All that is new in fibres and yarns will be on show a the third AliMatec, the Technical Textiles Exhibition, which is scheduled to take place at Feria Valencia from 23rd to 25th May.

Yarns made from a broad range of new materials including metals, carbon fibres and extremely strong materials such as Kevlar have expanded the scope for using textiles.   Fibres that absorb energy more efficiently, for instance, could lead to the development of safer safety belts.  The stronger fibres can be woven to make ropes and to replace steel cables and metal chains.  Stainless steel multifilament knitted textiles are used to manufacture anti-vandal cloth to protect the foam used in the seating on public transport.  Silver fibres blended with cotton create yarn that is permanently antiseptic.  Elastic fibres can be heat sterilized or washed with chlorine without losing their elasticity

Ever more innovative variations of fibres are appearing on the market thanks to the development of bicomponent fibres and associated techniques.  Their potential functionality is limited only by the researchers? imagination.  A bicomponent fibre is defined as a single filament comprised of two different polymers.  These filaments are interesting because they enable the properties of both types of polymer to be used to the best advantage whilst creating yarns that perform very differently to others.

Understanding the science of textile materials have, along with advances in industrialization helped fibre manufacturers to develop fibres with stunning optical effects and hollow fibres with heat and other insulation properties.  Equally, adapting the profile of the fibres to different shapes enables sweat to be wicked away from the inside of a garment to outside.

Innovative development in the field of polymer sciences is enabling yarns to be made that offer new properties that are in turn passed along to fabrics.

Thus, hollow fibres with high traction and heat resistance or with antiseptic properties etc. can be used to make yarns either with enhanced features or with features that are new to fabric and garment manufacturers.

The ApliMatec International Congress set to take place in parallel with the exhibition will feature a number of speakers including professors and lecturers from several European universities, leading researchers and professionals from the fibre and yarn manufacturing industries.  One of the Congress?s 10 sessions will be devoted to innovation in fibres and yarns.