The 6 Materials You Need to Know About for August
MC# 1014201
Bananatex®
Manufacturer: Qwestion International GmbH
A waterproof, durable material derived from sustainably grown banana plant fibers. Cultivated in the Philippines within a natural ecosystem of sustainable forestry, the plant requires no chemical treatments or additional water. Its self-sufficiency has made it an important contributor to the reforestation of areas once eroded by Palm plantations. This textile is fully biodegradable, plastic-free and made from 100% naturally grown Abacà (banana plant) making it super strong. yet light and flexible. Once the Abacá fibers have been transformed into yarn, the yarn is colored using a dying method that is more sustainable than the typical roll dying alternative. Applications are for consumer products including bags, shoes, and furniture.
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MC# 1039001
Conductive Transfers System
Manufacturer: Conductive Transfers
A patented screen-printing process where the inks become the substrate to print thin, stretchable, and durable conductive circuits without the need for plastic. This ready-to-use circuitry can be heat-applied to a fabric or product by transfer printing, resulting in a stretchy, lightweight, functional, and machine washable (up to 40 wash cycles), textile at an affordable cost. It allows for more production flexibility such that printing can be performed in one location and application in another. With this technology, electronic circuits can be conformed to complex 3D surfaces or added to textiles permitting sensors, heaters, haptics, and actuators to be located exactly where they are needed. Applications are for medical, automotive, sportswear, safety wear, furnishings, workwear, and wearables.
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MC# 594304
BioVeg
Manufacturer: Coronet SpA
A family of sustainable synthetic leathers that combine recycled polyester from water bottles with VEG technology. VEG technology uses bio-polyols which are safely derived from plants without taking resources away from farms and animals. This material offers an optimal mix of technical performance and ecological benefits. According to a life cycle analysis performed by the manufacturer, BioVeg reduces energy consumption from non-renewable sources by 44% compared to standard PU coated fabrics. It also provides a 15% reduction in carbon footprint and a 32% reduction in ozone layer depletion. Applications are for fashion, apparel, footwear, and accessories.
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MC# 1010801
Textile Agroforestry
Manufacturer: FARFARM
Responsible fabrics that use agroforestry systems to regenerate nature and communities in Brazil. The company grows cotton, jute, ramie, and other fibers using agroforestry, a land-use management system that plants trees or scrubs around crops to create a closed ecosystem that does not require external inputs like pesticides, fertilizers, or even water. The company works with local and artisanal mills to create a wide range of different constructions and blends, such as Gorgurão & Primitivo (100% silk/100% cotton backing), Araucária (100% silk), Organza (100% silk), Seda & Ramie (colored with silkworm droppings), Palha de sed (85% silk/15% cotton backing), and Crepe (95% silk/5% polyester). Applications include apparel and home textiles.
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MC# 1012301
Stone 3D Printing
Manufacturer: CONCR3DE
A highly sustainable 3D printing technology that utilizes residual waste powder from the stone industry to create strong, durable, and affordable structures. This unique eco-friendly inkjet technology offers superior performance and can print any geometry with 0.1 mm (3.9 mil) precision without supports, glues, resins, plastics or OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement). It is a finely-tuned process where droplets of ink are deposited on a powder. The ink and powder connect and form a strong mineral bond. The printed parts are cured immediately and can be taken out of the printer, without the need for post-processing. This technology reduces CO2 emissions by 85% compared to concrete and produces 0 waste.
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MC# 791805
VTT Functional Codes
Manufacturer: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.
A smart tag that combines 2D bar codes with environmental sensing functions and software intelligence (user information, location) to provide context-aware services to end-users. The tags employ static 2D bar codes with dynamic functional inks that enable them to change based on environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, UV light, oxygen, and water. These codes are printed on labels attached to packages, or printed directly on package material, resulting in a visual color change when exposed to specific environmental conditions. Smartphones can be used to capture and transmit information from these smart tags to create context sensors for mass-market products and convert them into connected products with unique identities.
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