R&D

The aim of the project “Blends 4 Innovation” is to broaden the research on intimate polymer blends in textiles and to demonstrate the value of polymer blends in the textile and composite markets. To this end, the use of polymer blends will be diversified to a larger range of polymer combinations and composition ratios.

The SET project has delivered its results in 12 languages. The SET scheme is based on a new software for companies to monitor their energy consumption, learn best practices, and benchmark their own energy performance with their competitors or similar companies.

The interest in biopolymers is growing fast. Biopolymers such as TPS (thermoplastic starch), PLA, PHB find more and more industrial applications. While starch based products are most often used in packaging applications, the biopolyester are more often applied in higher value and more durable applications such as for instance technical textiles, or combined with natural fibres in biobased composites. Such types of applications are amongst others investigated in previous or running CORNET projects such as NATUREWINS and Biobased Self Reinforced composites (BIO-SRPC).

Textiles are fulfilling relevant functions in different fields of application. High strength textiles in form of ropes, belts, nets, etc. are used in specific applications for securing objects or people. Examples are securing of cargo ladders, people on construction sites, heavy weight lifting belts and nets, and other applications like mountaineering ropes and parachute strings.

Polyurethane (PU) textile coatings are very versatile and used in various applications with high demanding requirements. For some applications, PU is the only appropriate coating material, thanks to the following properties:
<ul><li>ability to be used in dry-cleaning</li>
<li>low temperature flexibility</li>
<li>high mechanical properties (tensile and tear strength)</li>
<li>outstanding abrasion resistance<li>flexibility and softness</li></ul>

The dyeing of polyester textile materials, used commonly in automotive, with disperse dyes presents a number of practical problems to the textile industry. These problems are principally associated with unevenness, lack of reproducibility, and bare effects, essentially coming from the structural non-uniformities of the polyester yarns. During numerous manufacturing and processing steps prior to dyeing, this material is subjected to various thermo-mechanical treatments which may give rise to variations and non uniformities in structure.

<strong>Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)</strong> is the highest cause of death in the post‐neonatal period (between the 2^nd and 6^th month of life). In Europe, each year 2400 infants still die of SIDS, an unexpected disease happening to infants who die in their sleep with no evidence of accidental asphysia, inflicted injury or organic disease; being a multifactorial syndrome mainly related to overheating, prolonged apnea, gastroesophageal reflux or inadequate bedding system and posture.

<h2>Planting trees in a more sustainable and efficient manner</h2>
Without adequate maintenance, a large part of newly planted or seeded trees will die. This maintenance is expensive and still makes use of unsustainable techniques such as herbicides, fossil fuels or petroleum-based products, and large volumes of water.

The objective of the project is to demonstrate and to improve the environmental performance of best innovative solutions that are emerging with regard to technical textiles that incorporates nanoparticles in textile finishing industries. Environmental, health and safety impacts will be assessed into its manufacturing operations, and the integration of green technologies will be highly encouraged. The term “green technologies” is defined as “manufacturing processes or product technologies that reduce pollution or waste, energy use and material use in comparison to the technologies that they

Major trade fairs are showing an increasing number and variety of smart textile and wearable intelligence prototypes for all kinds of applications that will eventually alter our lives.