Technical Absorbents Limited (TAL) 开发出一种新等级的超吸收纤维 (SAF)，专门用于新系列的 SAF 织物，这种织物的抗收缩性更强。
新型 SAF 是根据医疗行业对适用于高级伤口垫敷料的超吸水性织物的需求而开发的。为了确保产品的安全性和合规性，这种纤维必须能够抵御在垫片生产过程中经常使用的环氧乙烷灭菌过程中产生的湿气。
EtO sterilization is a low-temperature process (typically between 37 and 63°C) that uses ethylene oxide gas to reduce the level of infectious agents. While generally applied in gas form, however, the EtO is usually mixed with other substances – and often steam.
“Obviously superabsorbents and moisture generally aren’t a good combination at this stage in processing and can cause problems,” says TAL Product Development Director Dr Mark Paterson. “Other methods can be used, but when silicone materials are included, which is more frequently becoming the case, EtO is the preferred treatment method. Regular SAF grades tend to shrink a little and can become hard, which is often not desirable. This innovative SAF grade significantly reduces such potential problems.”
他补充说，环氧乙烷灭菌造成的收缩量在很大程度上取决于产品的设计和结构，但总的来说，新的 SAF 经测试证明可减少织物收缩约 70%。它适用于所有 SAF 非织造布形式，无论是针刺、热粘合还是气流贴合。
虽然 TAL 为生产这种新型纤维和由此产生的织物而开发的专有工艺是出于伤口垫敷料的特殊要求，但 TAL 也看到了它在其他领域的应用机会。
“It’s an extremely flexible fibre that can be easily switched with existing SAF grades when manufacturing fabrics and we have a number of current projects in which we’re exploring other end-uses,” Mark concludes. “We believe this new range could also open up entirely new application areas on the market.”
