Technical Absorbents Ltd

Airlaid fabrics are known for being soft and highly absorbent. Add SAF™ into the fibre blend and you have a fabric that is capable of absorbing many times its own weight in water/saline and locking it away inside its core. Such fabrics are ideal for a wide range of applications, including food packaging, medical, hygiene and filtration.

Airlaid webs with up to 60% SAF™ fibre content can be achieved at fabric weights of between 70-1,000gsm. Laminate layers can be added to one or both sides for additional functionality.

For more information about our airlaid fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

SAF™ Air-Through carded fabrics are cost-effective, thinner materials that still provide high levels of absorbency. They are lightweight, discrete, conformable, and can be manufactured with a number of layers. This makes them ideal for applications that require performance without the bulk. The use of air to bond the web creates a more lofty fabric with lower density and greater thickness than those that are thermally bonded.

The fabrics range from 20-80gsm and are typically a blend of SAF™ and other synthetic fibres. Such fabrics are suitable for a whole range of applications, including medical and hygiene.

For more information about our air-through carded fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

What is Superabsorbent Fibre (SAF™)?

Think of SAF™ as similar to Super Absorbent Powder (SAP) but in fibre form, it is this that makes SAF™ special. It can be converted into a wide range of superabsorbent fabrics and spun yarns.

When blended with other fibres – and fabric layers – the amount of different product variants that can be achieved is endless. Within these converted products, distribution of the SAF™ is homogeneous and uniform. The fibres are entangled and fixed in the structure with minimal migration, resulting in consistent absorption performance and no dusting.

The fibres have a large aspect ratio allowing them to absorb aqueous fluids very quickly. Standard SAF™ is 10 dtex and the fibres are precision cut with staple lengths of 6, 52 and 80mm available.

SAF™ is naturally white. The creation of dust and respirable particles is minimal during its manufacture and conversion compared to other superabsorbent technologies – improving safety down the supply chain to the end users. The fibres do not melt and are stable up to 200°C.

The production process we use to manufacture SAF™ is water-based to improve safety and environmental performance. The fibres also have a good biocompatibility profile and have been assessed by FDA and EFSA for use as an absorbent in food packaging.

We can also assist in selecting initial samples - simply email info@exploreSAF.com for advice or call +44 (0)1472 245200.

This range of low-shrink fabrics have been made with an innovative grade of SAF™ that was developed to tackle the challenge of shrinkage in some situations, e.g. upon exposure to high humidity or when undergoing water-based sterilisation processes.

Airlaid fabric samples are currently available for trials. However, the fibres can be used as a replacement for regular SAF™ in any of our fabrics and yarns.

For more information about our low shrink fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

Needlefelt fabrics (also known as needlepunch) can be designed to offer more strength and integrity than other fabrics within the range. However, they can also be manufactured to be soft and very loosely needled - all depending on requirements.

Incorporating SAF™ ensures that they are capable of absorbing many times their own weight in water/saline and makes them suitable for a wide range of applications.

Webs containing up to 100% SAF™ can be produced at a wide range of fabric weights, typically between 150-1,000gsm. Laminates and other finishes are possible.

For more information about our needlefelt fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

SAF™ Netting fabrics are truly unique. They are manufactured using a SAF™ spun yarn and woven together to create an open net structure with high integrity. Such fabrics offer an extremely strong yet lightweight absorbent solution. Wicking is also made possible by other carrier fibres in the spun yarns. SAF™ Netting fabrics have already found a home within a range of applications, including horticulture and wound care.

Net sizes can vary to meet requirements and laminates, e.g. PES weave can also be added either side.

For more information about our netting fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

SAF™ Thermally Carded fabrics are cost-effective, thinner materials that still provide high levels of absorbency. They are lightweight, discrete, conformable, and can be manufactured with a number of layers. This makes them ideal for applications that require performance without the bulk. The use of heat to bond the web creates a stronger fabric compared to those that are air-through bonded.

These fabrics range from 20-80gsm and are typically a blend of SAF™ and other synthetic fibres. Such fabrics are suitable for a whole range of applications, including medical and hygiene

For more information about our air-through carded fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

This range of fabrics is not only superabsorbent but designed with reusability in mind. They can withstand the wash/dry process many times in final product construction. Demand for such fabrics is increasing from the hygiene sector as the industry witnesses the growth of reusable feminine and incontinence products to meet the ever increasing sustainability challenge. The fabrics can also be used for mositure managament and evaporative cooling in garments and accessories.

To withstand laundering, these innovative fabrics feature multiple layers which can be tailored, as required to suit product design and functional requirements. Once in a final fabric construction, studies have indicated minimal absorbency loss of circa 22% after 40 wash cycles.

The current range of washable fabrics range from 190-450gsm and 1.5-6mm in thickness. Anti-microbial, flame-retardant and anti-odour finishes can also be added during the manufacturing process to add additional functionality if required.

For more information about our washable fabrics, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploresaf.com

52mm and 80mm SAF™ fibres can be spun with other staple fibres to produce these high performance swellable yarns. The denier, decitex, absorption rate and ultimate swell height can meet required specifications by altering the SAF™ grade and fibre blend. Typically, SAF™ is  blended with other synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, cellulose and aramids to add strength or additional functionality. 

Commercially SAF™ Yarns are supplied on bobbins, which can be sized to suit manufacturing requirements. They are lightweight and easy to onward process. A standard range of yarns are already available and others can be manufactured to meet specific requirements. 

 For more information, get in touch with our Product Development team by emailing info@exploreSAF.com