A joint project between Nilit, a manufacturer of nylon 6.6 for apparel applications, and Maglificio Ripa, a leading Italian knitting company, was presented in Milan last week. The Nilit Innergy-Maglificio Ripa project investigated the FIR (Far InfraRed) properties integrated in a polyamide 6.6 microfibre developed by Nilit Fibers.

Textile effectiveness

The mineral additive contained in the Nilit Innergy fibre converts the thermo energy of the human body into FIR and reflects it back to the skin tissues generating deep and gentle heating, the manufacturer reports. The gentle heat emission is said to invigorate, energise and tone up the body.

Maglificio Ripa has made a full range of fabrics, as well as prototype garments, whose properties have been tested in Italy by a special office headed by Dr Maurizia Botti, of Politecnico di Milano, and also involving the University of Genoa (Gianguido Ramis, engineer), the Politecnico of Torino (Dr Ada Ferri and Dr Francesca Dotti), and the Istituto Centro Cardiologico Monzino (Monzino Cardiology Centre with the team of Professor Piergiuseppe Agostoni). 

The tests started in November last year and were aimed at assessing the very effectiveness of the fabric, whose special yarn had been functionalised by using natural minerals. The test consisted of comparing the fabric with another classic fabric sample with same yarn composition but no functionalisation.

Ideal for sportswear applications

The two-stage study has revealed that Nilit Innergy can boost the human ability of making physical movement and exercise, therefore opening up new areas of application, especially in sportswear. According to experts, further research should be performed to fully understand and discover the potential achievable effects. The fibre might also produce an anti-cellulite action, still to be tested, the companies report.

Based on current scientific evidence, Nilit Innergy is especially suitable for skin-tight sportswear, shape-controlling girdles and underwear. The results also show that repeated washing does not jeopardise technology performance, and the yarn is ready to be marketed.

“Several customers are currently interested in this novelty,” commented Luca Bianco, Managing Director at Maglificio Ripa. “But no business agreement has been signed yet with sport brands since, as Nilit points out, the yarn performance has been just tested.”

www.nilit.com

www.maglificioripa.it