and excellent shade reproducibility. At the same time, […]
Partnership to provide fire-retardant denim
February 6th, 2015
Westex by Milliken of Oak Brook, Ill., and Greensboro, N.C.–based Cone Denim have announced a partnership to provide flame-resistant denim apparel fabrics featuring the same comfort and style of everyday denim clothing, including reduced shrinkage and a soft hand. Partnering with Cone Denim, the expanded fabric offering from Westex by Milliken will provide end users […]
Kinematics dress uses 4D printing
February 6th, 2015
The “Kinematics” dress created by design firm Nervous System is a 4D printed garment made as a single, folded piece. Patterned from body scans, thousands of triangular panels and hinges were used to fabricate the custom-fit garment. Requiring no assembly, “the garment represents a new approach to manufacturing by integrating design, simulation and digital fabrication,” […]