NC State Adds Treatment Center For Textiles

Tag : Thermal Fabric
North Carolina State University is launching a development centerfor a new system that uses an environmentally friendly process toapply water repellent, stain repellent and moisture managementproperties to apparel and other common textiles. The new system cancreate garments that stay clean longer, are more comfortable towear and do not show perspiration, yet cost less than garmentsfinished with current conventional processes.

In cooperation with APJeT Inc., Morrison Textiles Machinery, andAir Products and Chemistry Inc., the NC State pilot facility willcontain and test the state-of-the-art atmospheric plasma system tosupport the textile industry by studying the system's efficacy on avariety of materials.Once trained on using the new equipment, NCState undergraduate and graduate students, particularly in thefields of textile chemistry and polymer science, will work withlaboratory staff and APJeT personnel to use the system for testingand development, giving the students hands-on experience solvingreal-world problems.

"The goal is to not only replace conventional application offinishes, but to develop novel methods and original products youwould not be able to get with conventional systems," saidPeter Hauser, professor and director of graduate programs in NCState's College of Textiles. "This new system will benefit theentire textile industry, as well as the state of North Carolina,and shows that NC State is on the cutting edge of technology."

The system's unique process uses an environmentally friendly"dry" ionized gas to impart a nanolayer coating of waterrepellent, stain repellent and wicking (moisture management)characteristics to the treated fabric. Unlike conventionalstain-repel treatments, which require chemical-based"wet" treatment, the plasma process can produce a singlefabric that will repel rain, snow and oil-based stains on one side,while the other side of the same fabric wicks moisture from thebody.

Today's industry standard for fabric finishing includes applyingthe finish out of a chemically treated water solution, wringing outthe water and then using thermal power to cure and dry. APJeT'sproprietary plasma technology eliminates the use of water, therebyeliminating the need for wastewater remediation and providing adouble benefit to textile manufacturers already under pressure fromforeign competition in countries with less stringent environmentalregulations.