Common laboratory on functionnal innovative textiles – LACTIF

Technical textiles, materials of the XXI century, have already conquered many industrial sectors, from clothing to automobiles (seat upholstery, airbag, ...), aeronautics (composite materials, electronics) and medical (dressings antibacterial, medical diagnosis). In these fields, technical textiles have made it possible to provide solutions to the needs expressed by manufacturers in terms of new products, increased performance, new features or even comfort. It is now necessary to integrate innovative and environmentally friendly processes to meet increasingly stringent standards. In this context, a first priority demand of the technical textiles industry is the replacement of the perfluorinated polymers constrained by the REACH regulation in force, which gives the personal protective clothing (PPE) its properties of both hydrophobicity and oleophobia but found in wash water. A second priority demand is the development of a coating ensuring thermal comfort and / or stealth for markets in the civilian and military sectors.
With the LACTIF joint laboratory project, the CEA through its joint research unit, NIMBE, an expert in the field of materials, and Europrotect, a company specializing in the technical textiles market, will pool their expertise to respond to these questions. priority requests. LACTIF will rely on the research and development of original and innovative technological solutions, resulting from works and results recently acquired by each partner. More specifically, LACTIF proposes the implementation of a new technology in the textile sector, compatible with REACH and based on an "all-sol-gel" strategy to modify the surface energy of the textile and give it the property of hydro -oléophobie. This technology will allow the replacement of perfluorinated polymer coatings, while maintaining the same level of hydrophobicity and oleophobicity performance. LACTIF also aims to coat textiles with graphene objects using a liquid or gas process in order to ensure either a moderate thermal conductivity level for thermal comfort (PPE carriers), or a thermal conductivity and very high electric for stealth (military).
In the current context of innovation of the textile sector, LACTIF will allow the introduction of new and compatible technologies with the textile industry (layer deposition by the sol-gel or liquid graphene method), and disruptive technologies ( deposition of graphene layers in the gas path). LACTIF will involve the implementation of two industrial pilot lines, one for hydro-oleophobic coatings with very short-term commercialization at the end of LACTIF, the other for graphene-based coatings for which commercialization in the thermal comfort sector will be programmed at the end of LACTIF. The technical solutions proposed in this project and their originality will enable Europrotect to offer their customers hydrophobic and oleophobic products meeting the new REACH standards, as well as innovative products presenting new functionalities such as electrical and thermal conduction for markets in the sector. civil and military.
LACTIF will enable Europrotect to maintain a competitive advantage over existing or currently developing products. For the research organization, it will provide a solid base for new research in topics such as textiles for medical diagnosis or therapy, preparation and study of flexible 3D devices based on carbon structures. , smart textiles integrating energy sources or protection against environmental aggressions.