I + D / Nanotecnología aplicada a materiales textiles. Desarrollo de fibras, hilatura y tejeduría

SPUNTEX. THE FUNCTIONALISATION OF BIO AND RECYCLED MATERIALS TO OBTAIN HIGH ADDED-VALUE ECOLOGICAL MULTIFILAMENTS

Year: 2018

MOTIVATION

Synthetic fibres are the most popular fibre all over the world, and polyester (PET) is the leader with a 70% market share. In the near future sheer demand will become the greatest problem facing PET manufacturers due to the fact that its main component, oil (a non-renewable material) is running short, coupled with the extremely high CO2 emissions resulting from the manufacturing processes.

Society’s growing environmental awareness is driving the market towards the use of reused or recycled materials, and the emergence of recycled polyester is a challenge that must be faced by manufacturers in the each link in the value chain of the Valencian Textile Sector.

To compound the problem, high street retailers such as INDITEX, H & M, IKEA, NIKE, ADIDAS, DECATHLON or C & A are beginning to demand that suppliers use recycled, 100% sustainable and environmentally-friendly fibre in their products, backed up by relevant certification and labels such as GRS, REMO, RCS or GOTS.

AITEX has detected sufficient need to propose the SPUNTEX project which aims to develop new multifilaments from sustainable polyesters, such as recycling from bottles (rPET) or partially bio-based (bioPET) with enhanced performance such as anti-odour behaviour, fireproofing, traceability or UV protection.

OBJECTIVE

The general objective of the project is to develop new multifilaments from sustainable polyesters, such as recycled PET from bottles (rPET) or PET synthesised from a biodegradable material (bioPET). Additionally, these fibres will incorporate new functionalities such as anti-odour behaviour, fireproofing, traceability and UV protection, by additivating the polymer during the melt phase with new additives for this type of sustainable materials (which have only been used up to now to functionalise virgin materials, not recycled or “bio” materials).

The ultimate objective of the project is to provide new added value for companies in the textile sector of the Valencian Community through the implementation and use of new sustainable raw materials for use in the sector.

The specific objectives of the project focus on the implementation and use of new sustainable raw materials from recycled polyester, as well as new bio-polyesters with built-in functionalities such as fireproofing, anti-odour, UV protection or product traceability. The technical objective of the project is to develop microfibers of 0.6 – 0.9 dpf that achieve strength values of > 6 gr / den.

The project will develop different work lines according to the planned developments, with the following objectives:

• Define the state of the art and technology, as well as the requirements and materials available for the execution of the project.
• Research and develop new multifilaments from sustainable raw materials.
• Formulation of new compounds based on sustainable polymeric materials to which new functional additives will be added.
• Research and develop new functional and sustainable low-denier, high-strength multifilaments.
• Research air and false-twist texturing processes, as well as weaving, knitting and shed processes, using the different fibres developed.
• Disseminate and transfer the results of the project to the manufacturing companies in the sectors involved and to the general public according to the dissemination and transfer plans described in section 4, in order to initiate technology transfer actions so that companies can implement the use of these advanced technologies to offer personalised functional products.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The expected results of the SPUNTEX project are mainly focused on the development of develop high-strength microfibers of 0.6 – 0.9 dpf that achieve strength values of > 6 gr / den, to manufacture sustainable fabrics.

Additionally, it is also expected that these fibres incorporate new functionalities such as anti-odour behaviour, fireproofing, traceability and UV protection, when mixed additivated during the compounding processes.

The successful completion of the project is expected to produce results that are closely related to the specific objectives mentioned in the previous section, namely:

• Define the state of the art of the related technology, as well as define the main requirements to be considered.
• Research and develop new multifilaments from sustainable raw materials, such as recycled polyester or bio-polyester.
• Formulate new functionalised materials that provide new properties to the polymeric materials.
• Research and develop new functional and sustainable low-denier, high-strength multifilaments.
• Research air and false-twist texturing processes, as well as weaving, knitting and shed processes, using the different fibres developed.

Some of the applications for the successful outcome of SPUNTEX will include: lingerie, fashion, sportswear, workwear, labels and tapes, automotive fabrics, home textiles, furniture and contract furnishings.

This Project is supported by the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius i Treball, through the IVACE (Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad Empresarial) and is co-financed by ERDF from the EU within the framework of the Operational Programme FEDER for the Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020.

GRANT NUMBER: IMDEEA/2018/110

AMOUNT: 135.332,28€

Información adicional

• Año: 2018

• Estado: finalizado

• Entidad: IVACE

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