SEOUL, KOREA – Nano Fibres are basking in great attention as an alternative to Gore-Tex (a waterproof, breathable fabric). Nanofibers outdo Gore-Tex in moisture permeability and waterproof, windproof functions.
A slew of domestic fabric companies have jumped on the nanofiber bandwagon to secure a vantage point in the market.
Major Korean textile makers, led by Kolon, Hyosung and Wooree Nanophil, have pressed on with the development of nanofibers and are busy rolling out new products one after another.
Nanofibers are defined as ultra-fine fibers with diameters less than 1,000 nanometers and their length is over 100 times their thickness. They are more tight-knit than the Gore-Tex membrane that has 9 billion microscopic pores per square inch. On top of that, Nanofibers are in great demand in the environment energy, electric and electronic sectors as they also serve as the key material for secondary battery separators and air filters. That’s why Korean fabric producers are speeding up their development process.
Market research firm Yano Research Institute predicted that the market for next-generation fibers including nanofibers will surpass approximately KRW 1.5 trillion by 2015.
Sean Chung (hbpark@etnews.com)
**Article provided by etnews [Korea IT News]
[Reference] : http://english.etnews.com/electronics/2715655_1303.html