February 22, 2021
Because hook-and-loop fastening materials such as Velcro® can damage the materials as the fastener is pulled apart, researchers got to work on an alternative inspired by mushrooms. The 3D-printed fastener that comes from work done at the Netherlands’ Wageningen University has no stiff hooks and instead uses soft polymer structures that are shaped like tiny …
Minimally invasive surgeries are generally performed via small incisions using miniature cameras. Surgical tools are threaded through the body to remove tumors and make repairs in the body. But it can be difficult to properly seal an internal wound or tear. Taking inspiration from origami, MIT engineers have designed a medical patch that can be …
February 8, 2021
Face masks have become a part of life since the pandemic began, because they’re the most effective means to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Claros Technologies, St. Paul, Minn., a spinoff from the University of Minnesota, has developed a mask that it says is capable of killing the virus. Mike Miller, the president …
Auto manufacturers’ concept vehicles increasingly exhibit car cockpits with no mechanical switches or buttons. The solid, seamless and gently curved surfaces are, instead, equipped with functions activated by touch. Concealed under the surface are control elements that only become visible when required, but this elegant appearance belies a complex underlying technology. German coating manufacturer Leonhard …
RxFiber LLC has announced that it has been issued a U.S. patent directed to methods related to the production of high-tenacity fibers for use in sterilized medical devices. The company’s fiber is marketed as RxFibron HT©. The company is actively seeking potential partners to license or purchase the patented technology for the development of lower-profile …
January 25, 2021
Researchers at Drexel University have created “Faraday fabrics” that can block almost all electromagnetic waves. The development could help protect wearables from interference and people from potentially dangerous radiation. According to information from Drexel University, the key ingredient is a 2D material called MXene. Electromagnetic waves have proven incredibly useful, but with so many uses, …
January 22, 2021
Two Milliken & Company textile businesses—Westex®, maker of dual-hazard protective textiles, and Polartec®, provider of sustainable textile solutions—announce a new collection of flame-resistant (FR), arc-rated (AR) knit fabric. The Polartec FR Collection introduces three unique Polartec fabric constructions engineered with Westex FR/AR fabric technology that provides hazard protection. The products span shirting, insulation and weather resistance fabrics that …
January 11, 2021
Devan Chemicals’ latest technology, R-Vital Multivitamin, has met the requirements of Standard 100 by Oeko-tex® (Class II). The company, based in Belgium, says the technology is part of Devan’s R-Vital® range of micro-encapsulated active ingredients. R-Vital is a fabric treatment that enables textile manufacturers to boost their textiles with a patented range of microencapsulated active …
December 21, 2020
Swiss corporation Osmotex announces that it has developed the Osmotex Steriliser Technology that can make textiles virus and bacteria free. With the market for sterilizing facemasks and personal items increasing, due to the pandemic, the company considers its solution a breakthrough. “With the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw new opportunities for our proprietary osmosis technology. To …
High-tech apparel brand Vollebak has released a its Solar Charged Puffer, a warm jacket for extreme environments that builds on its original solar charged jacket, launched in 2017. Pure white during the day, the jacket will start glowing in the dark when it is exposed to light. In fact, one can literally write on it …
