The original In the space of a few short years, this fibre became the
marketleader in this particular sector, thanks to the use of a considerably
innovative process designed to improve its performance and its workability
both in the spinning and weaving stages. 3.3 dtex fibre was rendered
increasingly fine, becoming first a 3.0 and then a 2.2 dtex fibre, the
aim being to improve the strength of the yarns, the performance of the
fibre in the spinning and weaving stages and the appearance of sun awnings
and outdoor products generally.
Then came the second-generation Leacril OUT DOOR, named Leacril®
OUT DOOR HT, a high-strength fibre that improved the performance of
awnings, particularly with large width.
Thus, the strength of two-ply twisted yarns rose from 12 km in the '70s
to 14-15 km in the '80s, and finally to 20-22 km with the arrival of
the HT version. At the same time, the range of colours increased too,
from 18 at the beginning, to 35, and finally to the 100 that are available
today.
With the aim of increasing the dimensional stability of its products,
MONTEFIBRE has recently developed a new generation of OUT DOOR fibres.
These are the high-modulus fibres (HM and HM PLUS) in which the high
strength of the yarns is accompanied by a more compact structure of
the fibre itself, which is thus more stable to hot wet conditions reducing
the plasticising effect of water.
In one of these high-modulus fibre types, HM PLUS, the particular structure
of the fibre enhances its resistance to phenomena induced by the action
of water, making it possible to reduce colour bleeding drastically.
This fibre produces yarns that are more resistant than ones made from
standard Leacril® HM, as it increases their strength
and modulus of elasticity. The same applies to the ability of the fibre
to withstand temperature variations. The development, from the standard
HT fibre, of the HM version brought, as shown in Figure 4, a reduction
in yarn shrinkage at higher temperatures, thus making it possible to
reduce the "wave wrinkling" phenomenon that affects awnings,
particularly wide ones.
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| Fig. 4 |
Ever sensitive to environmental concerns, MONTEFIBRE developed a special
process for producing Leacril® OUT-DOOR ECOthat
has reduced pollution levels through a reduction of C.O.D. in
the washing water of fabrics prior to waterproof finishing .
At the same time, it has increased the fabric's water column
height.It thus emerges that Leacril® OUT DOOR
ECO- HM PLUS is currently the best product available to the
outdoor furnishing market in terms of textile and product performance
(behaviour during the spinning and weaving processes, dimensional
stability of finished products, bleeding, washing and water
column height) and compatibility with the environment.
THE ONGOING CHALLENGE
MONTEFIBRE is currently studying new improvements with a view to :
. increasing further the stability of awnings, particularly with large
width.
. meeting, in a single fibre, all the different quality requirements
deriving from the various end uses of the OUT DOOR fibre, for example
awnings, car tops, garden furnishings, beach umbrellas, etc.
Indeed, a new type of fibre is currently under development, provisionally
named Leacril® OUT DOOR XM, with studies aiming to establish
the performances and results obtainable in the different end uses.
Ever striving to improve its products, MONTEFIBRE has thus set out on
another new road, issuing a new challenge - to itself and its competitors
