Small Fibers, Big Future

he University of Akron and SNS Nano Fiber Technology produce the first commercially viable nanofiber material

Nanotech materials continue to be one of the fastest growing marketable new products in the world today. On the textile side, we’ve seen the commercialization of a variety of nanotech fabric and leather innovations improving appearance, color, durability and breathability, as well as providing protection from odors, water, dirt, oil, and stains.

Recently, one of the most exciting nanotech innovations for textiles has come from on-going research at the University of Akron, with its joint venture partners, Struktol Company of America and the German based Schill & Seilacher. SNS Nano Fiber Technology, LLC, is the company that was borne from this partnership, along with the development of Nanosan, which is a new type of nonwoven composed of polymer micro- and nanofibers.

Through SNS’s proprietary technology, nanofibers can now be produced in larger quantities and at a substantially lower cost, making Nanosan the first commercially available material of its kind on the market. Nanosan is currently available in either rolled goods or cut-to-length sheets, and specialized nanofiber membranes can also be produced to customer specifications.

“Nanosan is available in a variety of basic weights, including self-supporting mats of nanofibers up to 2 mm thick, whereas most electrospun materials are produced as very thin layers on a substrate,” explains Laura Frazier, who was involved in the development of Nanosan while in graduate school at the University of Akron, and is now director of SNS Nano Fiber Technology. “Nanosan can also contain particles (up to 150 micron), dispersed throughout the nanofiber matrix or encapsulated within the nanofibers themselves. Other production methods will not allow the inclusion of particles in the spinning solution, unless they are soluble or have diameters in the nanometer range.”

Nanosan is suitable for diverse applications, including personal care products, protective tapes for electrical cables, wound care, and barrier and protective garments for the military. While Nanosan is just beginning to scratch the surface commercially, Frazier sees a great future for the product, including a variety of outdoor market applications.

She states, “Typically, we would sell Nanosan in rolled goods form, but a variety of uses can be envisioned. Garment applications would be most likely, particularly where there’s a need for a fabric that has antimicrobial, breathable, and/or soft qualities. While our material likes water, Nanosan can also be used as part of a layered composite to make water-tight fabrics.”

Today, one of the important concerns about the use of nanotechnology relates to health and safety issues. However, according to Frazier, since Nanosan consists of long fibers made using the electrospinning process, these concerns are less likely.

“The general consensus is that nanofibers do not possess the same health concerns as nanoparticles or nanotubes. In order to be a respiratory health hazard and enter into the lungs, both the diameter and the length must be very small,” she notes. “While the diameter of the nanofibers is in the nano range, the length is not. During electrospinning process, the fibers are formed in a continuous manner, so the lengths can be in meters. Also, many of the polymers we spin are medical grade, so there are no toxicity issues with our material.”

For more information on Nanosan, contact Laura Frazier, SNS Nanofiber Technology, LLC, 330-655-0030, lfrazier@snsnano.com. l

Kathlyn Swantko, president of the FabricLink Network, created TheTechnicalCenter.com for Industry networking and marketing of specialty textiles, and FabricLink.com for consumer education about everything fabric. kgswantko@fabriclink.com, 818-345-7501.

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