Anti-Odour Fabrics: antimicrobial capabilities embedded in fibres

Apparel manufacturer ARC Outdoors has announced a new line of anti-odor fabrics and yarns. To date, most anti-odor technologies have relied on chemical treatments as their antimicrobial component, while other technologies have come in the form of silver strand or silver-coated fibres. ARC claims existing fibres lack effectiveness and durability while causing manufacturing challenges and limitations as they often affect the comfort, flexibility, elasticity, wicking and insulation properties of fabrics. At the same time, many such fibres can add complexity to manufacturing processes, increasing production time, which ultimately leads to high costs. ARC will offer advanced anti-odor fibre technologies for licensing by other manufacturers.

Apparel manufacturer ARC Outdoors will showcase a new line of anti-odor fabrics and yarns to be sold under the E47 Nano Technology brand at the TITAS 2005 Fair in Taipei, Taiwan on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2005.

E47 Nano Technology was co-developed to be safe, permanent and to utilise the oligodynamic effects silver has on microbes. The advancements come from silver nanoparticles integrated throughout the entire fibre, not just on the surface. This integrated technology is designed to create accelerated ion flux delivered through nanoscale particles to eliminate microbes and the odors they create.

Fibres integrated with E47 technology retain all of the natural qualities of polyester and cotton fabrics, making them ideal for performance wear without complicating manufacturing processes or changing the look and feel that consumers desire.

Nanotechnology Makes It Possible

"E47's anti-odor properties are generated by nanoscale-engineered silver- bearing nanoparticles which permanently bond to specific target fibres at the molecular level," said NanoHorizons Director of Operations, Daniel Hayes, PhD. "The antimicrobial functionality of E47 fibres is uniformly distributed throughout the fibre and specifically engineered not to flake off, rub off, or wash out -- leaving all the other properties of the fibre unchanged."

New Fibres and Fabrics Featured at Outdoor Retailer

The creators of E47 are keying on polyester and cotton fabrics for clothing as the first offering, but understand that demand will redefine their course on specific developments throughout the textile industry. E47 was launched at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City last month and immediately attracted interest from several major sporting goods and athletic apparel brands.

"The outdoor recreation market has seen great advances in activity-related apparel over the last few years, but nothing compares to new nanotechnology- based capabilities, such as E47's anti-odor properties that are permanently integrated into fibres," said ARC President J.T. Griffin. "In addition, E47 fibres will give apparel manufacturers a powerful new ingredient to leverage in their performance wear."

Real-World Testing

To reflect every-day situations and real-world scenarios for activewear, E47 fibres were put through a six-hour effectiveness test. To ensure accuracy, the independent biomedical testing company NAMSA was engaged. In NAMSA's tests, E47 antimicrobial additives were exceptionally effective in controlling common microbes, such as diphtheria (corynebacterium diphtheriae) and staph (staphylococcus aureus).

Domestic and International Manufacturing and Availability

E47 will only be available to licensees through the ARC Materials Licensing Program.

ARC currently has agreements with Eastern and Western Hemisphere mills with four additional mills to be licensed soon, pending approval of exclusive agreements.