South Korea’s Huvis leads with graphene fibre
Huvis, a leading South Korean fibre producer, entered into commercial production with a dyeable graphene fibre yarn for the first time recently, local media have reported.
Graphene fibre is desirable due to the material's “excellent” thermal and electrical conductivity, high-tensile strength and antibacterial properties, among other qualities.
Researchers at Seoul National University first developed a single-layer, high-purity graphene material in 2018, but, due to the difficulty and expense of synthesising it with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers, the material was until now considered unsuitable for production on an industrial scale.
After over a year of testing together with a local “eco-friendly” PET-producing partner, Huvis has reportedly developed a method of separating high-purity graphene into up to five layers, which it then injects directly into the fibre, as opposed to simply coating it. This allows for a stable fibre, with increased dyeability across a range of colours, rather than being limited to the more typical black or grey.
Currently, the two companies are jointly trialling production of articles including technical clothing, antiviral masks and home textiles.
“We will now be able to use graphene fibres that were until recently only available in research centres in our daily wear,” Huvis president, Shin Yoo-dong, said. “Our company will continue to work hard to develop advanced materials that consider safety, health and the environment.”
Image: Huvis.
