Cross-section image of fabric and yarn of "NanofrontTM"

Comparison in diameters of "NanofrontTM" and microfiber

Teijin Fibers started commercial production of high-intensity polyester nanofiber, "Nanofront^TM" from July 24. It will initially produce 25 tons of 700-nanometer diameter nanofiber per month in the Matsuyama plant, and at an early point, it will change it to a monthly production of 100 tons, aiming at an annual 10 billion yen in sales. It will consider producing 300- nanometer diameter fiber in the future.

It has been difficult to commercialize nanosized fiber as a filament despite the fact that it can be developed, because its intensity decreases and its fiber length becomes too short in commercial production. In response to this, Teijin Fibers successfully developed and commercialized a high-intensity polyester nanofiber "Nanofront^TM," amenable to mass production, by developing new "Sea-island type conjugated spinning technology."

For conventional microfiber, there are only a few dozen of the "island" parts in a fiber (the part which becomes monofilament after alkali reduction) at the "Sea-island type conjugated spinning." On the other hand, "Nanofront^TM" is based on a spinneret flow path designing technology and polymer technology which is capable of forming ultra-multi island sea-island cross sections, and the company developed a "new Sea-island split-fiber technology" which enables a fiber to have about 1,000-islands parts (see the image below) and established commercial production. Various kinds of application became available because various functions can be added easily with functional polymers.

"New Sea-island split-fiber technology" used for "NanofrontTM"

The characteristics of "Nanofront^TM" are as follows.

• It is microfiber filament as thin as ever has been, with a diameter of 700 nanometers monofilament.
• It has the same strength as conventional microfiber filament and polyester filament for general clothing.
• The fiber is uniformly-sized with almost no variation in diameter.
• A handling at production is almost the same as for general polyester, there are no restrictions on processes or structures at the fiber processing stage.
• It has excellent water absorbing property, diffuseness and water holding property through capillary action and absorbency of fiber and demonstrates cooling functions owing to its large transpiration area.
• It has non-conventional soft hand.
• It can offer high resistance to motion through nanosized unevenness on the fiber surface because it has dozens of times the surface area of conventional fibers.
• It can demonstrate an excellent wipe-off performance because its diameter is smaller than that of oil film and ultra fine dust.
• It has an excellent anti-transparent property because of its high-diffusion reflection property.

With the above-mentioned characteristics, Teijin Fibers is planning to promote "Nanofront^TM" in the following applications: (1) gloves, functional innerwear, supporters which are required to prevent slipping, (2) skin-care products and underwear using its characteristic of having less skin friction, (3) functional sportswear with a cooling function to control the elevation of body temperature by its water absorbing property, diffuseness and water holding property arising from its large surface area, (4) wiping cloth and cloth to blot excess oil from skin using its wipe-off performance, (5) fine polishing cloth using its soft hand and high friction coefficient and (6) interior decorating materials including curtains, and uniforms using its anti-transparent property.