High-Performance Fabrics for Cold Season Developed

Under the government's "Warm Biz" energy-saving campaign to encourage offices to set thermostats at 20 degrees Celsius in winter, some textile industries in Japan have been actively developing high-performance fabrics. Teijin Ltd. developed a thermal fabric material and has been selling it in earnest, while Mitsubishi Rayon Co. developed and released a new fiber for the 2006/2007 autumn/winter season which can convert sunlight into heat energy.

Teijin's "Thermocompo ®" is a polyester material coated with nanoparticles, which absorbs solar infrared radiation and provides warmth. Clothes using this material can keep the temperature of the side in directly contact with the skin 2 to 4 degrees Celsius warmer, even on cloudy winter days. Thermocompo R can also combine multiple functions, for example, water repellency and antistatic features, so it is attracting much attention as a material in the context of the Warm Biz campaign.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Rayon has developed "Corebrid Thermocatch ®," a white acrylic fiber, by applying a core-in-sheath fiber-forming technology, which makes it possible for this material to generate and provide warmth as well as to conduct electricity. In addition to its antistatic features, it quickly converts sunlight and incandescent lighting into heat energy, raising the temperature in clothes using this material.

http://www.teijin.co.jp/english/index.html
http://www.mrc.co.jp/english/index.html

Posted: 2006/03/11 10:35:36 AM
Japanese version