Among the products on display will be a bio-based hygiene nonwoven, the recycling of high-performance fibers using the example of the VliesSMC project, an hose liner system, and waterjet nonwovens made from recycled fibers.

Bio-based hygiene nonwoven: BioHyg

The starting point for the innovation was the search for a washable and thus reusable absorbent pad made entirely of biobased materials for baby, feminine and incontinence hygiene applications. To ensure that the fibers remain stable during washing and over several cycles of use, a nonwoven construction was developed at STFI that closes the technological gap of sufficient dimensional stability and as little fiber damage as possible due to the bonding mechanisms. The developed nonwoven layers can be used as a stand-alone solution as a single-use product with bio-based materials or integrated into a washable composite structure.

Recycling of high performance fibers: VliesSMC

STFI will also showcase innovations in the recycling of high-performance fibers at INDEX 23. On display will be a battery housing developed jointly with research partner Fraunhofer ICT, Pfinztal. Detailed investigations into the use of recycled carbon fibers in the SMC process chain were carried out at STFI, Chemnitz. To this end, nonwovens were first developed that enable the recycled carbon fibers to be fed into the SMC plant. The SMC semi-finished products produced could then be processed by both molding and impact extrusion.

Innovative hose liner system

The aim of the research project was to develop an improved pipe liner system for trenchless pipe rehabilitation. In particular, the force absorption in the longitudinal direction and the bendability without folding were improved, and the use of materials and the pore volume of the textiles were optimized for the best possible impregnation with resin. The project included nonwoven development, coating of the liners and the use of UV-curable resins for curing. STFI will present a demonstrator at INDEX 23 showing a nonwoven-based pipe liner with coating, which in turn was impregnated with a UV-curable resin and cured using UV LED lamps.

From recycled fibers to water-jet nonwovens

On the occasion of INDEX 23, STFI will exhibit nonwoven structures that have been bonded by the waterjet process or stitch-bonding technologies after mechanical recycling by means of a tearing machine. The nonwovens are characterized in particular by their soft feel and unique appearance.

Exhibition booth at INDEX 23

All innovations will be presented by the Saxon Textile Research Institute e.V. from April 18 to 21 in Geneva at booth 1369.