Textiles Applications
Recent Presentation 
BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION – NEUE EINSATZMÖGLICHKEITEN FÜR
MIKROVERKAPSELUNG - 28th October 2010 FRAUNHOFER-INSTITUT FÜR ANGEWANDTE POLYMERFORSCHUNG IAP
Microencapsulation in Textiles - Present Position and Future opportunities
Slide 1 - Contents
- Aesthetic Effects
- Comfort
- Protective Effects
- ‘Cosmeto-Textiles’
- Processing/environmental aid
- Fabric care
- Medical Textiles
- Trends and Future Developments
Slide 2 - Colour Change Technology
1. Active Ingredients – Photo & Thermo Chromic dyes/ pigments and Liquid Crystals
2. Microencapsulated for containment of chemical mixture and to protect from external environment, O2 etc.
3. Coloured to colourless (reversible) or vice versa although by mixing with traditional dyes/pigments can get a change from one colour to another.
4. Usually applied by screen printing
Slide 3 - Fragrances
1. Active Ingredients – Essential Oils and Complex Fragrances
2. Microencapsulated for slow-release, wash fastness, based on ‘scratch n sniff’ technology
3. Fragrance released on breakage of capsules due to general movement
4. Applied by coating – pad bath, spraying etc. apparel, carpets, furnishing and also leather
Slide 4 - Phase Change Materials
1. Active Ingredients – (paraffinic hydrocarbons, e.g. eicosane; and plastic crystals, e.g. 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol.
2. When PCMs freeze, they release energy in the form of latent heat of fusion, or energy of crystallisation. Conversely, when the material is melted, an equal amount of energy is absorbed from the immediate environment as it changes from solid to liquid.
3. Applied by coating or by co-extrusion used in active, casual, and night-time apparel as well as in leather jackets, gloves, and winter sporting apparel
Slide 5 - Insecticidal and Insect Repellent Finishes
1. Active Ingredients – insecticides (e.g. pyrethroids), repellents such as DEET and natural oils such as citronella, primarily mosquitoes but also beetles and mites
2. Microencapsulated for slow release based on diffusion, must be washed and last for 2-3 years.
3. Repellents released by capsule breakage although other methods are being researched
Slide 6 - Antimicrobials
1. Active Ingredients – antibacterial, antifungal and algicidal finishes
2. Microencapsulation to protect from UV degradation, and improve anti-weathering, and wash fastness properties, freshness retention during wear for intimate apparel, and for garments worn during periods of strenuous activity
3. As with fragrances most apparel systems release contents gradually on breakage of microcapsules
4. Hygiene control - sports wear, outdoor wear, underwear or socks, work wear, personal protective clothing and home textiles, as well as shoes and shoe insoles
Slide 7 - Flame Retardants
1. Active Ingredients – Flame retardant chemical and intumescents e.g. di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAHP)
2. Microcapsules wall material can be part of the process, acting synergistically with the encapsulated chemicals
3. Flame retardant finishes microencapsulated to improve the durability of the treatment to leaching, domestic washing and dry cleaning.
4. Still early stages for microencapsulation of fire retardants although Capsulated Systems Inc has a product ‘FY’R’CAP
Slide 8 - Cosmeto-Textiles
1. The most active area for microencapsulation development in textiles in recent years, key to the development of cosmetotextiles
2. Textiles contact skin and contribute to well-being and comfort
3. Active ingredient loading must be significant and last use and laundering, re-load solutions are available.
4. Typical actives – aloe vera for skin moisturising, seaweed essences to counter cellulite, vitamin E for anti-ageing, a range of aroma oils with a variety of claimed effects, lavender/chamomile to promote sleep, rosemary to relieve respiratory problems and reduce neck pain, caffeine increases the metabolic rate and the burning of fat.
Slide 9 - Textile Processing - Transfer Printing
1. Transfer Printing – microencapsulation extends the range of dyes that can be used and novel effects can be created, e.g. multi-coloured, speckled, duplex. Dyes released by breakage or more likely melting of the capsule wall.
2. Microcapsule wall can be modified to target the location of the dye, anionic, cationic or dielectric.
3. Hayashi Chemical Industries for example produce a range of encapsulated disperse dyes for speckled printing of polyester
Slide 10 - Textile Processing - Environmental Applications
1. Disperse Dyes – microencapsulated dyes prepared using in-situ polymerisation used to dye nylon, polyester and other textile materials, can also improve definition
2. Liposomes containing dye have also been used to dye wool
3. The number of dyeing steps compared to conventional methods can be reduced saving on energy, water and reducing coloured effluent, unused microcapsules can be recovered and reused
4. The dye fastness can also be improved by using both microencapsulated dyes and microencapsulated fastness agents in same mix
Slide 11 - Fabric Care
1. Unilever launched fresh release technology in Comfort fabric conditioner in 2007 and later in 2008 within the main Persil washing powder/tablet brand
2. Development mirrored by P & G who included fragrant micro-capsules in their Fabric conditioner brand Lenor – long lasting fragrance
3. Launched July 2009 – P & G
4. Claim that fragrance lasts 4 x longer
5. Followed in 2010 in Bold 2:1 range
Slide 12 - Medical Textiles
1. Controlled release antibiotic micro-capsules, release initiated by toxins produced as the bacteria grow
2. Dressing also changes colour to alert carers that infection is present
3. Tamoxifen - complex coacervation microcapsules applied to cotton, material under development for treatment of breast cancer, trans-dermal delivery
Slide 13 - Future Development/Tends
1. Lots of patent activity in the micrroencapsulation - textiles sector
2. Major concentration continues to be in PCMs and Fabric Care
3. Still difficult to get really long lasting effects, better wash fastness - if this can be developed then opportunities will be vast
4. Water soluble actives and combinations of water soluble and insoluble actives
5. Smart release mechanisms/Smart Design