Nano-Tex
Nano-Tex is the name of the company, founded in 1998, that licenses the NANO-TEX™ chemical fabric enhancement to more than 70 fabric mills worldwide. They have four different product lines that leverage different aspects of their applied nanotechnology:
- Resists Spills - allows spills to wipe off easily
- Repels and Releases Stains - keeps stains from soaking in and allows them to cleaned easily
- Coolest Comfort - offers advanced moisture wicking
- Resists Static - neutralizes static charges
Fabric Protection Technology
Custom chemicals with the desired shape and properties are added to the textile's fibers during the manufactoring process. They hang on to the fibers with a "hook" appendage and are aligned using proprietary "spines." Together these "whiskers" provide the accumulated effects described above, such as resisting liquids (i.e., the liquids sit atop the tiny whiskers, never getting to the actual fibers of the textile, thus allowing for easy cleanup and no staining). The particul chemical attached determines the properties of the fabric. The chemistry involved--the whiskers and their features--are at the nanoscale, making this technology an application of nanotechnology. These nanoscale whiskers are more desirable than standard textile coatings used to achieve the same effects because they are more durable and also preserve the natural feel and breathability of the fabric.
Is This Really Nanotechnology?
Yes. Nanotechnology implies the ability to engineer at the nanoscale. This includes a broad range of potential applications, of which textile improvements is one. The nanotechnology in this case is relatively simple when considering all these potential applications of nanoengineering and the degrees of difficulty in achieving them. The design, creation and attachment of the custom nanoscale whiskers to achieve the desired properties, however, is an example of nanoengineering.
Products
NANO-TEX fabrics are used in a wide variety of products marketed by such well-known companies such as Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Sears, Nordstrom, GAP, Lands End, Bloomingdales, Travelsmith, Kathmandu, Nike, Haggar, Levi, Champion and Brooks Brothers.
Offices
Nano-Tex has offices around the world including North America, Europe and Asia. Its headquarters are in Emeryville, California.
NANO-TEX is a trademark of Nano-Tex
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