Japan Exlan Co., Ltd. (H.O.: Kita-ku Osaka) has developed a photocatalytic acrylic fiber “SELFCLEAR” yarn with higher-dimensional self-cleaning properties which had been elusive with conventional photocatalytic fiber, and will start sales for clothing, sportswear, uniforms, bedding, carpets, and daily goods from spring 2006.

According to Japan Exlan Co., Ltd., because titanium oxide is kneaded into “SELFCLEAR” yarn, it has a higher self-cleaning function with deodorant, antibiotic, and anti-soiling properties as well as excellent functional stability compared to fabrics using a conventional photocatalytic reaction.

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As shown in the figure on the left, “SELFCLEAR” yarn has a multi-layer structure with microvoids tens of nanometers in diameter on the surface of the acrylic fiber, and that makes it a nanovoid structure creating a greater surface area.

Because special nano-sized photocatalytic titanium oxide, one-tenth the size of conventional titanium oxide used for fibers, is used for “SELFCLEAR” yarn, it has a ten times greater surface area than existing ones.

With this synergistic function of double nano-technology, it can produce excellent effects on higher self-cleaning functions with deodorant, antibiotic and anti-soiling properties compared to fibers using conventional photocatalytic reactions.