World's first commercial polyester material to offer pH control

The world's first commercial polyester material to offer pH control is to be launched by Teijin Fibers Limited. The company has developed a new polyester fabric that remains gentle to human skin by stably maintaining its mildly acidic pH level, similar to healthy skin. The new fabric will be ready to sell in time for spring and summer 2012 sportswear. It also will be marketed for general apparel and other applications. The fabric is expected to meet growing consumer demands for clothing with value-added properties such as gentleness to skin, odor prevention, antibacterial and stain resistance. Teijin Fibers achieved the fabric's mild acidity by modifying polyester polymer, rather than adhering agents to fibers, to enable it to maintain its pH level stably after repeated washing and wear, while also maintaining polyester's superior characteristics such as water-absorption and quick-drying properties. Presently, fabrics that possess such properties use agents that are adhered to their fibers through post-processing treatment, which can lead to low functionality, limited durability and a loss of original texture over time. Fabrics offering pH control have been limited to water-absorbing (hydrophilic) fibers, such as cotton and rayon, neither of which sufficiently promotes the rapid drying of large amounts of perspiration, a basic requirement of high-performance sportswear. How the New Fabric Maintains its pH: The skin of a healthy person generally is mildly acidic, but can become more alkaline due to sweating (summer) or drying (winter). The continuance of either condition for very long can result in odors and stains due to destructive bacteria which in turn can lead to increased susceptibility to the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays. Teijin Fibers modified polyester polymer, which is intrinsically hydrophobic (neutral), to create localized hydrophilic properties and mild acidity on the fiber's surface. As a result, the new fabric maintains its mildly acidic pH level even when the wearer is perspiring How the New Fabric Promotes Cleanliness: " Antibacterial - The growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium, which cause odors and dry, rough skin, can be selectively controlled by the fabric's mildly acidic state. This promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, which helps to protect and maintain healthy skin " Deodorization - Alkaline components from sweat, such as ammonia, are quickly absorbed and neutralized by the fabric's mild acidity, which helps to prevent clothing from developing odors. " Sebum stain resistance - The fabric's hydrophilic surface enables washing to remove stains caused by sebum, an oily secretion on the skin, which minimizes the spread of bacteria and helps to maintain the clothing's cleanliness. " UV protection - The fabric's mild acidity helps to protect skin from ultraviolet rays by promoting the presence of beneficial bacteria.