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Ultramid® BS 416N, a nylon for cotton-like textiles with inbuilt UV protection |
A new starting material for functional leisurewear
Ultramid® BS 416N is a prime example of how existing know-how can be combined with innovative technologies and specific market knowledge to produce a new product in high demand by customers. The initial aim of development work was to come up with a fiber precursor to produce fabrics that look and feel like cotton but with all the positive attributes of artificial fibers. Leisurewear fabrics of this type need to be light, resistant to tearing and friction, and quick-drying. Once these easy-to-wear attributes were in place, the next step was to add UV protection. Using a special process, BASF’s experts succeeded in distributing titanium dioxide finely enough in the nylon to achieve a high UV protection factor while still allowing the material to be spun into the finest of yarns.
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Even when wet or stretched - when other textiles such as cotton would lose their UV protection - garments made from the new material retain this property. Depending on the how it is processed, Ultramid® BS 416N can achieve UV protection factors of up to 80. BASF sells the fiber precursor in granule form to major yarn producers, many of whom are based in Asia. Fabrics made of Ultramid® BS 416N are now used by many top manufacturers of outdoorwear and swimwear, including Speedo, The North Face and VauDe. The marketing team expects above average growth rates for this innovative nylon over the next three years.
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Prizewinners
Rolf Alles
Greta Chan
Miko Chao
Dr. Gerwig Kruspel
Dr. Rainer Neuberg
Dr. Volker Rauschenberger
Dr. Christopher Rieker
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