Technical textiles – A market with enormous potential
08 Jan '11
4 min read
In the modern medical field, an idea for the development of a cell-seeded, stented heart-valve prosthesis based on synthetic polyurethane cell carriers recently won an award in the Medical Technology Innovation Competition of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung – BMBF). To this end, a synthetic, non-absorbent nonwoven structure in the form of a semi-lunar valve is seeded with venous cells from the patient. The new prosthesis is treated as if it had been naturally produced in the body, which thus takes no steps to reject it.
Also innovative and only a few months on the market is a new kind of modified acrylic fibre that is not only flame, heat, UV and solvent resistant but also impervious to acids and bases. Therefore, the fibres of this kind are particularly suitable for use in protective garments (Protech), plasterboard (Buildtech) or automobiles (Mobiltech).
All in all, the opinion in the sector is that more innovations revolving around the subjects of environmental protection and the use of regenerative energies are to be expected in the future. Primarily, these innovations will be found in ecological and landscape protection sectors (Geotech).