Electrostatic impregnation process developed by Fibroline

Numerous impregnation techniques are currently used to functionalize or reinforce technical textiles and composite materials. These textiles and composites are widely used in various industrial sectors such as transportation, filtration, construction, and healthcare.

Generally speaking, textiles undergo treatments to modify their characteristics according to their end use. In the apparel industry, the term “finishing” is used to encompass all textile dyeing, printing, coating, and finishing processes. In the field of technical textiles, there are numerous functionalization treatments, including those designed to reinforce or stiffen composite materials, as well as more specific functions such as insulation, capturing molecules in a filter, or incorporating a medical active ingredient into a bandage.

These various textile treatments primarily rely on liquid-phase impregnation, using large quantities of water or other types of solvents, which must be treated and disposed of at the end of each cycle. In this case, an energy-intensive drying step is required to remove all traces of solvent from the final product. This poses significant environmental challenges and represents an economic barrier, given the steadily rising cost of energy. Wet processes can also present issues with the uniform distribution of the binder and/or active ingredient within the substrate, leading to inconsistent performance in the final impregnated product. Thus, in the current ecological and economic context, manufacturers are seeking new, high-performance processes that are more environmentally friendly.

Fibroline’s electrostatic impregnation technologies therefore offer a more environmentally sound alternative to traditional liquid-based processes in the textile industry. By applying an alternating electric field, these technologies are based on a dry-process principle that can be used with a wide variety of powders and porous textile substrates. It is possible to impregnate various types of substrates: nonwovens, paper, foams, yarns, tapes, carpet, etc.

New product development generally follows the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) scale: from the initial specifications to the laboratory-scale demonstrator, which represents a major milestone; this is followed by industrial-scale development stages leading up to market launch. Thanks to Fibroline’s technology portfolio, the various configurations of laboratory and pilot-scale machines enable highly homogeneous through-impregnation or controlled powder placement (very small quantities or “gradient” impregnation) within the voids—that is, in the spaces between the fibers—as needed. This enables great flexibility in applications, with active powders providing additional functions to the substrate—such...