R&D

This project aims at the characterisation of barrier textiles in view of their classification, for a better and easier product selection by their users.

<h2>Development of a controlled degradation of synthetic or biopolymer textiles for special applications</h2>
The degradation of textile materials in carbon dioxide is an interesting route to resolve the end-of-life issues of a number of applications. In the case of agro- or geotextiles it is not always feasible to recover or remove the products in a quantative manner. For these applications natural fibres can be used, although their processing into specific structures is not so easy. Another alternative is the use of biopolymers but these materials do not always have the appropriate (bio)degradation

<h2>Enzymatic functionalisation of collagens for medical applications</h2>
The aim of this precompetitive project is to develop new methods for the enzymatic functionalizing of native collagen structures and to use these structures as scaffolds in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.

<h2>Development of test methods to determine phthalates in textiles</h2>
The coating of flexible PVC’s is an important industrial activity in the Belgian production of floor coverings, cables, tarpaulins, (car) seats, dashboards, sun visors, clothing and tapes. PVC owes its economic importance to its durability (very high stability), the relatively low costs and large production runs.

<h2>Development of improved PolyOlefin MELt ADhesion fibres and yarns and their implementation in textile applications </h2>
The control of the melting and weakening trajectory and the adhesion of polyolefin fibres is becoming more and more important for many textile applications. Examples can be found in composites, where the polyolefin fibres are compressed to a composite structure. In new type of composites, the matrix and the strengthening fibres are made from the same family of materials. The combinations of many polyolefin materials lead to various possibilities for different types of

Hernia operations are among the most common surgical procedures performed today with over 20 million cases annually worldwide. Hernia incidents are associated with pain and poor quality-of-life for the patient and lead to enormous healthcare costs, exceeding US $48 billion in the US annually.

With the SmartNets project, Centexbel wants to study SME networking for the development of new products. We work together with the Belgian partners LAMPE TEXTILES and DEVAN CHEMICALS and several other European partners.
SmartNets is a European FP7 project.

<h2>Research on the suitability of biopolymers textile and packaging applications</h2>
Biopolymers have become a topical theme and are becoming increasingly important in the European textile sector. Therefore, Euratex has incorporated them in their "strategic research agenda" for textiles.

<h2>Research for the development of fully renewable thermoplastic bio-composites</h2>
Europe has set forward a new goal: the development of composites based on (nearly) 100% renewable products. This implies that both the fibre reinforcement and the matrix fraction (thermoset or thermoplastic) have to be bio-based.

<h2>Integrated solutions for an improved sleep quality</h2>
ALL4REST, is focused on the development of comfort‐improved sleep systems, using non‐obtrusive technologies promoting a deeper and better recovering sleep and preventing nocturnal awakenings. The successful solutions will reduce the number of awakenings and/or the time to fall sleep after an awakening and reduce sleep onset latency (the length of time that it takes to accomplish the transition from full wakefulness to sleep).