Corn and Potato-Based Nano-Filler Material to Improve Strength of Biodegradble Fibers

KRI, Inc. a Japanese nanotechnology research company, has developed a method to double the strength of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) fibers made from corn and potato.  KRI used a proprietary filler material made from an organic substance derived from corn and potatoes to increase the binding strength between the fiber’s molecules. KRI is working to commercial the technology for mass production within two years.  Unlike synthetic fibers like nylon that use petroleum as their raw input, PLA fiber naturally decomposes, making it suitable for products such as transparent films for protecting agricultural fields from rain and pests.

Link to Article 

Porous, Antibacterial Nanotech-Based Clothing and Fabrics

Researchers from Cornell University and the University of California (UC), Davis in the U.S. are developing clothing made of porous membranes and bacteria-killing molecules for military and medical applications. This technology is based on UC Davis professor Gang Sun’s method of attaching polymer molecules containing chlorine, called halamides, to textile fibers. These molecules kill bacteria on contact and also absorb odor. This technology has already been used by Vanson HaloSource to create anti-bacterial bed sheets and cotton pads for medical use. Sun teamed with Professor Kay Obendorf of Cornell to develop a method of attaching halamides to porous nanomembranes of polyurethane so that they can be applied to clothing as a coating. This material is intended for military use to protect individuals who may be exposed to biological agents. The fabrics still allow for perspiration to escape. The two scientists are now working with the National Textile Center to create fabrics for farm workers who are exposed to pesticides in high temperatures and humidity.

Link to Article 

Surgical Facemasks Made with Nanofibers

Czech company Elmarco reports that it has developed surgical facemasks that provide more effective filtration than existing facemasks by using nanofibers made with new proprietary technology system called Nanospider that allows industrial-scale production of nanofibers. The article says that demand for surgical facemasks in Asia has increased in the past two years due to concerns that avian flu could mutate and directly transmit between humans. Nanospider is based on a technique called electrospinning, which, according to the article, has thus far been too labor intensive to be practical for industrial applications. Elmarco says its method overcomes some of the limitations of traditional electrospinning and allows for millions of square meters of nanofiber to be produced using one machine. The article says that independent tests indicate that Elmarco’s surgical masks are 99.9 percent effective at blocking viruses. Elmarco is now pursuing opportunities and partnerships to expand commercial applications of the Nanospider technology.

Link to Article 

American Elements Announces Mangasorb™ Manganese Oxide Nanoparticle for Environmental Applications

U.S. advanced materials manufacturer American Elements has developed a proprietary manganese oxide nanofiber catalyst called Mangasorb™ that can be coated on high surface area substrates to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial waste air emissions to part per billion (ppb) levels. According to the manufacturer’s product specification, Mangasorb™ can also be used to absorb radionucletides, as a magnetic nanoparticle for magnetic data storage and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in biosensors, plastics, textiles, and various biogenic and bioscience applications.

Link to Article 

Link to American Elements 

Link to Mangasorb™ Product Guide

Nano-Coating for Antibacterial and Water and Stain Resistent Fabric

U.S. military researchers have developed an antibacterial, water and stain resistant fabric that is coated with a nanotechnology-based chemical and could be used in hospital bedding, healthcare uniforms, and air conditioning filters. Ottilia Saxl of the Institute of Nanotechnology in the U.K. said, “The anti-bacterial properties could be of great use in kitchens and hospitals, where antibiotic resistance is a big problem.” The article says that the U.S. military designed the chemical fabric coating to protect soldiers from biological attacks. U.S. Air Force scientist Jeff Owens said: “During Desert Storm, most casualties were from bacterial infections -not accidents or friendly fire. We treated underwear for soldiers who tested them for several weeks and found they remained hygienic.”

Link to Article

Czech Airlines Rolls Out New Uniforms Made With Nanotech-Based Fabrics

Czech Airlines has announced that beginning today, its employees will be wearing new uniforms made with nanotechnology-based fabrics. Borivoj Klug from OP Prostejov, the manufacturer of the new uniforms, said that the collection was developed using “the latest European knowledge and expertise in the area of production technologies.” The article says that the fabric selection took into consideration the wearers’ comfort, potential health impacts, water resistance, durability, and wrinkle resistance.

Link to Article 

U.S. materials science company NaturalNano, Inc. has announced a manufacturing-scale production demonstration of Pleximer, a nylon additive for stronger, lighter, and cheaper polymer nanocomposite materials. Pleximer is added to pure nylon during the final molding process to produce nanocomposite materials with specific properties desired for their use in applications such as automotives, sporting equipment, electronics, and others. The article says that traditional nanoclays are difficult to disperse in nylon and require specialized equipment and exfoliation. Pleximer utilizes naturally occurring halloysite clay nanotubes that use standard equipment and do not require exfoliation, allowing production of the nanocomposites without additional capital investments.

Link to Article 

Link to NaturalNano, Inc. 

Link to Pleximer Product Description 

NanoHorizons’ SmartSilver Anti-Odor Nanotechnology for Wool

U.S. nanomaterials manufacturer NanoHorizons has added a nanotechnology-based anti-odor and antimicrobial product for wool to its line of SmartSilver products for polyester, nylon, polypropylene, cotton, and rayon. The article says that existing anti-odor technologies are ineffective for wool because of its natural oils and other properties. According to the article, SmartSilver is compatible with existing fiber and fabric manufacturing processes, as well as with wool’s dyeability, stretching, wicking, and thermal properties. Dennis I. Schneider of NanoHorizon said: “SmartSilver has garnered great attention from manufacturers using cotton and synthetic fibers, particularly in the performance apparel market. We recognized that wool, one of the most important natural fibers for consumer apparel and many other uses, needs a permanent anti-odor/antimicrobial solution.”

Link to Article

Link to NanoHorizons 

Link to SmartSilver Product Guide 

MIT Creates Lycra-Like Materials Inspired by Spider Silk

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. have developed strong, elastic polymeric nanocomposites inspired by spider silk which could have applications in stronger packaging materials, tear-resistant fabrics, and biomedical devices. Researchers previously had difficulty producing materials that were both very strong and very elastic, but by mimicking the nanocrystalline structure of spider silk, they were able to achieve both properties simultaneously. Employing a new process that they developed, the researchers used nanoscale clay platelets to reinforce commercial polyurethane in a solution. The article says that the resulting nanocomposite materials are “reinforced in every direction and [exhibit] very little distortion even when heated to temperatures above 150 degrees Celsius.” The article says that the U.S. military is interested in applying these materials to tear-resistant films, body armor parts, and packaging for soldiers’ meals. It also says that fabric companies are interested in using the materials for fabric similar to Lycra and nylon.

Link to Article 

SmartFleece Blankets Made with Bamboo Charcoal Nanoparticles

Greenyard, a U.S. nanotechnology company developing advanced fabrics for “eco-friendly alternatives to conventional materials,” is producing and selling SmartFleece, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, static-free, and thermal regulating fleece blanket containing bamboo charcoal nanoparticles. Greenyard says that SmartFleece’s properties derive from the use of the bamboo charcoal nanoparticles, which are embedded within the fabric’s fibers and will not wash off. Greenyard also says that the fabric is “environmentally friendly and sustainable.” According to the article, “. . .nanotechnology is offering new ways of processing fabric that could revolutionize the clothing industry. . . the novel properties exhibited by these small particle as so significant that in some cases, conventional technologies would probably be considered obsolete.”

Link to Article