Non-woven material shows potential as e-textile

Sonia Reynolds brought the idea to the university’s Advanced Textile Research Group and is further developing the fabric's novel manufacturing process under the direction of Prof Tilak Dias and Dr Amanda Briggs-Goode, of the School of Art and Design.

Unlike traditional woven or knitted materials that are made by the interloping or interlacing of yarns, the new material – dubbed Zephlinear - is made by yarn surface entanglement.

Reynolds said: "This is a real breakthrough for the textiles industry. It's the first non-woven material made from yarn and promises major benefits for the future of clothing, and more.

"Because of the material's linear channels of yarn, it has great potential to be used as a smart textile. In particular, we believe it lends itself well to being embedded with microcapsules containing medication or scent, to either help deliver drugs to specific parts of the body or to create antibacterial and aromatic clothing.