Super-absorbent fiber (SAF)

                                     Super-absorbent fiber (SAF)

About SAF and its Properties

Super-absorbent fiber is a fibre, which can absorb moisture up to a few thousand times its original weight, undergoing significant expansion, and eventually becoming a gel. It is white in color & odorless in nature. It has a property of producing wide range of fabrics.

SAF is use in following technology as a key raw material

Super-absorbent fiber can be blended with different manmade & natural fibres to satisfy customers end necessities. It can be converted into various types of fabric and yarn structures using the following:

• Web-forming processes:
• Air-laid
• Dry-laying – carding
• Wet-laid
• Web bonding process:
• Latex-bonded
• Latex-bonded
• Needle-punched
• Steam bonded
• Stitch-bonded
• Thermally bonded

Uses of SAF:

1.      Cables, yarns and tapes: SAF-based cable yarns and tapes are an alternative technology to the more traditional methods used in the active system to prevent water passage along a cable from a joint or point of sheath damage. They work by absorbing any water that enters the cable, resulting in rapid swelling by the super absorbent content, with the subsequent swollen gel, blocking any further ingress. Water blocking yarns and tapes can be used together to provide the total active system. They offer a number of advantages over petrogel, including lower investments in manufacturing equipment, more reliable and cleaner cable production, shorter core access time during jointing, no cleaning chemical needed and less environmental impact

2.      Apparel: Technical Absorbent’s Super Absorbent Fibre technology is the basis for innovative cooling performance apparel and products that offer significant advancements in reducing wearer heat-stress and fatigue, whilst providing increased comfort and performance capabilities.

3.      Dental, hygiene and medical products: The polyacrylate super absorbent chemistry, on which SAF^TM is based, has been extensively tested to establish its safe-for-use status in applications that require a high degree of toxicity and regulatory approval. Studies and research undertaken includes: allergenicity; irritation; dermal; genetic; reproductive and ingestion.

4.      Packaging products: There is now an increasing global legislative requirement for the total containment of food exudates in pre-packaged foods. This is as a direct result of the negative impact that they have on the health and safety aspects of food distribution. In addition, it results in the significant improvement of product shelf-life, together with optimum presentation to the customer.  Absorbent technology is also beneficial when packaging fresh or perishable goods for transportation. This method allows the temperature to be controlled and remain constant. It can also be used in diagnostic packaging to soak up any leakages that might occur in storage or transit.

5.      Technical textile uses: Technical textiles are used by a diverse range of industries. Such materials meet high technical and quality requirements that give them the ability to provide a pre-determined function.