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Yoshimasa Orimono develops NecoS silk fabric degumming
18 Nov '20
2 min read
Pic: NecoS
Japan-based Yoshimasa Orimono company limited has developed NecoS (Nagahama Eco-friendly Silk) silk fabric degumming process. Degumming is the process of removing the sericin, a sticky substance produced by the silkworm that holds the strands of silk together. The company manufactures and sells Hamachirimen and Hamatsumugi (white silk fabric).
To carry out the process for NecoS manufacturing, the company uses vegetal ashes. The degumming process, which is also called scoring process, is essential in silk manufacturing. It was very challenging to find an alternative degumming agent that originated from natural elements. Earlier, companies used to apply straw and wooden ashes for that. At the beginning of the development, Yoshimasa repeatedly attempted lab testing to determine what kind of ingredients or type of distribution and its ratio should be applied.
It had become clear that with the ancient method, it wouldn’t be feasible due to the costs, and it would be impossible to put it into a mass-production. After many attempts, the company has developed a production line for mass-production and could reduce the cost, which is similar to the current conventional method, according to a press release by Yoshimasa.
In March 2020, the company filed a patent application along with Shiga prefecture. This technology is in the process of being patented. The NecoS degumming method has environmental load-reducing advantages. Firstly, since the NecoS degumming method does not require any soda ash used in the current conventional process, the carbon dioxide emission is reduced by 8.7kg. Also, scalding water required for the NecoS degumming, is about 4 tons fewer than the conventional method. As a result, the carbon dioxide emission is again reduced by about 93kg. The total reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is about 101.7 kg. It is equivalent to 4-day per-capita carbon dioxide emissions of Japan.
To carry out the process for NecoS manufacturing, the company uses vegetal ashes. The degumming process, which is also called scoring process, is essential in silk manufacturing. It was very challenging to find an alternative degumming agent that originated from natural elements. Earlier, companies used to apply straw and wooden ashes for that. At the beginning of the development, Yoshimasa repeatedly attempted lab testing to determine what kind of ingredients or type of distribution and its ratio should be applied.
It had become clear that with the ancient method, it wouldn’t be feasible due to the costs, and it would be impossible to put it into a mass-production. After many attempts, the company has developed a production line for mass-production and could reduce the cost, which is similar to the current conventional method, according to a press release by Yoshimasa.
In March 2020, the company filed a patent application along with Shiga prefecture. This technology is in the process of being patented. The NecoS degumming method has environmental load-reducing advantages. Firstly, since the NecoS degumming method does not require any soda ash used in the current conventional process, the carbon dioxide emission is reduced by 8.7kg. Also, scalding water required for the NecoS degumming, is about 4 tons fewer than the conventional method. As a result, the carbon dioxide emission is again reduced by about 93kg. The total reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is about 101.7 kg. It is equivalent to 4-day per-capita carbon dioxide emissions of Japan.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)
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