SmartSilver provides protection for technical fibres
US-based NanoHorizons and speciality dyer G J Littlewood & Son have developed a process to incorporate the company’s SmartSilver antimicrobial into high-performance technical fibres such as Basofil, Kevlar, Nomex and Twaron.
SmartSilver, which is registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency and has received Oeko-Tex approval, is applied to the fibres during the dyeing process. The company says less nanoscale additive is required to provide the equivalent benefits of a traditional silver-based treatment. In addition, other performance additives, such as for moisture management and flame retardancy, retain their full function in SmartSilver-treated fabrics.
Littlewood is also investigating using SmartSilver in fibres used in air filtration systems and for medical textiles such as minor post-surgical after-bandage applications.