Explore ideas, evidence and developments across the textile value chain.
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Insightfree4 Dec 2018Industrial thread manufacturer Coats has become a strategic investor in Twine Solutions, an Israel-based technology start-up that has developed a revolutionary digital thread dyeing system.
Pricesfree3 Dec 2018After a little over three months, China and the US agreed to ceasefire the bitter trade war after high-stakes discussions in Argentina between President Donald Trump and Chinese premier Xi Jinping, including no escalated tariffs on 1 January 2019.
Innovation Briefingfree3 Dec 2018Thermotherapy is a common approach for the pain alleviation of muscle spasms, stiffness and joint injuries. However, conventional heating pads are stiff and unable to provide even heat treatment, particularly during movement or physical activity. The same mechanism applied to thermotherapy could potentially provide increased thermal conductivity and insulation in wearable applications. The human body produces a large amount of heat, even during sleep. However, more than 50% of body heat produced is lost and wasted through dissipation to the air. Although outdoor clothing designed for the cold weather is often made from thermally insulating materials, there is a further requirement for cold weather clothing to provide increased warmth. Metallic nanowires have great potential for application in conductive wearables due to their exceptional conductivity, in particular when pulled and stretched. Moreover, due to the one-dimensional microstructure, nanowires have an increased electrical conductivity when compared to nanoflakes or nanoparticles. Efforts have been made by scientists to coat metallic nanowires onto textiles and, in this case, heat is produced via a small battery. However, when cloth coated in extremely electrically conductive, electrically charged nanowires comes into direct contact with human skin it is likely to be unsafe and become damaged via abrasion during application. Additionally, the thermal insulation of nanowires reduces when coming into direct contact with the skin. Therefore, further development is still required to fabricate a material that is safe, inexpensive, durable and flexible for increased thermal conductivity and insulation. In this product innovation profile, WTiN reports on a research outcome from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, the Republic of Korea, aimed at the incorporation of metallic nanowires into the high strength, aramid-based, bulletproof material Kevlar, to develop smart wearable heated body armour that can conduct and retain heat for police and military personnel in cold climates, as well as for thermotherapy application.
Pricesfree3 Dec 2018Nylon filament yarn prices declined sharply in Asian markets as upstream cost of caprolactam and nylon chip almost collapsed this week. In China, downstream converters operated at lower run rates and purchasing volume of FDY, DTY and POY were based on rigid demand
Pricesfree3 Dec 2018Cotton Futures were up on slightly lower export sales reported by USDA and some positioning before the G-20 meetings weekend. The market remained in a short-term trading range, but appeared that bottom is being formed once again. The final size of the US crop seems to be getting smaller with reduced and delayed harvest activities.
Insightfree3 Dec 2018The European Commission has released a European Union (EU) regulation that will block the use of 34 chemicals in clothing and textiles used to make apparel, accessories, and some other products (such as sheets) that are regularly touched by consumers, as well as footwear, if these substances are present in concentrations over certain set limits.
Pricesfree3 Dec 2018The South African wool market traded slightly lower at this week’s auction, held on 27-28 November, with the Cape Wools Merino Indicator decreasing by 241 points (1.2%) to close at a value of R207.71/kg (clean). The Cape Wools All Wool Indicator fell by 1%.
Pricesfree3 Dec 2018The Australian wool market experienced a disappointing week following last week’s strong increases. A small lift in the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) was largely driven by substantial rises among the crossbred types, as the Merino fleece sector generally recorded losses.
