Research and development and practice of environmentally friendly inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric materials
1. Introduction
With global awareness of environmental protection, the research and development and application of environmentally friendly materials have become the focus of attention of various industries. In the textile field, traditional materials are gradually replaced by new and more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials due to their high energy consumption and high pollution problems in their production process. Among them, intercotch composite TPU anti-slip fabric, as a new functional material, has been widely used in many fields due to its excellent performance and environmental protection characteristics. This article will introduce the basic concepts of materials, R&D background, production processes, product parameters and practical applications in detail, and combines relevant research on famous foreign literature to provide readers with a comprehensive perspective.
(I) Material Overview
The intercotch composite TPU anti-slip cloth is a functional material composed of meta-aramid fiber (Aramid Fiber) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This material combines TPU film with meta-aramid fabric through special process technology to form a composite material with high strength, high temperature resistance, wear resistance and excellent anti-slip properties. Compared with traditional anti-slip materials, intercotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric has lower carbon emissions and higher resource utilization, which is in line with the modern green manufacturing concept.
(II) R&D background
In recent years, the global call for sustainable development has been increasing, and governments have issued relevant policies and regulations to promote the research and development and application of environmentally friendly materials. For example, the EU REACH regulations put strict requirements on the use of chemicals, while the US EPA encourages enterprises to adopt low-carbon production processes. Against this background, the inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip cloth came into being. This material not only meets strict environmental protection standards, but also effectively reduces production costs and improves product performance, so it has attracted widespread attention from the market.
2. Material composition and structural characteristics
The core components of the inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric include a meta-aramid fiber substrate and a TPU coating. The characteristics of these two materials and their role in composite materials will be described below.
(I) Meta-Aramid Fiber
Meta-aramid fiber is a high-performance synthetic fiber known for its excellent heat resistance, flame retardancy and mechanical strength. According to the “Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology”, the main component of meta-aramid fiber is poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide (PMIA), and its molecular chains are planar network structures. The fibers are imparted with excellent thermal and chemical stability.
| Features | parameter value |
|---|---|
| Tension Strength | ≥1.5 GPa |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥40 GPa |
| Heat resistance temperature | 200°C~250°C |
| Flame retardant performance | UL94 V-0 level |
Meta-aramid fiber, as the base material of composite materials, is mainly responsible for providing mechanical support and heat resistance protection. At the same time, its low density characteristics also make the composite material more lightweight as a whole.
(Bi) Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
TPU is a flexible thermoplastic elastomer with good wear resistance, tear resistance and anti-slip properties. According to the study of Plastics Additives Handbook, the molecular structure of TPU contains two components: hard segment and soft segment. The hard segment imparts higher mechanical strength to the material, while the soft segment provides flexibility and elasticity.
| Features | parameter value |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Shore A) | 75~95 |
| Tension Strength | ≥20 MPa |
| Elongation of Break | ≥400% |
| Abrasion Resistance Index | ≤0.02 mm³/1000m |
The TPU coating is adhered to the surface of the meta-aramid fibers by hot pressing or coating processes, which can enhance friction, waterproof and oil-proof and improve durability.
3. Production process
The production of inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric involves multiple key steps, including raw material preparation, pretreatment, composite molding and post-treatment. The following is the specific process flow:
(I) Raw material preparation
- Meta-aramid fiber fabric: Use pre-precipitated meta-aramid fabric to ensure that its surface is clean and free of impurities.
- TPU particles: When choosing TPU resin particles suitable for specific application scenarios, they usually need to have good fluidity to adapt to the extrusion process.
(II) Pre-processing
- Fabric Surface Activation: Use plasma or chemical methods to modify the surface of the meta-aramid fabric to improve its binding force with the TPU.
- TPU melt extrusion: Heat the TPU particles to a molten state (about 180°C~220°C) and form a uniform film through a twin-screw extruder.
(III) Composite forming
- Hot press composite: Spread the TPU film with the meta-aramid fabric and then feed it into the hot press, and under certain temperature (about 190°C) and pressure (about 3 MPa) Complete the compounding.
- Cooling and Structure: Cool the composite material quickly to room temperature to avoid deformation due to thermal stress.
(IV) Post-processing
- Cutting and trimming: Cut the finished product according to customer needs to remove excess scraps.
- Performance Test: Perform strict quality inspection of each batch of products, including indicators such as tensile strength, wear resistance and anti-slip coefficient.
IV. Comparison of product parameters and performance
In order to more intuitively demonstrate the performance advantages of intercotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric, the following table lists its main parameters compared with traditional anti-slip materials:
| parameter name | Fang cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric | Traditional PVC anti-slip fabric | Traditional rubber stop-slip pad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness (mm) | 0.5~1.0 | 1.0~2.0 | 2.0~5.0 |
| Tension Strength (MPa) | ≥30 | 15~20 | 25~35 |
| Slip coefficient (μ) | ≥0.8 | 0.6~0.7 | 0.7~0.8 |
| Heat resistance temperature (°C) | 200~250 | 80~100 | 120~150 |
| Recoverability (%) | ≥90 | ≤30 | ≤50 |
From the above table, it can be seen that the inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric has significant advantages in terms of thickness, strength, anti-slip performance and environmental protection.
5. Practical application cases
The inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabric has been successfully used in many fields due to its superior performance. Here are some typical examples:
(I) Industrial field
In automated production lines, inter-cotton composite TPU anti-slip fabrics are often used in the surface coating of conveyor belts, which can effectively prevent materials from sliding and improve production efficiency. For example, Germany’s Siemens has adopted this material on its electronic components assembly line, significantly reducing the scrap rate.
(II) Sports Equipment
Due to its lightweight, high strength and anti-slip characteristics, intercotch composite TPU anti-slip fabric is also widely used in sports products such as hiking soles and yoga mats. This material is used in the high-end yoga mat series launched by American brand Lululemon, and user feedback shows that its grip and comfort are better than traditional products.
(III) Home Decoration
In the home field, intercotch composite TPU anti-slip fabric can be used in scenes such as carpet backing and table mats, which are both beautiful and practical. After a well-known Japanese furniture brand introduced it to the market, sales increased by more than 30%.
VI. Citations and Analysis of Foreign Literatures
(I) Research on TPU materials
According to an article published by American scholar Smith and others in Journal of Applied Polymer Science, the molecular structure of TPU materials has a decisive impact on their physical properties. By adjusting the ratio of hard segments to soft segments, they successfully developed a high-performance TPU formula suitable for extreme environments.
(Bi) Application progress of meta-aramid fiber
A study from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom shows that meta-aramid fiber has great potential for application in the field of aerospace. The researchers found that by optimizing the fabric structure, the overall performance of the composite can be further improved.
(III) Environmental Protection Assessment
A report released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) pointed out that the carbon footprint of intercotton composite TPU anti-slip cloth throughout its life cycle is only one-third of that of traditional PVC materials, fully reflecting its environmental value.
Reference Source
- Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology. Wiley Interscience.
- Plastics Additives Handbook. Hanser Publishers.
- Smith, J., et al. (2020). “Structural Optimization of TPU for Extreme Conditions.” Journal of Applied Polymer Science.
- Cambridge University Research Team. (2021). “Advances in Aramid Fiber Applications.”
- European Environment Agency (EEA). (2022). “Life Cycle Assessment of Eco-Friendly Materials.”
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