Inspiring Sports Technology
Sports materials
Nanopaper stronger than iron
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Nanotechnology, for all its recent growth and vibrant promise, still feels very sci-fi to us laypersons, what with all those buckytubes and nanoceramics. Lars Berglund of Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology, though, is bringing the nanotech treatment to thoroughly familiar, if not boring, material: paper. By processing wood pulp with enzymes and high-pressure microfluidic chambers, he’s been able to create paper with dramatically finer strands, offering some impressive improvements in mechanical characteristics. According to the article in MIT Technology Review, this “nanopaper” is “stronger than cast iron and tougher than bone,” featuring a tear strength seven times that of conventional paper, and the ability to stretch by 10% before failure.
Information taken directly from Core77.
Toray develop deodorising clothing
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Toray Industries Inc, the world’s leading fiber and textile manufacturer with over $12 billion in annual sales, announced that it has developed a nanotechnology-based deodorant material for clothing. The new material, Mushon™, specializes in reducing perspiration odor for clothing applications such as sportswear and work uniforms.
Mushon™ features anti-bacterial/deodorant properties, which meet the blue label standards specific to SEK Mark (JIS L1902 a value of bacteriostatic activity over 2.2). Particularly with nylon and polyester fabrics, Mushon™ reduces up to 80 percent of odor generated through perspiration and maintains its effectiveness after 20 home launderings. Toray’s Mushon™ recently saw extensive testing in the space uniform worn by Japanese astronaut Takao Doi during the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s mission to the International Space Station in March 2008.
Article from Outdoor Industries.
Uniforms that heal wounds
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
In an article published in The Times (March 15), a new technology has been developed that promotes healing and may reduce infections. Garments are treated with a carbohydrate called chitosan, that has been found to absorb excess protease enzymes which can slow the healing process.
From US Agricultural Research Service.
Harness body heat to generate power?
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
The Berkley Lab at UC Berkley have developed a system to harness electrical power from silicon nanotubes synthesized with silver ions on a flat water surface. It is hoped that this technology will power electrical goods such as MP3 players and cell phones. Interesting technology worth a read at rich media info.
Rubber that repairs itself upon breaking
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
A new self-healing rubber, formulated from fatty acids from vegetable oil, this rubber can be stuck back together again once broken. This may have a significant impact on the sports market as, potentially, broken polymer products may not have to be replaced ever again.
For more information please click the link. Images and information reprinted from nature.
