Solvay is developing anti-microbial fabrics
New technology developed by the chemical group Solvay has led to the creation of textiles that are resistant to contamination by a large array of harmful agents, including coronavirus.
The Solvay chemical group has been headquartered in Brussels for over 150 years, and employs over 24,100 people in 64 countries around the world. The new product that provides complete protection against all bacterial and viral contamination was developed in the Belgian company's Brazilian branch.
Basically, by integrating this new product (a new polymer) into the nylon fibres (polyamides) of fabrics during production, the resulting textile is entirely resistant to contamination by a number of illnesses, including coronavirus. The added properties of these new textiles are said to remain active and effective for ever, even after many washes.
Ilham Kadri, CEO of the Solvay group, emphasised that "In the face of the pandemic, we focused on how we could use our experience and our production capacities to help fight against the spread of COVID-19."
These fabrics appear to have many uses in this new era. Some specific examples would be their use as seat coverings in buses and cars, or using them to produce face masks and protective gear for hospital staff.
The Solvay group is also developing another durable anti-microbial technology that can be applied to different surfaces, such as polycarbonate, glass or metal.