Toray Industries has announced that in-house tests on samples of its Makspec V antiviral fabric have confirmed its effectiveness in reducing concentrations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The company developed this 100 percent polyester material in March 2020 and it is said to deliver exceptional washability and comfort.
The JISL 1922 antiviral test for textile products was used, exposing samples to Covid-19 and measuring concentrations two hours later. As with earlier experimentation using the ATCC VR-1679 envelope strain, the tests confirmed that the fabric reduced more than 99.9 percent of Covid-19 viruses on textiles. The same result was achieved even after 50 industrial washing cycles, underscoring the fabric’s solid antiviral performance.
To date, Toray has positioned Makspec V to reduce envelope-type virus but in view of the latest findings will promote it for customer service, nursing, and school uniforms for which the demand to safeguard against Covid-19 is high. It also envisages expanding applications to sportswear, casual apparel, fashionwear and children’s clothing.
The company will now draw on the textile processing technology it has amassed in developing materials for uniforms, which demand exceptional functionality, to create textiles that provide enhanced performance and added value by combining comfort and safety.
