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Market trends in fiber import-export countries worldwide
Most of the top-10 exporting countries lifted their shipments in value terms in 2018 (Figure 1). The recovery of Chinese exports continued with the total value increasing 4 percent to US $277 billion. However, value-added garment exports remain about 15 percent below their peak 2014 level, without any significant movement over the past three years. Knitwear and woven apparel exports remain among the top-10 Chinese export categories, albeit gradually losing weight as the Chinese economy continues to diversify.
New liquid crystal polyester filament yarns
By Kota Nakamura, Ryosuke Sakae, Hisatoshi Tanaka and Munekazu Matoba, Toray Industries, Japan
Liquid crystal polyester (LCP) filament yarns made from thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer are a type of “super fiber,” which include para-aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).Since the mass production of LCP filament yarns began in the 1990s, demand has expanded owing to their unique characteristics, such as high tenacity, high modulus, low water absorption and heat resistance.
Improving the elastomeric performance of bio-based fibers
By C. Burgstaller and B.M. Lekube, Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik, Wels, Austria, and S. Riepler and W. Hermann, IFG Asota, Linz, Austria
In this work, we investigated the suitability of a bio-based elastomer to modify polylactic acid (PLA) towards more elasticity, in combination with a reactive coupling agent. We found that this is possible in general, but the processing of the materials has to be carried out with care so as not to locally cross-link the materials, which would result in a reduction of properties.
The changing landscape of risk in the textile industry
The textile sector of today looks very different than the textile sector of the past. So too are the risks that come with operating in the industry, and the insurance strategies that help manage those risks.
‘There is no AWAY’ – How do we minimize plastic waste in the environment?
The source of the phrase “There is no AWAY” is the NGO Better Alternatives Now (BAN): “Plastic – a material invented to last forever – can no longer be used to make products intended to be thrown away. There is no AWAY.” As the director of education and technical affairs at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, part of my mission is to look at issues affecting our members and determine what we can do. One of the big issues we are examining now is plastics in the environment with an emphasis on single use.