CTC and Textil Santanderina take part in an innovation project based on the optimisation of graphene production and its application in the fire resistant technical textile. The project, named GRAFENTEX, will allow to produce fire resistan textiles with a low environmental impact and high performance to Textil Santanderina, and will reinforce the european leadership of the company of Cantabria in the technical textile sector.
CTC is working specifically in the innovation technology to make fire resistant textiles. To do so, graphene dispersions are prepared and later are integrated into the technical textiles. Graphene as an additive improves fire resistance in fireman uniforms, clothing for foundries, industrial work clothing, etc. In the same way, environmental impact is reduced if it is compared with chemical sustances that are used to reach this property nowadays.
CTC and Textil Santanderina colaboration shows a successful example between an innovative company of Cantabria and the only Technological Center in the region. The synergy between CTC, as a research center, and Textil Santanderina, as developer and final user, will allow both to be part of a complete R+D+i process, that starts from research to obtain new products with high added value and lower environmental impact at the service of society. So, the social return of the GRAFENTEX project is assured.
Textil Santanderina is a reference Company in the nacional and international textile sector. Along with the development of fabrics for fashion, the company is European leader in the production of technical textiles with different applications. Tech brand markets textile for the police and fireman clothing and individual protection equipment for the industry.
GRAFENTEX Project includes another line of work aimed at reducing the costs of industrial production of graphene. In this regard, the CTC’s research is focussed in optimize the synthesis of graphene for further industrial scale. Currently, CTC is experimented with different methods of synthesis where the purpose is minimizing the use of aggressive substances to the environment, the use of residual industrial raw material source and energy reduction.
Three spanish companies and two technology centers form the consortium of this research whose execution time is 30 months. After passing the initial stage of the study of the state of the art and the definition of specifications of final product, the activities related to the synthesis of graphene oriented application to textiles are just starting. The industrial scale and its application to textiles are the next steps of this project which its finish is scheduled for April 2018.
Avanzare company, European leader company in production of graphene and other nanomaterials, is the coordinator of this project which has a budget of € 924,712.96. This project is cofunded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness , through the convening Challenges-Collaboration 2013-2016.
The Challenges-Collaboration program aims to stimulate, through project financing, the generation of a interdisciplinary critical mass in R & D necessary to achieve various goals. Advance in the search for solutions in accordance with the priorities established in the Challenges, promoting the creation of innovative companies, direct the activity of existing companies into innovative activity, mobilize private investment, generate employment and improve the technological balance of the country are some of the goals. It also aims to strengthen the capacity for international leadership of the Spanish Science Technology and Innovation and its agents, helping to improve the competitiveness of the business.
