Hydrospace™ fabrics are lightweight hydroentangled (spunlaced) fabrics with unique internal cavities within the cross-section; these can be of many different shapes and sizes. Cavities smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter can be engineered. The cavities can be filled with gels, waxes, cosmetics, detergents and solid particles to functionalise the fabric.

Hydrospace™ enables the storage, release or the controlled delivery of functional or active agents from the cavities. Fragile, hydrophilic and particulate materials can be introduced to the cavities during fabric formation. Adjacent spaces can be filled with different materials or the same spaces can be filled with dispersions, gels or combinations of solids and liquids as the fabric is made. The upper and lower surfaces of the fabric can be engineered in order to control the rate of delivery of the cavity contents.

NIRI has worked with Fleissner, one of the world’s leading spunlace plant manufacturers to ensure the technology is viable and compatible with existing hydroentanglement equipment. This ensures the commercial scaleability of producing Hydrospace™ products at current manufacturing speeds without the need for heavy investment. Patents have been granted in the United States (US 7,718,249) and are pending in other markets.

NIRI is looking for final development and commercialisation partners to bring this exciting new development in nonwovens to specialised market sectors.

If you are interested in discussing collaboration and the commercialisation of Hydrospace™ technology please contact our Managing Director, Chris Fowler.

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