With a view to penetrating and growing new global markets with advanced materials technologies, GE Plastics has installed a high-temperature melt spinning fibre line at its Polymer Processing Development Center (PPDC) in Pittsfield, USA.

The new equipment will be used to evaluate materials and optimise process conditions for making low-denier (2–6 dpf) fibres with GE’s flame-retardant Ultem1 polyetherimide (PEI) resin and other high-temperature resins in order to offer new options for manufacturers of fabrics and textiles that must comply with strict flame, smoke, and toxicity regulations.

Rick Pontillo, general manager, Global Application Technology, stated, “As textile manufacturers face increasingly strict compliance requirements GE Plastics will help provide new fibre solutions featuring inherent flame retardance and excellent resistance to high heat and chemicals. We expect this capital investment to enable us to quickly develop new high performance fibre applications spanning global industry.”

The new line can process resins at up to 450°C and can produce continuous filaments at speeds of up to 1,800 metres per minute.