A new NAFTA?

December 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and subsequently threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless the terms were renegotiated, Mexico and Canada have been cajoled…
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Fabrics go multifunctional

October 31, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Textiles have evolved from being commodity materials to providing an array of benefits, including additional comfort and protection, improved hygiene and support for health care. The innate nature of fibers can provide certain special characteristics—cotton adds breathability and a smooth hand, an…
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Eco-friendly antimicrobials and sustainable solutions

October 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Antimicrobial properties are fast becoming a required treatment in textiles for applications that range from hospital drapes and linen to contract and domestic textiles as well as clothing. While offering protection from germs is a positive factor, there has been some disquiet concerning the environ…
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Preventing permastink goes beyond antimicrobial solutions

September 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

It’s everywhere and it’s not attractive. Permastink—the unpleasant smell that won’t wash out of textile products—has become a topic of conversation for consumers and brands alike. Polyester and other synthetic fibers are the materials of choice for the active performance and athleisure sty…
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Nonwoven advances in performance and sustainability

August 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The global market for nonwovens is expected to grow from a 2015 level of $2.9 billion to $8 billion by 2022, according to Stratistics Market Research Consulting, specialists in global cross-sector market research. Existing market sectors such as health, hygiene and automotive applications are expand…
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Thermal control technology in textiles expands to a wide variety of industries

June 29, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Recent advances in thermal control for apparel have grabbed the headlines in this type of textile technology, but there are highly sophisticated materials and technologies that are less obvious, but at least as impressive, especially in building interiors and exteriors and other energy-saving applic…
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Patent law for innovators

June 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Protecting the technologies and products that drive growth in the textile industry. Is innovation a key component of your business plan?  Will you distinguish yourself with unique product offerings? Whether protecting our men and women in uniform, advancing the treatment of medical conditions, or …
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Better together

May 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Collaborative efforts support growth in the smart textiles industry. The more high tech an industry is, the greater the range of expertise it may need. Advanced textiles, particularly smart materials, are a prime example of this. Textiles often undergo a variety of processes requiring specialized sk…
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Piezoelectric energy harvesting

April 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Packages that power biochemical and environmental sensors. Breathing is the most consistent source of kinetic energy in the human body, as it produces a large circumferential displacement in the chest, even during sleep. This oscillation is one of few mechanisms in the human body that can also be ex…
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Keeping up with carbon

March 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Demand for carbon fiber stresses market ability to provide it,  but costs and efficiences are expected to improve. Although carbon fiber as a commodity has been around since the late 1960s, only in the past 10 years can there truly be considered a dynamic market of real substance with steady growth…
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