Technical Absorbents is showcasing its Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) fabrics and spun yarns at this year’s Innovate Textile & Apparel.
For more than 20 years, Technical Absorbents has been a leading manufacturer of Super Absorbent Fibre. SAF can rapidly absorb 200 times its own weight in demineralised water, up to 60 times its own weight in saline, and is used globally in a wide range of applications.
Although SAF remains at the heart of the business, it is the wide range of SAF fabrics that are now capturing the imagination of the company’s product designers. This includes a growing portfolio of washable superabsorbent fabrics.
“SAF washable fabrics provide the same high levels of absorbency as disposable SAF fabrics but can be washed and re-used when protected by outer layers within final product construction,” the company says.
“Such fabrics are ideal for use in moisture management applications.”
Additionally, the fabrics can be used in garments and accessories to provide an evaporative cooling function and have recently undergone independent testing to demonstrate a measurable cooling effect at the Hohenstein Institute for Textile Innovation.
The cooling power of the washable SAF fabrics was recorded between 9-11 W, based upon the fabric in its saturated state. Elsewhere, the cooling time for the washable SAF fabrics was calculated at between seven and nine hours, based upon the weight loss of the fabrics after three hours drying.
To withstand laundering, the SAF fabric must be positioned between two outer layers, thus creating a three-layer fabric. The outer fabrics can be tailored as required to suit product design and functional requirement, eg one layer can be waterproof and the other water permeable. Once in a final fabric construction, studies have indicated minimal absorbency loss of around 20% after 40 wash cycles. If constructed correctly, end products made using a SAF washable fabric can be tumble dried.
The fabrics range from 190 to 450 gsm, 1.5-6 mm in thickness and are typically a blend of SAF and other synthetic fibres. Antimicrobial, flame-retardant and anti-odour finishes can also be added during the manufacturing process. Higher gel strength fabrics are also available.
