Sanitized unveils wash-resistant Sanitized Odoractiv 10

19 Jan '18

3 min read

Courtesy: SANITIZED AG

Sanitized has come out with a new process for odour management in functional polyester textiles with wash-resistant Sanitized Odoractiv 10, which has a dual-action effect - on the one hand it prevents bacteria from docking on the textile, on the other, it adsorbs odours whilst the garment is being worn. The technology was awarded the Swiss Technology Award.

Manufacturers of functional polyester textiles face the same challenge: freshly washed garments develop an unpleasant odour even after a short wearing period. The cause of this undesirable effect is not the human perspiration itself, but the bacteria that break down the perspiration. This process of decomposition generates the characteristic sweet, pungent smell. Once the bacteria, or the odour molecules, have penetrated into the surface of the polyester textile, they remain there permanently. Machine wash cycles and special detergents will never completely eliminate them. The bacterial colonisation produces a biofilm on the polyester, which not only causes unpleasant odours, but also has a negative impact on the properties of the material.

This is exactly where the new, dual-action technology from Sanitized comes into play: the surface of the textile is "coated" with Sanitized Odoractiv 10 in the padding process. This creates a protective film on the surface of the textile. The bacteria use this anti-adhesive protective film as the basis for latching onto the garment. The bacteria can therefore be completely washed out in a normal wash cycle, consequently preventing any biofilm from forming. An anti-adhesion test method was developed in cooperation with EMPA to prove this Wash Effect.

The second advantage is that Sanitized Odoractiv 10 has a high adsorbing effect. Odours are "trapped" and removed during a normal wash cycle. The new product is the result of a technology that has been further developed and was awarded the Swiss Technology Award. The odour adsorption is identified using GC-MS.

As the product manager at Sanitized, Urs Zihlmann, puts it: "Sanitized Odoractiv 10 marks the end of permastink in polyester textiles."

Sanitized Odoractiv 10 can be combined with other sanitised products, in particular with products based on zinc pyrithione. The treatment does not influence the feel of the final treated textile.

The odour-reducing function is clearly still going strong even after 50 wash cycles. This is even the case if garments are washed at 30 degree Celsius, either by hand or in the machine, meaning consumers save on water and energy, not to mention that the piece of clothing will look great for longer.

As with all its other products, Sanitized does not use any nano technology. The Hohenstein Institute has awarded the company the rating Skin Friendly, the bluesign registration is underway. The product also bears the label Eco Passport by Oeko-Tex.

"The unique, dual Odour Control Function of Sanitized Odoractiv 10 enjoys a unique position in the market and it furthermore fulfills two market requirements: the prevention of permastink and the minimisation of odour intensity during wear. Almost all manufacturers of functional polyester textiles are confronted with this problem," commented Zihlmann. "The new technology creates tangible added value for consumers. This is a competitive differentiating advantage for global marketing." (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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