Teijin scores success with nanofibre for golf gloves
30/10/2009
Fibre manufacturer Teijin has announced that it has begun to supply its high-strength polyester nanofibre Nanofront for use in the palms of golf gloves.
The company is supplying the nanofibre to Acushnet Japan specifically for a new range of golf gloves under the FootJoy brand.
The new collection, called Nanolock, will be available in the companies' home market, Japan, in November. The manufacturers say Nanolock will be the first golf gloves in the world to use nanofibre material.
Acushnet Japan has said it chose to use the new material because of its softness and slip-resistance.
Nanofront is a high-strength polyester fibre with a thickness of just 700 nanometres, 7,500 times thinner than a strand of hair. Teikin uses a proprietary spinning technology to eliminate the problem of unstable quality associated with conventional mass-produced nanofibres. With a surface area dozens of times greater than regular fibre, the nano-sized bumps on the surface of Nanofront create a higher frictional force, giving the material outstanding slip resistance. The ultra-fine fibre is also soft and stretchable, and boasts excellent absorbency and opaqueness.
Teijin Fibers started commercial production of Nanofront in 2008 and has been developing applications in areas such as sportswear, and industrial materials. The company will continue to market Nanofront for use in golf gloves as well, aiming to generate sales of $33 million in three years.
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