Ernesto Neto debuts largest sculpture of his career

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

Ernesto Neto, a contemporary artist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, recently exhibited his largest sculpture to date at the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon, Portugal—Nosso Barco Tambor Terra (Our Boat Drum Earth).
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Automotive industry test-drives bio-based materials

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

As the automotive industry continues to focus on sustainability, companies including Cadillac and BMW Group are looking for ways to decrease their carbon footprint. The brands have been exploring the use of bio-based materials in products, including MycoWorks’ Reishi™ and Bcomp’s ampliTex™-P…
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Startup produces textiles made from potato harvest waste

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

Fibe, a London, England-based materials science startup, has created fibers and yarn made from potato harvest waste using its patent-pending fiber-extraction technology.
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Microwaves speed up chemical recycling

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

What microwaves do to speed up cooking can also be applied to chemical recycling of mixed fibers. University of Delaware researchers working on postconsumer mixed textile waste found a rapid means of depolymerization—15 minutes—of white polyester and spandex into their monomers using microwave-a…
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Silk fabric walls suppress sound

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

Step 1: Take inspiration from the technology in noise-canceling headphones. Step 2: Apply it to textiles. Step 3: Create acoustic silk that could become cubicle or thin wall panels that reduce noise in large spaces. That’s what’s been done by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol…
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Plasma coating process creates PFAS-free finish

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are working with textile companies on a PFAS coating replacement. The eco-friendly plasma coating process uses synthetic silica compounds called siloxanes to create a water-repellent silicone-like layer on fi…
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Pineapple leaf fiber facility opens

November 1, 2024  |  Swatches

NEXTEVO™, a material science startup based in Singapore, opened a pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) production facility in Dong Nai, Vietnam, where the fiber is turned into ready-to-spin yarns and fabrics.
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Canada’s Rolltec: From an importer to a leading manufacturer

November 1, 2024  |  Features, Perspective

When thinking of places known for fun in the sun or cafe culture, Canada may not immediately come to mind. Yet that is where awning manufacturer Rolltec® Rolling Systems Ltd. in Concord, Ont., Canada, does business—in a big way.
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Textiles combat noise pollution

November 1, 2024  |  Features

In August, Hollywood Park, adjacent to the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., hosted the HARD Summer music festival, a two-day celebration of genres including electronic, techno, house, and drum and bass. The venue included four outdoor stages in the parking lots around the stadium, drawing more tha…
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Inventors share challenges of launching new products

November 1, 2024  |  Features

Inventing a new product can change an industry—but it isn’t easy. To go from the eureka moment to a finished product available for customers takes longer and costs more than one might think. Here’s how some inventors overcame the hurdles.
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