Released first TEXTILES WITH CONSTANT gold coating
Swiss technology received the world#39;s first textile fibers and fabrics with 24-carat gold-plated, soft and durable, not afraid of washing and mechanical stress. From this tissue innovators produced batch of luxury accessories.
Experts from the Swiss Federal Laboratory of Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a technique applied to the polyester fiber is very thin (of the order of 1 nm) coating of gold.
To this end, scientists have used the plasma chamber, wherein the high speed ion flux from the knock piece of gold atoms. These atoms land on the fiber is slowly pulled through the camera, and firmly fixed on it.
Gold remains on the fiber even during the post-processing: no bending or passage through the loom or the final rinse not violate the integrity of the coating.
Further processing of the fiber produced by industrial partners of the Institute - companies Weisbrod-Zürrer and Jakob Schlaepfer. They get out of sparkling fabric and yarns produce finished products. As long as it ties and handkerchiefs, but can be much larger list of products that would suit a `gold` textiles.
Previous attempts to create a gold tie relied on simpler technology, says Gizmag. Scientists finest gold wires coiled around any fiber.
Alas, the fabric of these strands is rough, metal to the touch, and even the stuff was very fragile. Because ties could have done with only the front part of the gold, but the node and the site is wrapped around the neck, remained normal.
But the ties made by a new technique, are not afraid of the washing machine, the coating on them is not erased by mechanical action. And to the touch, these ties, crafted by the way of material combining gilt thread with a simple silk - very soft.
While the Swiss were gold material in a quantity sufficient for just a few accessories. But at Christmas stock enlarged by a dozen ties, according to a press release of the Institute.
On the market the first exclusive series of products from new fabric will bring the company Hofmann Co. Each tie that contains 8 grams of pure gold, valued at $ 8530.
Company Weisbrod-Zürrer also intends to sell neckties and bow ties and scarves from the gold material, and Jakob Schlaepfer uses individual gold thread in their products collection 2012-2013.
Experts EMPA got the first kilometer unusual yarn last summer, and next year they plan to increase the production. Scientists note that the maximum load plasma system they will be able to produce fiber, enough to produce a maximum of 600 ties per year, but in reality this number is likely to be much smaller.
